Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) - National Technical ...

GRADUATION AND PERSISTENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Preparing deaf and hard-of-hearing students to live and work in the mainstream of society is the primary
reason NTID was established in 1965. Prior to 1965, there were few postsecondary educational
opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing students and virtually none in technical studies. As a result,
nearly 85 percent of deaf adults in the early 1960s found themselves in unskilled or semi-skilled jobs.
Today, NTID’s highly successful academic programs and services are leading graduates to successful
careers in a broad range of fields. Over the past five years, 94 percent of graduates who chose to enter
the labor force found employment that is commensurate with the level of their education and training.
Figures for 2008 graduates show that 90 percent, or 102 of the 113 students who chose to enter the work
force, found employment.
These statistics reflect the quality of an NTID education and its value. According to a study conducted by
NTID with the Social Security Administration (SSA) in 2004, and updated in 2007, male graduates of
NTID’s sub-baccalaureate programs (diplomas, certificates and associate degrees) earn 43 percent more
in their lifetimes than students who withdraw from NTID. As a result, NTID graduates pay more in federal
taxes. As the numbers of deaf and hard-of-hearing students in baccalaureate and graduate degrees in
other colleges of RIT increase, so too does their potential earning power. Female graduates also do
better than females who do not complete degrees, although the earnings differences are not as great as
for male graduates. Female graduates earn approximately 25 percent less than their male counterparts
earn upon graduation. This fact needs to be tempered by the differing career choices made by males and
females. For example, in the B.S. cohorts studied, 69 percent of male graduates have degrees in
Business, Science, Applied Science and Technology, and Engineering, while only 40 percent of females
graduated in these higher-paying fields. Conversely, 60 percent of females received their B.S. degrees in
Imaging Arts and Liberal Arts, while only 31 percent of males received degrees in these traditionally
lower-paying areas. Therefore, a true measure of gender bias, if any, would require matching degree
areas among genders, which this study did not undertake. These gender based patterns and pay
differentials are very similar to what is experienced in the general U.S. population.*
We know that quality employment and high earnings accrue to college graduates. Generally, we also
know that students who withdraw fare no better earnings-wise than their peers who never went to college.
With this in mind, NTID employs a variety of innovative strategies to improve persistence. Persistence is a
continuing concern for colleges with “open” or “liberal” admissions policies like NTID. The college fares
quite well; its overall graduation rate for students entering degree programs more closely approximates
the rate in colleges and universities with higher or more “traditional” entrance requirements.
Notwithstanding these positive comparisons, NTID continues to work at improving its graduation rate.
For academic year 2008-09, RIT/NTID awarded 284 associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well
as diplomas and certificates to students. Of those graduates, three percent earned certificates and
diplomas, 38 percent earned associate degrees, 43 percent earned bachelor’s degrees and 16 percent
earned master’s degrees. Of the U.S. students, 26 percent of degrees were granted to minority students.
Most of our graduates who choose to enter the labor market, successfully find jobs upon graduation,
and most are in jobs commensurate with the level of their academic training. Of those, the vast
majority are employed in business and industry (71%). The 2004 SSA research also showed that our
deaf and hard-of-hearing graduates with bachelor’s degrees earn 79 percent of what their hearing
peers earn (hearing RIT graduates). National statistics indicate that, in general, disabled workers
earn only 70 percent of what their non-disabled peers earn. If we add to the equation the fact that a
college degree greatly reduces dependency on Supplemental Social Security transfer payments, the
reasons for the dedication of NTID faculty and staff to assure that students graduate and succeed
is clear.
* U.S. Bureau of Census, Current Population Survey, 1991 – 2002 Annual Demographic Supplement.
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