by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman

Starting with his inaugural address, Mayor Michael Nutter often speaks about the fact that only 18% of adults over 25 in Philadelphia have bachelor’s degrees.

In the city, it’s estimated that there are more than 70,000 adults who started, but never completed college. That puts our place at 92nd of the nation’s 100 largest cities with residents without degrees.

So it came as good news that a program called Graduate! Philadelphia opened at 9th and Market Streets in the Gallery at the existing College Access Center to help people re-enter college and be on the road to better economic futures for themselves and for the city.

In Boston, 25% of the workforce has a college degree. In Seattle it’s 36%.

It’s a walk-in center where prospective “come backers” can get help in putting together tax documents, and filling out the federal financial aid forms, and talk one-to-one with an advisor. It’s open Monday through Saturday.

Started by the Pennsylvania Economy League and the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Fund, the project has attracted several college partners. For more information, call 215-574-1341.