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Education
Post-secondary
KEY FINDINGS:
Thirty-two percent of Sangamon County residents have a bachelor’s degree or
advanced degree. Almost half (44 percent) of these individuals received this degree
from a local college or university.
Almost all (96 percent) of Sangamon County residents report that post-high school
institutions are important to the region. Ninety percent report that it is either “very
important” (55 percent) or “somewhat important” (35 percent) for an individual to
have a college degree. These numbers are identical to the 2013 findings.
Somewhat less than half of college graduates living in Sangamon County used public
or private student loans to pay for their college education. Individuals without a
college degree (individuals who attended trade school or some college) borrowed on
average, $13,300. College graduates, those who completed a four-year college
degree, borrowed, on average, $26,589. Individuals who have an advanced degree
borrowed, on average, $38,837 (see figure below).
Younger adults report borrowing at a higher rate; individuals between the ages of 18
and 24 years old report that they borrowed, on average, $37,816.
$45,000
$40,000
Student loan status and average
amount borrowed
31%
31%
35%
$38,837
30%
$35,000
24%
25%
$30,000
$25,000
19%
$20,000
$26,589
20%
14%
15%
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
10%
$13,300
4%
$0
0%
Some college or
College graduate
Advanced degree
trade school
Percent still making payments
Percent in deferment or forbearance
Linear (Average amount borrowed )
1
5%
Sangamon
County citizens
borrow $25,440
to attend postsecondary
institutions.
Americans, in
general, borrow
$28,400 to
attend postsecondary
institutions.1
Illinois residents
borrow $28,543
to attend postsecondary
institutions.
Data is available from the Institute for College Access & Success at http://ticas.org/posd/map-state-data#.