different ways, but the one used here strives to place a value on the educational benefit received by ISU graduates. According to a similar assessment conducted by Boise State University3, a 1993 male college student’s lifetime earnings are enhanced by $456,362 over earnings he would have received with only a high school diploma. Similar estimates are generated for female graduates, and for recipients of occupational certificates, academic Associate degrees and Master degrees. Based on the number of each type of graduate and their gender, the lifetime earnings of ISU’s 2,083 graduates for the year 1996 are increased by an aggregated $863 million! To realize an equivalent 40-year return, the initial investment would be valued at $466 million assuming an estimated 3% annual rate of return.Table 7: 40 Year Estimated Lifetime Earnings Differential for ISU Graduates Estimated Aggregated Lifetime Earnings Differential GraduatesAll 1995-96 GraduatesIdaho Resident Graduates Occupational (VoTech)521$72,961,728$42,242,026 Academic AA17$3,845,089$2,226,158 BA1,047$588,928,485$340,966,875 MA498$197,222,276$114,184,090 Totals2,083$862,957,578$499,619,150 Based on information compiled by ISU’s Office of Alumni Relations, about 58% of all known graduates of ISU programs reside within the State of Idaho. Proportionately, Idaho residents realize a lifetime earnings enhancement of $499 million because of their educational attainment, with a present value of approximately $307 million. This present value is roughly equivalent to the "human capital" return on ISU’s activity.In addition to the estimated value of an education received by ISU’s graduates, the University has been shown (Table 6) to annually stimulate approximately $191 million worth of economic activity within the Pocatello area. Combined, the two forms of benefits total $498 millio...
