The issue of funding for institutions of higher learning triggers vociferous debate. While some believe that funding should come from private sources, there is considerable research that confirms the positive effects on culture when higher education becomes a priority. College educated citizens do more than improve their own life style.

1. Five Reasons Higher Education Improves Our Culture
The issue of funding for institutions of higher learning triggers vociferous debate.
While some believe that funding should come from private sources, there is
considerable research that confirms the positive effects on culture when higher
education becomes a priority. College educated citizens do more than improve their
own life style.
1. A Well-Educated Population Prospers Financially.
When the number of college graduates in a state rises by a single percentage point,
wages increase for everyone. How does this work?
The State of North Dakota discovered that once they began graduating more
engineers, the subsequent improvements within industry resulted in higher profits.
A portion of those profits were paid out in higher salaries that fueled local
economies. With more available cash to spend on dining out and to purchase item
beyond the necessities, the support economy grew as well. Statewide investments in
higher education paid off for everyone.
2. Institutions Of Higher Learning Foster Creativity.
In the classroom, university students are pushed to increase their awareness of
what is possible. Colleges are places for students to explore new venues and artistic
forms. Colleges and universities force people with wildly disparate views on life and
culture to interact.
Enrique A. Tomeu believes that higher education is very important.
This creative environment fosters new solutions to old problems and gives students
and faculty a supportive environment to develop their talents in the arts. A society
that is rich in creative expression can explore social issues. In addition, the shared
experience of the arts helps to foster a strong sense of community.
3. Higher Education Provides The Framework For Political Debate.
Within academia, there has been considerable debate about what the core elements
of the curricula should be. However, there is consensus on at least one of the most
important elements of any degree program: Students must learn how to form
arguments and analyze them. This may be covered in a class covering logical
arguments or taught during an English composition class.
Students who master this art graduate with the capability of contributing to the
political discourse within the country. While politics is often divisive, argument is
necessary in order to uncover the best course of action for government. Some

2. theorists postulate that the enhanced political discord within our country may be
related to a decrease in the number of college educated Americans.
4. The Global Economy Requires A Highly Educated Workforce.
With the rise of the Internet and the increase in international trade and competition,
nations around the world are finding new opportunities for their citizens. In fact, a
rise in a country's GDP is closely linked to the number of college graduates it
produces.
While scientists and engineers are vital to the rise of an economy, business majors
and design students are also integral for success. In fact, the more diverse the
degrees granted are, the better equipped the economy is to withstand the rapid
changes occurring on a global scale. If business is the driver of a vital national or
local culture, then education is the key.
5. Widespread Access To Higher Education Reduces Cultural Inequalities.
In the United States, outreach efforts to underrepresented communities are
becoming a top priority. A nation that ignores the intellectual capital within every
aspect of its population is a nation headed for an economic downturn. Outreach
efforts to minority groups and women in the areas of science and technology are
paying off big-time.
A diverse population in research means that problems are assessed from a
multicultural point of view. In fact, large retail corporations such as Target actively
recruit to gain a more diverse group of employees to better meet the needs of their
potential customers. Enrique Tomeu believes that a country that educates all of its
citizens gains in more ways than one.