facts

• Since 1993 colleges across the nation have witnessed a record high in students ages 18 to 24. As of 2002 the number of traditional students attending college reached ten million. Even if the proportion of students continuing on to college soon after high school rise no further, the number of students under age 25 will increase markedly over the next decade as the large generation born in the late 1980’s and 1990’s matriculate.
  
  
• With universities unable to grow fast enough to meet demands, pressure is being added to the student’s overburdened workload. Libraries and classrooms are fast becoming overcrowded and finding a suitable place to study is now an additional hurdle to overcome.
  
  
• The average tuition for room and board (for in-state students) at the nation’s four-year public colleges and universities for an academic year is $9,326, up 75 percent from 1990. At the nations four-year private colleges and universities, average tuition for room and board is up 84 percent to $27,711. This amount of investment deserves suitable accommodations in which to live.
  
  
• The estimated lifetime earnings of a professional holding a degree in medical, law, dentistry or veterinary medicine is 4.4 million dollars. This compares to 3.4 million for those with PhD’s, 2.5 million for master’s degree-holders and 2.1 million for those with bachelor’s degrees. Competition to garner these highly sought after jobs is on the rise as well.
  
  
• With the United States pulling out of the recession, employment is stabilizing but not growing to meet the demands of today’s college graduates. This places even more pressure on the students to perform and gain that much sought after career.
  
  
• Since 1979 women have held the majority status in college enrollment. As the population increases on campuses across the nation so does the need for extra security.