ACHIEVEability strives to help its families become financially self-sufficient. A family's financial progress is measured by credit score, savings and earned income. We use the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania as a measuring tool to determine each parent's progress toward financial self-sufficiency.

The average ACHIEVEability family is comprised of one adult and two children and is earning $19,153 per year, which is 57% of the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania in Philadelphia County.

During the past two years, 25 ACHIEVEability parents earned college degrees. Upon entering the program for these parents:

• The average hourly wage was $9.76.
• The average yearly earnings was $20,301.

Upon earning degrees for these 16 parents:

• The average hourly wage was $16.20.
• The average yearly earnings was $33,697.

This represents an increase in earning of 66% for these families bringing their average earnings above the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania in Philadelphia County. This increase in annual earnings of more than $13,000 reinforces the importance of education in breaking the cycle of poverty.