to inform public dialogue about how students access higher education and whether or not they are successful. Institution
Higher Ed Spotlight
Basic Facts About U.S. Higher Education Today In today’s society, a postsecondary education is critical to good citizenship, individual opportunity, and national competitiveness. Higher education in the United States comprises thousands of institutions that serve a wide diversity of students and an equally wide variety of academic preparation levels. As the demand for higher education grows, unpacking this diversity has become important to inform public dialogue about how students access higher education and whether or not they are successful.
Institutions, Students, and Degree Production
Student Outcomes
Increases from 2002 to 2012
Students obtaining an undergraduate degree or certificate, or are still enrolled after 6 years at any institution
4,726 institutions currently offer postsecondary degrees
21 million
people are attending college
up
degrees and certificates are awarded annually
up
up
13%
31% 31% 24%
4.7 million
53%
24%
Still enrolled
10%
Completion at Different Institution Completion at Same Institution
15%
14% 59%
15% 13%
Remediation Rate
19%
13%
51%
Students taking at least one remedial course after enrolling
43%
13% 9%
13%
33% 26%
First-Year Dropout Rate
College freshmen not returning for their second year at any institution
Highly Mobile Learners
Students graduating from an institution different than their starting institution
Private nonprofit 4-year
Public 4-year
Widespread Payoffs of College Education
Compared with those with a high school credential only, college-educated adults are:
earning more
more likely to work
more likely to more likely to participate in have healthy civic activities habits
less likely to rely on public assistance
VOTE SOURCES: Baum, Sandy, and Jennifer Ma. 2014. Trends in College Pricing 2014. New York: The College Board. Baum, Sandy, Diane Cardenas Elliott, and Jennifer Ma. 2014. Trends in Student Aid 2014. New York: The College Board. Baum, Sandy, Jennifer Ma, and Kathleen Payea. 2013. Education Pays 2013: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society. New York: The College Board. National Center for Education Statistics. National Postsecondary Student Aid Study 2011–12. National Center for Education Statistics. 2014. Digest of Education Statistics. National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. 2014. Persistence and Retention–Snapshot Report, Spring 2014. http://nscresearchcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/SnapshotReport14-PersistenceRetention-.pdf. Shapiro, Doug, Afet Dundar, Mary Ziskin, Xin Yuan, and Autumn Harrell. 2013. Completing College: A National View of Student Attainment Rates. Herndon, VA: National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
Analysis by Mikyung Ryu
National average
Public 2-year
Private for-profit 4-year
Profile of College Students Typical undergraduates are no longer 18-year-olds straight out of high school.
74%
Post-traditional learners* on U.S. campuses today * Post-traditional learners are diverse, and include those who delayed entry to college after high school, obtained an alternative high school credential such as the GED® credential, studied part time at the start, were financially independent, had children, were single parents, or worked full time while enrolled. These characteristics are known to adversely affect college persistence and completion. American Council on Education © 2015
