Alberta colleges add $3.6 billion to province’s economy

Colleges in Alberta make a significant impact on the province, adding $3.6 billion to its economy in 2011-12 alone, reveals a study released this week by 8 Alberta colleges. The study also shows that attending college “pays huge dividends” for students who complete PSE, reduces costs for taxpayers, and boosts revenue for businesses who hire college graduates. It also reveals that students in the province receive an average internal rate of return of 20.8% on their educational investment; those who complete 2-year diplomas in Alberta will earn $43,700 at the midpoint of their careers, $14,700 more than someone with a high school diploma. The report uses data collected from the individual institutions, Statistics Canada, and the Alberta government. Colleges News Release