Catching Up: Researchers Track 6,000 Alaskans’ Paths After Their 2005 High School Graduations
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Almost 18 years ago, approximately 6,000 young individuals from Alaska graduated from high school and ventured into adulthood. Where did their paths lead them?
As of 2021, around half of them were still residing in Alaska, but the percentage was significantly lower for those who pursued college degrees outside of the state, as stated in a study conducted by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The findings have been published in the February edition of Alaska Economic Trends, the department’s monthly magazine dedicated to research and analysis.
Dan Robinson, the chief of research and analysis at the department and one of the report’s coauthors, emphasized that there was no special significance attached to the class of 2005. However, it was the oldest group for which researchers were able to gather substantial information.
This current report serves as a follow-up to previous reports published in 2012 and 2017 in Alaska Economic Trends, which examined the circumstances and movements of the class of 2005 five years after their high school graduation. These studies were conducted as part of a collaborative project involving the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, and the University of Alaska.
According to the newly published report, approximately three-quarters of the Alaskan high school graduates from 2005 chose to pursue higher education at some point, and roughly one-third of them obtained bachelor’s or associate degrees by 2021.
Regarding those members of the class of 2005 who earned their college degrees within Alaska, 55% were still residing in the state by 2021. However, for those who obtained their degrees outside of Alaska, only 25% were living in the state by 2021.
The possible implications of an Alaska "brain drain" can be interpreted differently. During the period observed, Robinson noted that there were numerous individuals with degrees from other places who relocated to Alaska, indicating a long-standing pattern of demographic fluctuations.
"It has always been an exchange of talent. We receive and we contribute," he stated.
The analysis discovered that most of the high school graduates from 2005 who attended college did so within Alaska. However, among those who left the state for college, the most popular destinations were Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and California.
The college experiences of the class of 2005, who are now in their 30s, largely predate Alaska’s 10-year period of net outmigration. Robinson believes that in recent years, the percentage of Alaska students attending college outside the state has likely increased.
The report also examined the professional and income outcomes for this group. By 2021, healthcare stood as the leading professional category for those who held degrees from the class of 2005, possibly indicating the sector’s significance in the overall economy. For those without degrees, the top professional category was construction trades.
The results showed that class members who obtained some form of college degree earned significantly higher salaries compared to their peers without degrees. However, this outcome took time to materialize. In the first few years following high school, those who did not attend college or attended without obtaining a degree earned more than degree-holders. The turning point occurred in 2011, and by 2021, the average annual earnings for degree-holders from the class of 2005 was $70,642, compared to $52,270 for those with some college but no degree, and $49,284 for those without any college education.
Alaska Beacon is an independent part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. For any inquiries, please reach out to Editor Andrew Kitchenman: info@alaskabeacon.com. Stay updated by following Alaska Beacon on Facebook and Twitter.
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