Nova Scotia Grads Staying in Province

The majority of Nova Scotian university graduates are staying in the Maritimes, a new interprovincial study shows.

Two Years On - A Survey of the Class of 2003 Maritime University Graduates was released by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission today, June 5.

Some of the key findings:

• 89 per cent of the graduates from Nova Scotia's universities, regardless of their province of origin, stayed in the province. This is the highest retention rate in the region.

• 74 per cent of graduates from the province were still in Nova Scotia two years after graduation.

• About one in four out-of-province students (26 per cent) who graduate from Maritime universities remain in the region.

"Clearly, our graduates know they have a promising future in Nova Scotia," said Education Minister Karen Casey. "For most, that future begins shortly after graduation."

Graduates from the class of 2003, including 63 per cent of first degree holders, tended to have jobs that paid above the provincial average salary of $33,077.

"For several years, this government has been working hard to attract employers who can offer higher-paying and satisfying careers to our graduates and those efforts are paying off," said Ms. Casey.

Within two years of graduation, 56 per cent of the Nova Scotia's graduates chose to further their education. One in four went on to earn a bachelor of education degree; 26 per cent completed a master' or doctoral degree; 17 per cent earned a second bachelor-level degree and 15 per cent completed a college program. Liberal arts and sciences graduates were twice as likely to return to university, compared with applied arts and sciences grads.

About two out of three first-degree holders took out loans to finance their education and the average debt in 2005 was $27,500. More graduates are taking out larger loans, especially those grads who returned to school. Forty-four per cent of first-degree holders borrowed $33,000 or more by 2005. One in three had difficulty making student-loan payments.

In September 2003, the government of Nova Scotia introduced a new student debt-reduction program. As a result, students who graduated after the class of 2003 could have a lower debt burden.

Ms. Casey pointed to government commitments such as lowering tuition to the national average by 2010/11 as measures that will maintain Nova Scotia's distinction as Canada's education province.

The province has reduced tuition that Nova Scotian students in Nova Scotian universities pay by $500 since September 2006.

In addition, Nova Scotia has lowered the expected parental contribution in 2005 and 2006, making more students eligible for government-sponsored student loans. There are more loan-forgiveness and debt-management options associated with government-sponsored programs.

In 2005, Nova Scotia introduced the Millennium Access Grant to help students from low-income families fund the first year of university studies. A needs-based grant will be available, starting in September, that will help students from low-income families complete programs of study.

Ninety-five per cent of Nova Scotia graduates said they would choose to go to university if they had it all to do over again.

In 2004-05, there were 45,000 university students in Nova Scotia.

The complete report is available online at www.mphec.ca .