Know the Facts

44% of the Aboriginal population have a post-secondary credential; 8% of the Aboriginal population have a university degree; 14% have a trade credential; 19% have a college degree; 55% have a high school diploma or less. However, if only examining the First Nations population (the largest demographic subset of the Aboriginal population), the PSE attainment numbers fall to 3%, 10% and 13% respectively.

80% of children whose parents held post-secondary credentials pursued some form of post-secondary education by age 24 compared to only 53% of children whose parents only held high school diploma.

16% of all borrowers default on their loans, down from 28% in 2004; 90% of defaults happen within the first three years after graduation (Price of Knowledge, Third Edition); 45% of master’s graduates borrow an average of $20,300.

55% of college students graduate with debt; 15% owe between $5,000-$10,000, and 20% owe between $10,000-$30,000.

12% of university students have student loans from commercial lenders (135,000) and borrow a median amount of $6,000/year.

Over the next 10 to 25 years, demographic shifts will result in a labour shortage.  By 2015 there will be 34% more retirees than workforce entrants.

23% of adults 25-64 have a university degree; 37% have a university, college, or trades diploma or certificate; 39% have a high school diploma or less.

280 colleges and universities.

1,112,300 university students and 609,051 college students.

2/3 of jobs created between 2004 and 2008 required some form of post-secondary credential¹.  Over 77% of new jobs require post-secondary education².

According to a recent study of U.S. graduate degrees, for every dollar invested in master’s education, society saw a $2.82 increase in labour productivity; every dollar invested in professional education saw a $6.47 increase in a state’s labour productivity; and every dollar in doctoral education saw a $15.44 increase in a state’s labour productivity.

Average undergraduate tuition in 2010-11 is $5,138 across all provinces (a 17% increase in the last four years), and average graduate tuition in 2010-11 is $5,182.

58% of Canadian university students graduate with debt, averaging $26,680 per borrower; change in avg debt levels between 2006-2009 = +$2,633. Highest average debt =  NS ($30,128).