Student loans are an investment with an expected output of new innovation and jobs. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics have the highest likelihood of generating these outputs.
New Commerce Department Report shows:
- In the past 10 years, growth in STEM jobs was three times greater than that of non-STEM jobs
- STEM jobs are expected to continue to grow at a faster rate than other jobs in the coming decade.
- STEM workers command higher wages, earning 26 percent more than their non-STEM counterparts
- The U.S. needs 400,000 new graduates in STEM fields by 2015
In order to maximize our investment in student loans, we should restrict loans to STEM fields.