Higher education pays off in Illinois, but economic barriers persist, study says

By Kate Armanini | Chicago Tribune
Originally Published: August 11, 2025 at 5:00 AM CDT
Updated:  August 11, 2025 at 12:57 PM CDT

Tyshawn Allison dreamed of leaving Chicago for a prestigious out-of-state university.
 
But for most of high school, that dream felt out of reach. The 19-year-old had no idea how he’d afford rising tuition costs — and he doubted his grades would be enough for a scholarship. Only a handful of his friends from his Belmont Cragin school made it to college. Many dropped out.
 
“There were times in high school where I felt like a failure,” said Allison.
 
It was his mom who first suggested Wilbur Wright College. Two years later, Allison holds an associate’s degree in accounting, and will transfer to a four-year university without any debt.

“I wanted to end the circle of stereotypes,” he said. “That’s really what made me want to push myself.”

Higher education remains the strongest pathway towards economic mobility. But students from low-income backgrounds and minority groups are still significantly less likely to pursue or complete a college degree, according to a July report from the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative, which studies the education-to-workforce pipeline.

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