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Preparing students for high demand professions

In the next decade a record number of Minnesotans will retire and our state’s educational institutions will be charged with the task of preparing individuals to fill this gap in the workforce. The 17 member institutions of the Minnesota Private College Council (MPCC) contribute a substantial portion of new graduates in the state — 30% of bachelor’s degrees and a fifth of all graduate degrees. Many of these degrees are in high-demand fields.

Bachelor's degrees earned in Minnesota

Considering health and STEM fields
With our aging population, the need for health professionals in Minnesota is growing. Minnesota will soon not have enough nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists and other health care providers to take care of the state's residents. The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) reports that between 2006 and 2016, health care employment is projected to grow 25% in Minnesota. In fact, three out of five of the most in demand occupations now are health professions, amounting to more than 43,500 job openings.

MPCC institutions play a large role in preparing students for these highly demanded professions — accounting for 39% of the health profession bachelor’s degrees awarded in the state. This is double what the University of Minnesota contributes and only slightly less than the collective contribution of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. MPCC member institutions also award a large number of master’s degrees in health related disciplines each year.

With science and technology continuing to change the nature of our everyday lives and the future of our economy, building the necessary foundation through education is a critical issue. DEED projections indicate that about 12% of job growth in Minnesota between 2006 and 2016 will be in occupations related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Education in STEM fields has long been a cornerstone at MPCC institutions. Of bachelor’s degrees awarded in STEM disciplines in the state, 28% are earned by our students. MPCC institutions also contribute approximately a fifth of all STEM master’s degrees.

To meet future demands will require the combined efforts of research universities and community colleges, technical schools and liberal arts institutions. All are needed to meet Minnesotans’ varied educational needs.