Mass. leaders unveil 'Go Higher' report showing graduates earn substantially more within five years

BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey on Thursday announced the release of a new state report, "Go Higher: The earnings outcomes of public post-secondary education in Massachusetts," saying graduates of the state’s public colleges and universities earn substantially more within five years of finishing their degrees.

"The typical graduate with a two-year associate degree, five years later, is earning $20,000 more than they would have without that degree," Healey said. "The typical four-year bachelor's degree holder is earning $30,000 more after five years." She credited recent state investments — including a doubling of financial-aid funding since she took office — with expanding access and boosting enrollment back above pre-pandemic levels.

The Healey administration said investments in need-based aid have helped reduce costs for students. UMass President Marty Meehan said UMass now awards $422,000,000 in university-funded aid annually and cited a five-year median earnings figure for UMass alumni of more than $78,000, about $30,000 higher than the average high school graduate.

"College graduates make an average of $1,200,000 more than high school graduates over the course of their lifetime," Meehan said, arguing that financial aid and affordability programs improve both access and long-term economic outcomes.

Senate President Karen Spilka praised the "Healey-Driscoll" administration and the legislature’s work to expand affordability, citing programs such as Mass Educate, tuition-equity measures and an expansion of grants that, she said, make public higher education free or low-cost for many families with incomes at or below the thresholds the legislature set.

Salem State President John Keenan emphasized state universities’ role in serving first-generation and Pell-eligible students, noting Salem State’s work across gateway communities and its designation as a four-year public Hispanic-serving institution. An alum, Gaetano Guadalaro, described how scholarships and campus supports helped him attend law school and build a career in corporate tax.

Employers attending the announcement underscored employer-campus partnerships as pipeline programs. Ali Joyce, who manages emerging-talent programs at Ultragenyx, described internships and conversions to full-time roles, saying experiential learning helps bridge classroom training and industry needs.

Officials said the findings reinforce the state’s strategy of investing in financial aid, career-technical pathways and research opportunities on public campuses. The report’s authors and state officials did not propose new legislation during the announcement; officials said they will continue to publicize the study’s findings and use them to inform future policy and funding decisions.

The event concluded with Healey thanking higher-education leaders and staff and inviting reporters to ask questions on topic.