JA students, when compared to the general public, go on to have higher levels of educational attainment, career satisfaction, financial capability, entrepreneurial activity, and household income. At the same time, a considerable portion of JA Alumni credit Junior Achievement for promoting their understanding of business, influencing their career goals, fostering a sense of self-belief, and enhancing their understanding of how money works.*
The Need
91% of local jobs that can support a family of three in Colorado require a credential past high school, while only 62% of Coloradans have a post-secondary credential or degree.
43% of American adults are “financially illiterate” – entering adulthood with little understanding of how to manage their money, the basic costs of daily life, and the connection between their education and their income potential.
51% of Americans did not estimate what their payments would be before getting a student loan.
JA Students
In the 2021 school year, JA-Rocky Mountain reached 71,803 students in 418 Colorado and Wyoming schools.
31% of students receive free or reduced lunch, a nationally recognized indicator of poverty.
JA Alumni are Motivated
More than 90% of JA Alumni say that their Junior Achievement experience motivated them to learn, according to research from Ipsos.
JA Alumni Believe in Themselves
According to research by Ipsos, 92% of JA Alumni say their Junior Achievement experience influenced their belief that they could achieve their goals
Living “Paycheck-to-Paycheck”
Nearly two-thirds of Americans report living “paycheck-to-paycheck,” according to Lending Club. Less than half of Junior Achievement alumni say the same, according to Ipsos.
JA Alumni
JA Alumni Work and Career
According to research firm Ipsos, Junior Achievement alumni say JA played an important role in their professional development and determining their career paths. They also find their work and career extremely fulfilling.
JA Alumni are More Prepared for Retirement.
According to the Ipsos JA Alumni Survey, 68 percent of JA Alumni between the ages of 18 and 34 are saving for retirement. Research by CFP Board/Morning Consult shows that 40 percent of Americans that age are saving.
About three-in-four JA alumni report being homeowners, according to research by Ipsos. A report Statistica shows that two-thirds of Americans are homeowners.*
According to the Ipsos JA Alumni Survey, 68 percent of JA Alumni between the ages of 18 and 34 are saving for retirement. Research by CFP Board/Morning Consult shows that 40 percent of Americans that age are saving.*
Research by Ipsos shows that more than two-thirds of Junior Achievement alumni say they work in their “Dream Career.” According to a report by MidAmerica Nazarene College, one in four Americans say the same.*
Educators & Volunteers
Teachers say that JA is a valuable experience.
94% of teachers who had JA programs in their classroom report that it was a positive experience that provided value to their students.
Volunteers say JA programs are meaningful.
96% of JA volunteers said their experience was meaningful.
Results and data presented on this page are based on both an external evaluation conducted by QREM, LLC, and internal analysis. Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain, Inc. has randomly selected students by classroom and assigned them into one of three groups as participants in a third-party evaluation. Testing effects were monitored, and other mitigating factors such as low-income status were controlled. Statistical testing included determining differences between pre- and posttests, examining correlational findings, and building structural equation models to determine impacts. Sample sizes in matched groups exceeded minimal standards for each level (elementary, middle, and high) and each group. The results and findings presented in this report are statistically significant with a confidence level of 95% or higher.
These are the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between June 13-15, 2022. For this survey, a sample of 7,427 Americans age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii was interviewed online in English. This includes 1,003 Junior Achievement Alumni.
* JA alumni data is based on the findings from a Junior Achievement USA scientific survey conducted by Ipsos of JA alumni. Read the 2022 survey report here.
