Report designed to help students determine value received from colleges and universities

CLEVELAND (Wednesday, May 13, 2015) – A new from the influential Brookings Institution lists �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼���� in the top three among Ohio's four-year public universities that give graduates the largest boost to career earnings.

According to the report, �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼���� graduates have mid-career salaries that are more than $10,000 higher than those of demographically similar graduates from other colleges and universities ­– the third highest percentage boost in a grouping of Ohio's four-year public universities, following only the University of Cincinnati and Miami University.

"The results of the Brookings report affirm the quality of our programs and provide further evidence that seeking a �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼���� degree is a great investment," said �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼���� President Ronald M. Berkman. "These measurements account for �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼����'s ability to deliver a transformative experience that is accessible and affordable."

In two additional categories, Occupational Earning Power and Loan Repayment Rate, �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼���� also scored in the top three for value added among Ohio's four-year public universities. The measures looked at average salaries and loan repayment rates of �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼����’s graduates and again compared those to predicted values based on demographic factors. In Occupational Earning Power, �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼���� scored second behind only University of Cincinnati and in Loan Repayment Rate, �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼���� scored third behind Wright State University and Ohio State University.

The Brookings Metropolitan Policy Group used a unique methodology intended to provide college applicants with a resource for evaluating choices based on value added to career earnings, a different approach from rankings that heavily weight subjective reputation and admissions selectivity in their methodology. The Washington-based organization is consistently ranked as the most influential and most trusted think tank in the U.S.

Brookings researchers found that students from similar backgrounds to those at �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼���� are typically expected to earn $65,137 at their career midpoint, while the median salary of �ϰ������ϲʿ�����¼���� graduates at career midpoint was $75,600. The methodology draws on national data related to demographics, job placement, salaries and loan repayment rates.

In a press release on the report, Brookings Fellow and report co-author Jonathan Rothwell said, "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.”