High schools, higher education institutions, and communities around the country are gearing up for College Signing Day,
a series of events celebrating graduating high school seniors who have
made the commitment to pursue a postsecondary education.
College Signing Day is part of Reach Higher,
an initiative started in 2014 by former First Lady Michelle Obama to
encourage and activate educators, counselors, and other adults to help
first-generation and low-income students see college as an option,
whether at a traditional four-year university, a two-year community
college, through an industry-recognized training program, or through the
military.
Postsecondary education has become a critical part of a successful future for both recent high school graduates and post-traditional learners alike. A 2011 study
from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce
reported that on average, lifetime earnings for an individual with a
bachelor’s degree will be 1.8 times higher than those of a high school
graduate, and the lifetime earnings for those with an associate degree
will be 1.4 times higher.
Research
also suggests college graduates are healthier, more engaged in their
communities, and more likely to understand the issues of the day and
vote. College graduates contribute far more in taxes, require less
government assistance and health care, and spend more time with their
children—all of which in turn strengthens the country’s economy and
citizenry.
College Signing Day has grown from one event
in 2014 to over 2,250 across the United States and internationally in
2018. Events are traditionally held the first week of May but also can
be celebrated anytime between late April and early June. Reach Higher commemorated 2018’s College Signing Day at Temple University (PA) with over 7,000 college-bound students.
For more information and a College Signing Day toolkit, see the Better Make Room website, the student-facing campaign supporting Reach Higher.