Report: State needs to boost number with post-high school degree

LANSING (AP) — A report says Michigan needs 779,000 more residents with a post-secondary degree or certificate within 10 years to meet employer needs and join the ranks of best-educated states, a sizable increase from current levels.

Forty-six percent of citizens have degrees or certificates now.

The report recommends 60 percent have a college degree, graduate degree or technical certificate by 2025.

The report comes from a workgroup of university leaders, business executives, lawmakers, Gov. Rick Snyder’s office and others.

Recommendations include launching a marketing campaign and hiring more high school counselors and college advisers.

Other suggestions include tripling the number of high school students in early college and career technical education courses, increasing need-based financial aid and streamlining credit transfers from community college.