Oklahoma recognizes the need to improve college attainment if our state is to compete economically.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, in Brain Gain 2010: Building Oklahoma Through Intellectual Power, set specific college attainment targets so that Oklahoma college attainment rates would meet or exceed national averages by 2010. Going further, Oklahoma, through the Economic Development Generating Excellence (EDGE) initiative, set a goal for Oklahoma to become the "Research Capital of the Plains."

Building educational and research assets, though, is not the only ingredient requisite for economic growth. Learning to save and build assets like home ownership and for a business raises economic expectations and helps break the cycle of poverty. Having assets ties people to their communities and success, and encourages greater financial and personal responsibility. With a little investment, people who would otherwise have no wealth can learn to build assets and, as a result, build Oklahoma's economy.