Big Brains Are Sexy, Says New Study by EarnMyDegree.com

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - October 21, 2009) - Forget extra makeup, high heels, and extra hours at the gym -- true sexiness lies in an abundance of IQ points. Eight in ten (80%) Americans admit they find smarter people more attractive, according to a new study commissioned by EarnMyDegree.com (http://www.earnmydegree.com), a web resource of EducationDynamics.

The study, "Knowledge is Prowess," was fielded in September by Kelton Research and garnered 1,000 responses by Americans. Interestingly, the younger Americans are, the sharper they want their mate to be. Eight-three percent of those between the ages of 18 to 44 years old indicated that they tend to find their potential mates or significant other sexier when they are smarter, compared to 77 percent of those ages 45 plus. And, a slight difference in opinion comes with 81 percent of women agreeing with the statement versus 79 percent of men.

"Despite common myths about brawn over brains, this study confirms the opposite," said Terrence Thomas, with EarnMyDegree.com. "And it demonstrates that education has its perks."

The people of New York agree. EarnMyDegree.com took to the streets of New York to ask people their thoughts on whether it matters to have a beautiful brain and most people said their attraction level diminishes if beauty isn't backed up by brains. Even the Naked Cowboy, a New York City icon, agreed with the research, saying a college degree is sexy. All of the interviews, including the Naked Cowboy's comments, can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwp614r-IhE or on http://www.EarnMyDegree.com.

About EarnMyDegree.com

EarnMyDegree.com, part of the Prospecting Services Division of EducationDynamics, is a network of leading websites that connect prospective students with colleges, universities and online learning programs. Established in 2003, EarnMyDegree.com serves as a one-stop directory for undergraduate and advanced degrees, as well as professional certificates in a variety of fields from business to healthcare to technology. EarnMyDegree.com's team of marketing experts, designers and copywriters have a proven track record for optimizing marketing campaign results to increase qualified leads. More than 3 million students have been connected to the online education programs of their choice through EarnMyDegree.com. To learn more, visit http://www.EarnMyDegree.com.

About EducationDynamics

EducationDynamics, a portfolio company of Halyard Capital, is higher education's leading marketing services company dedicated to helping institutions find, enroll and retain students. Its content-rich and highly visible education websites, including EarnMyDegree.com, eLearners.com, GradSchools.com, StudyAbroad.com, and its more than 50 special interest microsites, make EducationDynamics the premier provider of qualified prospective students for colleges and universities. In addition, the company offers a full suite of Web-delivered services proven to drive enrollment growth and reduce student attrition. Through its Market Research and Advisory Services division, the company brings a decade of proprietary research, unparalleled market and student intelligence, and best practice insights to its clients. For more information, visit http://www.educationdynamics.com.

Survey Methodology

The EarnMyDegree.com Survey was conducted by Kelton Research among 1,000 nationally representative Americans ages 18 and over between September 22nd and September 29th, 2009, using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the entire U.S. population ages 18 and over.

Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results.

In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.