UW joins with WSU to promote affordability of public higher education

Jackson Holtz UW News

Public higher education is not just possible, it is easily within reach for Washington residents. That’s the message behind a new joint public-awareness campaign of the University of Washington and Washington State University to promote the affordability of higher education in the state of Washington.

The two rivals are coming together to spread the word about the importance and value of a higher education.

The “Yes, It’s Possible,” campaign debuts Monday — kicking off Apple Cup week — with a string of joint activities designed to raise awareness of the access to higher education in the state. Scheduled to continue through spring, the effort features a digital marketing campaign and other targeted advertising aimed at potential college students.

For media B-roll and soundbites available. Download here.

“Students and their families read these headlines about the massive debt load that students are under and the exorbitant cost of getting a bachelor’s degree, and we’re concerned that they might be making decisions based on that when, in fact, our public institutions in the state of Washington are doing a fabulous job of keeping it affordable,” said UW President Ana Mari Cauce. “That’s the notion of, ‘Yes, it’s possible.’ We want them to know that if they want to go to college in our state, in our public universities and community colleges, it is possible for them to go to school and it doesn’t take crippling debt loads.”

Higher education is the surest path to mobility, opportunity and a better life, university officials said. Regardless of background, interest or hometown, there’s a clear path to a quality higher education in Washington. Higher education pays dividends by providing access to healthier, more rewarding lives, as well as increased participation in communities and a chance to provide for families.

“We compete on Friday, but we’re both working hard to try and make sure that Washington kids have a great opportunity to access higher education,” said WSU President Kirk Schulz. “The Apple Cup presents a great time for us to be talking about some of the things our universities are doing together. There are myths that float around about students not being able to attend college, and we want to be able to talk to them about how higher education is achievable.”

Statistics show student loan debts in the state of Washington are not as large as many might think. Nearly half (48 percent) of the Class of 2017 that graduated from a Washington baccalaureate-granting institution left with no student loan debt, and Washington ranks second in the nation in need-based grant aid per undergrad student (behind New Jersey by $6 per student). Of those who did graduate with debt across the state, it was less than $24,000, on average, and the three-year student-loan default rate for graduates from Washington’s four-year universities is 4.7 percent, compared to the national average of 11.5 percent.

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CONTACTS:

Victor Balta, senior director of media relations, University of Washington

(206) 543-2580 / balta@uw.edu

Phil Weiler, vice president for marketing and communications, Washington State University

(509) 335-1221 / phil.weiler@wsu.edu