State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) is celebrating National Financial Awareness Day celebrated on August 14 by welcoming new and prospective students to campus that week. In Manatee and Sarasota counties more than 121,000 people over the age of 25 have some college experience but no associate degree, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey. Studies show that finishing a degree or completing a certificate program can help boost economic opportunities for those individuals.
Financial Awareness Day is a great opportunity for “near-completers” to evaluate their best educational, career and pay options. Finishing a college degree can offer workers more financial independence, and sound financial decisions now can pay greater dividends in the long run. It can also help boost the region’s financial wherewithal. Employers are searching for workers with more training and credentials, as more jobs require a higher level of skills. Research shows that college graduates earn more than people with less education and that graduates have lower unemployment rates and more insulation from economic downturns.
SCF offers concierge-style services to help students find what they need. SCF advisors can evaluate the credits “near-completers” already have and assist in putting together a plan to earn a certificate or degree. SCF is more affordable than universities and offers financial aid and scholarships to help pay for college.
There is still time to register for fall classes at SCF. There’s no better time than National Financial Awareness Day to get on the path to completing a degree to secure your financial future.
For more information, visit SCF.edu.