Magendanz bill would help students predict future wages
How much can you earn from a degree?
Bill would help predict future wages of higher ed graduates
Students weighing the pros and cons of college and university degrees usually want to know their earnings potential once they graduate. Under legislation sponsored by Rep. Chad Magendanz, R-Issaquah, detailed wage information linked to different areas of study could soon be available online.
Magendanz's bill, HB 2443, would make Washington the seventh state to join collegemeasures.org, which allows people to estimate their earnings potentials from a variety of degrees and certificates.
“Students and their parents are looking for return on investment from post-secondary education,” said Magendanz. “In other words, they'd like their degree to lead them to a good-paying job. This bill will give them more information and the ability to make better-informed decisions.”
The bill, which has broad bipartisan support, directs the Education Research and Data Center at the state Office of Financial Management to prepare an annual “Economic Success Metrics” report. The report would include data on employment and earnings outcomes for degrees or certificates earned at public postsecondary educational institutions. That data would then be provided to collegemeasures.org.
The House Higher Education Committee will hold a hearing on HB 2443 tomorrow, Jan. 28, at 10 a.m.
