College Education Key to Upward Economic Mobility
A new Brookings Institution study* highlights the powerful role that college plays in helping people change their station in life.
- Someone born into the lowest fifth of earners who graduates from college has a 19% chance of joining the highest fifth of earners in adulthood and a 62% chance of joining the middle class or better
*Source: Economic Mobility Project Pew Charitable Trusts
- Many poor but bright children do not receive help after starting college: “If we did more to help them complete college,” Mr. Haskins, (author of the study) said, “there’s no question it would improve mobility.”