USA Funds-Sponsored Report Explores Benefits of Enhancing Education Access in Mississippi

A new report indicates that, by enhancing access to higher education, Mississippi could reduce social-welfare costs and improve its economy and overall quality of life for those living in the state.

Mississippi’s Mandate: Why the Investment in Education Pays off in Mississippi — underwritten by USA Funds^® and released by the Institute for Higher Education Policy — finds that a low level of educational attainment in Mississippi causes significant losses for the state.

Because only 20 percent of Mississippi residents age 25 and older hold bachelor’s degrees, the residents forgo an estimated $3.2 billion in personal income each year. The state loses an estimated $1.1 billion in tax revenues annually and spends more than $9.4 million on welfare benefits and food stamps. In addition to the financial losses to individuals and the state, the report notes that the education level affects social issues such as unemployment, crime, welfare and even health.

“USA Funds recognizes the need to enhance access to postsecondary education in Mississippi,” says Henry Fernandez, USA Funds executive director of scholarships, outreach and philanthropy. “It is our hope that this report will bring to light the educational issues facing the state and provide solutions for tackling these issues.”

Despite the benefits of higher-education attainment, affordability of postsecondary education remains a challenge in Mississippi, especially for those from low-income households. Mississippi has one of the highest ratios of college prices to family income in the country. The state also ranks among the lowest in the country in providing financial aid to its students.

The report also outlines several recommendations for improving higher-education access. 

Ron Phipps, an IHEP senior associate, presented the findings and recommendations in Jackson, Miss., at the May 17 meeting of the Mississippi Board of Trustees of the State Institutions of Higher Learning. The IHL worked closely with IHEP on the report.

“Research has shown that higher education consistently returns benefits to the individual and to society at all levels,” says Phipps, principal author of the report. “Our recommendations focus on readily available strategies that will make a significant impact with modest investment.” 
 
The recommendations include the following items:

• Create an entity to promote the value of higher education to students, their parents and educators.
• Establish ninth-grade learning academies styled after successful efforts in North Carolina.
• Provide continued support for America’s Choice and GEAR UP Mississippi.
• Increase state financial aid, particularly need-based aid.
• Encourage collaboration among Mississippi’s Institutions of Higher Learning, the Mississippi Department of Education, and the state’s community and junior colleges to provide information for all citizens.
• Develop a statewide clearinghouse of information about financial aid.
• Create a financial-literacy program for Mississippi families.

Mississippi’s Mandate is available for downloading from the USA Funds Web site. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the report.