New research shows the percentage of young Minnesotans enrolling in higher education has increased dramatically. Between 2003 and 2011, the rate increased from 68 percent to 78 percent - a 10 percent jump. This is great news for Minnesota's fast growing economy, which depends on a highly educated workforce.

To make further progress, last year Governor Dayton and the Legislature made the largest investment in student aid in a generation. This investment was important and urgent because Minnesota students borrow more money for education than the national average. This was a huge step in making more financial aid available for the students of Minnesota.

The Minnesota Measures: 2014 Report on Higher Education Performance also shows that 71 percent of first-time, full-time undergraduates depend on grants and scholarships to pay for their education. Commissioner Larry Pogemiller said the increasing enrollment of recent graduates shows the importance of the Minnesota State Grant, which provides need-based grants to over 100,000 Minnesotans.

Key Numbers:

2nd Minnesota's national rank for with the percentage of the population age 25 to 44 earning an associate degree or higher

73% Percentage of Minnesota students who earned certificates or degrees in 2010-2011 that were employed in Minnesota one year after graduation

50% Percent increase in academic awards earned by Minnesota students during the last decade

11% Percent increase in enrollment of students of color at Minnesota colleges and universities in the last decade