Class of 2015 needs more than high school diploma, experts say

A June 8, 2015, article in the Daily News addresses the fact that “the high school diploma — once a ticket to the American middle class — isn’t enough any more.” Following is a excerpt from the article, with quotes from Pamela Clute, lecturer in education and mathematics and executive director of the Alpha Center at UC Riverside:

After graduation, students can obtain career technical skills at trade schools. The best thing graduates can do, though, is attend college.

“It is well-established that a Californian with a college degree will earn $1.3 million more than a Californian without one” over a lifetime, Clute said.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, by 2020, 36 percent of jobs will require a bachelor’s degree and 30 percent will require an AA degree or a certificate.

“Postsecondary education is absolutely vital if you want a job that pays more than minimum wage,” Clute said. “There’s no other option today, if you want to make a good wage.”

Read the full article on the Daily News website.