"There is a superhero in all of us, we just need the courage to put on the cape."
Superman says this and in the world of higher education, it couldn鈥檛 hold more truth. Higher education acts as that cape, empowering individuals to harness their inner superheroes. , the significance of pursuing a higher education at the University of 缅北禁地 Springfield remains profound.
According to the , in 2022, workers with a bachelor鈥檚 degree earned a median weekly income of $1,432 compared to $853 for those with only a high school diploma. This income difference adds up to over $30,000 per year. Over a lifetime, college graduates earn on average $1 million more than those with only a high school diploma, as reported by .
Moreover, a by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) revealed that 91% of employers prioritize a candidate鈥檚 ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems over their undergraduate major. To add to this, college graduates are more likely to receive benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans, with 75% of full-time workers with a bachelor鈥檚 degree receiving employer-provided health insurance, compared to 55% of those with only a high school diploma.
At UIS, our students鈥攐ur superheroes鈥攇et equipped with the knowledge, skills and support they need to soar in their careers.
Just look at some of our success stories from this year across diverse industries:
Maxine Touchette: Bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology and visual arts, now a communications associate at the 缅北禁地 Environment Council (IEC) in Chicago.
Chance Gilbreth: Master鈥檚 in athletic training, now an athletic trainer at Emory Healthcare in Johns Creek, Georgia.
Jessica Lister: Bachelor鈥檚 in education, now a first-grade teacher in the Pikeland School District in Pittsfield.
Saad Ali Syed: Master of management information systems, now a business intelligence developer at Deloitte Consulting LLP in Chicago.
McKayla Bartkiewicz: Political science and legal studies major, now a congressional aide in the Office of U.S. Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski in Belleville.
The impact of UIS鈥檚 efforts is evident.
According to Director of the UIS Career Development Center Katherine 鈥淜athyy鈥� Battee-Freeman, for the 2022-23 academic year, 46.5% of UIS undergraduate degree recipients are employed full-time, while 31.8% have chosen to continue their education.
"Among our master鈥檚 degree graduates, an impressive 78.9% have secured full-time employment," Battee-Freeman said. "We take pride in tracking and reporting these successes, demonstrating the effectiveness of our programs and the achievements of our students."
As Superman said, "Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and transform us."
At UIS, pursuing a higher education degree is more than just a path to a job; it鈥檚 a way to lift oneself up, transform potential into reality, and achieve dreams that might have once seemed out of reach.
