Dakota County Technical College graduates annual wages higher than comparable schools
Graduates from Dakota County Technical College can expect to earn seven percent more than graduates from a comparable school, or $58,000 annually, a recent Brookings Institution report shows.
According to the report “Beyond the College Rankings,” released in late April, 2015, Brookings Institute studied how much a college actually contributes to the economic success of their graduates. It ranked comparable schools, using a value- added score, to attempt to rate schools on an even playing field. Basically, what a student can expect to earn based on their background going into college and what they actually earned after attending a certain school.
Brookings’ report is unique for many reasons. It covers more schools than other popular rankings (which tend to base lists on acceptance criteria) and adjusts for the traits of students the schools accept.
“Colleges serve very diverse populations. The advantage of measuring value-added is that it adjusts a school’s rankings based on the type of college and the characteristics of its student body,” Brookings Fellow Jonathan Rothwell stated in a related news release. “We thought it would be much better to have a value-added system than one that rewards elite colleges for attracting the most prepared students,” he noted.
Of all of the two year colleges in Minnesota, graduates of Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls can also expect to see more financial success compared to those who graduate from a comparable two year school, the report found. On average, graduates from the community college earned $59,900 – that’s 13 percent more than graduates of similar schools at mid-career, the report notes. The school has a value-added score of 97.
DCTC in Rosemount was the next highest two year school in Minnesota with a value-added score of 86. Dakota County Technical College graduates can expect to earn seven percent more than graduates from a comparable school, or $58,000 annually.
“We’re proud of the fact that our students find financial success once they graduate,” noted DCTC President Tim Wynes. “But, it’s also important to note that they are also emerging leaders in their fields, showing strong work ethic and personal commitment to excellence.”
Washington, D.C. based Brookings Institute is a nonprofit agency that conducts independent research.
Graphic supplied by Brookings Institute
