News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5056 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE NOVEMBER 28, 2006

COLLEGE EDUCATION PAYS OFF

TIFTON— A college education is an investment that pays dividends in the workplace, according to numbers released by the United States Census Bureau.   Data shows that college graduates make an average salary of $51,554 as compared to adults with only a high school education, who make an average salary of $28,645.

Dr. Jeff Gibbs, Chair of the Division of Business Administration at Abraham Baldwin College, said, “You need to think of college as an investment. Most college graduates find that their education yields above average returns in and out of the job market.”

As a State College of the University System of Georgia, ABAC plans to offer four-year degrees in two different areas beginning with the 2008 spring term.   Students who major in Diversified Agriculture or Turfgrass Management will be able to obtain all their classes for a Bachelor of Applied Science degree without ever leaving the ABAC campus.

Eighty five percent of Americans age 25 and older have at least a high school diploma or the equivalent and 28 percent have at least a bachelor’s degree. Georgia is at the national average with a slightly higher proportion of high school graduates and a slightly smaller amount of college graduates.

Gibbs said, “You have to look at the situation as a matter of lifetime earnings versus yearly earnings. If you go straight to work after high school, earnings will peak in your 20’s, but if you attend college, earnings will peak in your 40’s. Income will rise at a faster rate over a shorter period of time with a high school diploma but it is reversed for those who have a college degree.”

Among the southern states, Georgia is ranked third in high school graduate ratings with an 85.7 success rate behind Florida with an 86.8 and Virginia with an 86.0 success rate. Georgia is ranked second among southern states for its high success rates with college graduates with a rate of 27.1, ranking only behind Virginia with a 30.6 success rate.

Fall semester classes end at ABAC on Dec. 8.   Spring term classes begin Jan. 8.  For admissions information, contact Coordinator of Student Recruitment Ali Csinos at (229) 391-5001.

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