Policy Matters

Recently, the MEPC blog looked at the gains Mississippi stands to realize from increasing college credential attainment among students. The next few posts investigate which of Mississippi’s students are more likely to pursue higher education and which may need more resources and support as the state seeks to raise educational attainment among its workforce.

Nationally, students from low and moderate-income families are less likely to enroll in post-secondary education and attend top-rated public universities than their higher-income counterparts. The chart shows that 56% of high school graduates from low-income families (income under $25,000) are not enrolled in post-secondary education within 2 years of graduating. In comparison, 26% of students from families with income between $75,000 and $125,000 are not enrolled in higher education.

Students from low-income families are also less likely to attend their state’s flagship university or a private university. For this graphic, flagship universities would include schools like the University of Mississippi, University of Virginia or University of Texas. These campuses often attract a state’s top-tier students and have higher rates of graduation and persistence than other 4-year campuses in the state.

The relationship between income and educational outcomes and post-secondary attendance is well documented. These findings from a report by the Pew Charitable Trusts illustrate how a family’s income is related to a student’s likelihood of attending college, related to the institution they attend, and ultimately can be related to their likelihood of persisting in school.

Understanding these relationships is particularly important in Mississippi where 1 in 3 children grow up in a household with income below the poverty level, and half the state’s African American children live in impoverished households.

Thousands of Mississippi’s high school students and adults need stronger financial aid and resources for support with applying for and enrolling in higher education. These resources are important for ensuring more students receive the post-secondary credentials that are critical to individual economic mobility and the state’s long-term advancement and prosperity.

Part 2. A family’s wealth is measured by the savings and assets they accumulate over time and is distinct from income. A family’s wealth may also affect student decisions related to post-secondary education. MEPC’s next post will explore the relationship between changes in household wealth and college attendance decisions

Over the last decade, increased internet access and a growing number of online course offerings have led to a rising number of students enrolling in online courses offered by community colleges and universities. Mississippi’s community college system has been no exception to this trend.

The combination of increased availability of online courses and more adults seeking additional training and education during the economic downturn has resulted in a substantial increase in online course enrollment through the MS Virtual Community College (MSVCC). In 2001, headcount enrollment in online courses was 4,781 students. By the fall of 2010, MSVCC’s headcount enrollment had grown to 28,427 students taking a total of 65,096 courses. 

As enrollment in online classes has risen sharply this decade, the average number of classes students take online is rising as well. Average courses taken per student grew from 1.73 courses in Fall 2001 to 2.29 courses per student in Fall 2010.

Students enroll in online courses by registering at their local community college, and tuition for online courses matches the cost of taking courses on a community college campus. Courses varying from “Remedial English” to “Medical Terminology II” can be taken online, and students can complete assignments at any time of the day or night. Students complete all assignments online with the exception of at least one proctored test that students taken on their community college campus.

For Mississippi’s adults that are working, caring for children, or living in communities far away from the nearest community college campus, online courses may play a valuable role in helping adults gain skills and in receiving course credit building to a postsecondary certificate and degree. 

Author: Sarah Welker, Policy Analyst

Source: “Facts about Mississippi Community and Junior Colleges”. Handout from January 20, 2011 at House of Representatives Appropriations Committee hearing for the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges.  Mississippi Virtual Community College Online. http://www.msvcc.org/. 

In November the Revenue Estimating Group released its revised FY 2011 general fund estimate along with its first general fund estimate for FY 2012.  The Revenue Estimating Group provides the estimate on which the Governor and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee base their budget recommendations for the upcoming fiscal year. 

The revised FY 2011 general fund estimate is $46 million over the estimate used to create current year appropriations.  The general fund estimate for FY 2012 is expected to come in $57 million above FY 2011 revenue.  The slight uptick in estimated revenue from FY 2011 to FY 2012 represents a 1% increase.  Figure 1 shows the difference between estimated general fund revenue from FY 2011 and FY 2012 by major source. 

Figure 1: Mississippi General Fund Revenue Estimates for FY 2011 and FY 2012 by Major Source

While general fund revenues are beginning to show some growth after declines during the recession, the slight growth will not be enough to keep up with remaining high levels of need, increases in costs and the end of federal stimulus funds.   

For more information about the end of stimulus funding and for a balanced approach to addressing the expiration of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, click here.