Are college graduation rates declining?

Experts said GW's four-year graduation rate decrease of 4 percent between the Class of 2021 and Class of 2022 is in line with universities across the country and is indicative of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are college graduation rates going down?

This six-year college completion rate has remained virtually stagnant since 2021, and the graduation rate is even lower for some demographics and within certain types of institutions. College dropout rates are also relatively high at 32.9 percent.

Are college degrees declining?

The number of bachelor's degree earners fell by 2.4 percent, the first drop in a decade. The number of first-time certificate earners, meanwhile, rose by 9 percent.

Are less people going to college now?

College enrollment among young Americans has been declining gradually over the past decade. In 2022, the total number of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in college was down by approximately 1.2 million from its peak in 2011. Most of the decline is due to fewer young men pursuing college.

What is causing the decline in college enrollment?

One factor behind falling college enrollment is a shrinking U.S. birth rate. Tuition inflation might be another factor behind the college enrollment decline. In a 2022 BestColleges survey, more than 6 in 10 Americans said that the financial burden of earning a degree made college inaccessible.

U.S. graduation rates are on a sharp decline

Are less people going to college 2023?

I am a former university president who writes about higher education. Overall college enrollment fell about . 5% in spring 2023 vs. spring 2022, a loss of about 93,000 students overall.

Why is the college dropout rate increasing?

There is a direct correlation between lower income and an increased risk of dropout among all postsecondary students. Older students are also more likely to drop out than students who first enrolled as teenagers. There is a lower percentage of college dropouts between the ages of 35 and 64 than under 35.

What percentage of Americans had college degrees in 1970?

More- over, in 1970, the proportion of the adults who had completed 4 or more years of college was 11 per- cent as compared with only 8 percent in 1960 (table A). These 1970 findings are based on the March 1970 Current Population Survey conducted by the Bureau of the Census.

What percent of Americans have a college degree?

In the Census Bureau's most recent 2022 findings, the percentage of people with a bachelor's degree or higher remained stable from the previous year at around 37.7%. Americans are still prioritizing college and doing so in record numbers.

How many Americans don't go to college?

How many people don't go to college? In 2021, roughly 62% of people ages 18-24 were not enrolled in college. According to the Census Bureau's population estimates, that's about 19.3 million people.

Why degrees don t matter anymore?

A degree requirement eliminates a significant swath of the American population from jobs “at a time when employers [already] struggle to find talent,” the study's authors noted. Based on current trends, they projected 1.4 million jobs could open up to workers without college degrees in the next five years.

Why college degrees are losing value?

The Declining Value of College Degrees

The converging trends of a competitive labor market, ballooning university tuitions, new online learning alternatives, and fast-changing job roles has created a tipping point in the perceived value of college degrees.

Are college degrees useful anymore?

They used to be a huge differentiator, but since more people are going to college over the last 30 years, the degrees alone won't set you apart like they used to do. The school you earned your degree from, the internship experience you gained, and the tangible skills you bring are all relevant in the job market.

How rare is a 4.0 GPA?

99.24% of schools have an average GPA below a 4.0.

What states have the worst graduation rates?

At the other end of the spectrum, some states had significantly lower averages. In D.C., the average high school graduation rate was nearly 73% in the 2021-2022 academic year, the lowest of any state. Other states with lower graduation rates – under 78% – include New Mexico, Arizona and Alaska.

Why is the US graduation rate so low?

Student frustration and failure contribute to a low graduation rate. Some students may struggle academically and do not advance once in high school because of failed classes. The failure may be a result of an undiagnosed or diagnosed learning disability, apathy or lack of strong academic potential.

What is the most educated race in the United States?

Asian Americans had the highest educational attainment of any race, followed by whites who had a higher percentage of high school graduates but a lower percentage of college graduates. Persons identifying as Hispanic or Latino, without regard to race, had the lowest educational attainment.

What degree is actually worth it?

STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) degrees dominate the list of collegiate programs that lead to top-paying careers. While some bachelor's degrees in the humanities and social sciences don't typically offer high salaries, they can provide a foundation for a graduate degree and a more lucrative career.

Which race has the highest college graduation rate?

The average six-year graduation rates for Black and Hispanic students who entered the College between 2008 and 2016 were 89 and 91 percent, compared to 96 and 97 percent for white and Asian students. Other private, not-for-profit institutions see similar trends.

How educated is the average American?

In 2021, about 37.7 percent of the U.S. population who were aged 25 and above had graduated from college or another higher education institution, a slight decline from 37.9 the previous year.

How much did a college degree cost in 1990?

College Costs in the 1990s

In the 1989-90 academic year, tuition at the average public 4-year institution was $1,780. In 1999-2000, tuition at a public 4-year institution averaged $3,349, an average annual growth rate of 8.8%.

What percent of Democrats have college degrees?

Nearly half (48 percent) of Democrats today have a four-year college degree, a dramatic increase since the last 1990s when only about one in four had a college education. Much of this change is the result of the growing number of college-educated women who identify as Democrat.

What state has the highest dropout rate?

2013–2017 average status dropout rates by state

The average 2013–2017 status dropout rates ranged from 3.8 percent in Massachusetts to 9.6 percent in Louisiana (figure 2.6 and table 2.3).

What year do most college students drop out?

Between 2019 and 2020, about 24% of first-time, full-time undergraduate first-year students dropped out of college. In 2021, 31.6% of students who enrolled in 2015 were no longer enrolled six years later and had not received their degree.

What happens to most college dropouts?

Whether you hold a college degree or not can be a significant factor in determining your career path. Many higher-paying occupations require a degree. Without one, college dropouts may find themselves funneled into lower-paying jobs. College dropouts earn, on average, $21,000 less per year than college grads.