By Dr. John L. Hoffman, president, Bemidji State University & Northwest Technical College

For at least a decade, we have all been bombarded with headlines and stories asking if college is still worth it. Whether you’re talking about a four-year education at one of Minnesota’s state universities or a two-year education at a state college, I can say unequivocally that college is worth it — and the real data backs that up.

First, we are keeping college affordable. Bemidji State and NTC, Bemidji’s Technical College, have kept tuition increases below the rate of inflation. In the last decade, while inflation has increased the cost of living by nearly 32%, tuition at BSU and NTC has risen by just over 13%. By comparison, tuition increases at private colleges and universities matched inflation, while their fee increases were more than twice the rate of inflation.

That’s the cost, but what about the benefits? U.S. Department of Education data shows that BSU and NTC graduates both earn substantially more than Minnesotans with only a high school education. Ten years after finishing their degrees, NTC graduates out-earn high school graduates by more than $7,400 per year. For BSU graduates, the advantage nearly doubles at $13,700 per year more than a high school graduate.

If you apply these differences to the cost of a college education, NTC grads can pay off their full tuition in just 1.8 years, while BSU grads need just 4.5 years to pay for their degrees. These are the facts.

In my two years as president, I am happy to say I have encountered elected officials across our state who recognize the importance of higher education. It is one of the truly outstanding benefits of living in Minnesota. Perhaps that is why over the last few years, our legislature has created new programs that make college more affordable and accessible.

A significant new program you may have heard about is the North Star Promise Scholarship, which started this fall. It ensures that tuition and fees are covered for any student whose family has an adjusted gross income of less than $80,000 per year.

The North Star Promise has already been wildly successful. At BSU and NTC, 444 students are benefiting from this program this fall. And across all of Minnesota State, nearly 13,000 students received North Star Promise scholarships. That’s 13,000 more Minnesotans who are able to pursue their dreams of achieving a college degree, without worrying about a debt-filled future. That’s 13,000 more Minnesotans who have started the path toward a brighter future for themselves and their families.

The North Star Promise is just one of a number of programs available to support Minnesotans who want to earn a degree. The state’s Office of Higher Education offers a variety of scholarship and grant programs such as the Minnesota State Grant, the American Indian Scholars Program, the Minnesota Indian Scholarship, Minnesota Future Together Grants, and more.

Beyond providing opportunities for these students and their families, these programs are laying the foundation for the future success of our entire state. In March, Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development published a study showing that graduates from Minnesota’s colleges and universities tend to stay in Minnesota. Between 2018-2021, nearly 238,000 students graduated from Minnesota’s colleges and universities and 63 percent of them were employed in Minnesota two years after earning their degrees.

For BSU, approximately three-quarters of our 48,000 alumni live in Minnesota, and the numbers are even higher for NTC. Furthermore, BSU and NTC are leading workforce providers for Northern Minnesota, which is a significant reason why our most recent economic impact study found that each dollar that goes to BSU or NTC drives more than $10 in economic activity in our region.

Creating opportunities for more Minnesotans to earn these degrees means Minnesota employers are able to fill the open positions in their offices, fields, factories and stores without needing to import talent from outside of our state.

Thus far, I have primarily spoken about the economic value that BSU and NTC bring to our community and the region, but I am equally proud about the ways that we educate students to live inspired lives. Research shows that college graduates, on average, are healthier and have lower healthcare costs. They are less likely to get divorced and more likely to be involved in the K-12 educational experiences of their children. They are more likely to vote, to volunteer, and to give back philanthropically to their communities. And that’s just a quick summary of the non-financial outcomes of postsecondary education.

In other words, it is not just that BSU and NTC prepare workers and leaders for our businesses and communities. It is the type of people we prepare that really makes a difference — people known for their integrity, care, and commitment to equity and inclusion.

I have heard it said that parks are for everyone even if not everyone chooses to visit their local park. That is how I feel about college – it is for everyone. Perhaps some will choose not to attend, but at BSU and NTC we know there is life-changing value in a college or university education. That is why we are working so hard to ensure everyone who aspires to a college degree has a place at NTC or BSU, where anyone can afford to change their lives and the trajectory of their families forever.

John L. Hoffman (he/him/his), President Bemidji State University & Northwest Technical College