WV at Risk: Advancing accessible higher education vital to the future of WV

While West Virginia ranks well for education equity and affordability, we rank 38th in the nation for educational performance, according to the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education's College Opportunity Risk Assessment. The study claims: “The nation will need 60 percent of its workforce to have college degrees, workforce certificates, industry certifications, and other high-quality college credentials by 2025.” 

In 2016, the last year for which statistics are available, only 34.7 percent of West Virginians had these credentials. The study forecasts that if no action is taken, West Virginia will fall short of this 60 percent benchmark by 226,953 credentials in 2025.

The data also complement WV Forward's McKinsey & Company’s assessment. We must do more to invest in advancing higher education to improve our future talent pool, our future quality of life and our economic lifeline. That is why West Virginia University and Marshall University, along with public and private organizations statewide, are focusing on ways to improve capacity and affordability and provide stackable degrees and certification options that benefit a wide variety of learners. Work is already underway to offer innovative, accessible opportunities for West Virginians.