Corporate Donors Can Make a Huge Difference

It is time to educate corporate America on the need to finance higher education by using a need-based giving standard. Corporations need to realize that two-year colleges significantly affect their work force and economy. Only 25 percent of the jobs in the United States require a degree from a four-year college, yet up to 75 percent of the jobs require training provided by two-year institutions. A person with a two-year associate degree earns 20 percent to 30 percent more than a high-school graduate. Additionally, someone with an associate degree is halfway to earning a four-year bachelor's degree--which, over a lifetime, results in almost $1-million more than just a high-school diploma. These figures not only represent more income for the individual, but they also portray more buying power, investment capital, and tax revenues, offering positive benefits for the economy. In order to provide the future work force that this country needs, corporations must set aside a greater percentage of higher-education giving for two-year colleges.