Public higher education is not just possible, it is easily within reach for Washington residents. That鈥檚 the message behind a new joint of the 黑料吃瓜网 and Washington State University to promote the affordability of higher education in the state of Washington.
The two rivals are coming together to spread the word about the importance and value of a higher education.
The 鈥淵es, It鈥檚 Possible,鈥� campaign debuts Monday 鈥� kicking off Apple Cup week 鈥� with a string of joint activities designed to raise awareness of the access to higher education in the state. Scheduled to continue through spring, the effort features a digital marketing campaign and other targeted advertising aimed at potential college students.
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鈥淪tudents and their families read these headlines about the massive debt load that students are under and the exorbitant cost of getting a bachelor鈥檚 degree, and we鈥檙e concerned that they might be making decisions based on that when, in fact, our public institutions in the state of Washington are doing a fabulous job of keeping it affordable,鈥� said 黑料吃瓜网 President Ana Mari Cauce. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the notion of, 鈥榊es, it鈥檚 possible.鈥� We want them to know that if they want to go to college in our state, in our public universities and community colleges, it is possible for them to go to school and it doesn鈥檛 take crippling debt loads.鈥�
Higher education is the surest path to mobility, opportunity and a better life, university officials said. Regardless of background, interest or hometown, there鈥檚 a clear path to a quality higher education in Washington. Higher education pays dividends by providing access to healthier, more rewarding lives, as well as increased participation in communities and a chance to provide for families.
鈥淲e compete on Friday, but we鈥檙e both working hard to try and make sure that Washington kids have a great opportunity to access higher education,鈥� said WSU President Kirk Schulz. 鈥淭he Apple Cup presents a great time for us to be talking about some of the things our universities are doing together. There are myths that float around about students not being able to attend college, and we want to be able to talk to them about how higher education is achievable.鈥�
Statistics show student loan debts in the state of Washington are not as large as many might think. Nearly half (48 percent) of the Class of 2017 that graduated from a Washington baccalaureate-granting institution left with no student loan debt, and Washington ranks second in the nation in need-based grant aid per undergrad student (behind New Jersey by $6 per student). Of those who did graduate with debt across the state, it was less than $24,000, on average, and the three-year student-loan default rate for graduates from Washington鈥檚 four-year universities is 4.7 percent, compared to the national average of 11.5 percent.
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CONTACTS:
Victor Balta, senior director of media relations, 黑料吃瓜网
(206) 543-2580 / balta@uw.edu
Phil Weiler, vice president for marketing and communications, Washington State University
(509) 335-1221 / phil.weiler@wsu.edu