College graduates are earn a lot more than people with only a high school diploma, on average. They tend to be healthier and happier. But most Americans aren't completing college, according to a new report by the National Center for Education Statistics.
Federal researchers tracked federal more than 20,000 students who started ninth grade in 2009, reports Sarah D. Sparks on Education Week. Eight years after they should have finished high school, two-thirds had not completed a vocational certificate or college degree.
Twenty-six percent of students who started ninth grade in 2009 didn't go on to enroll in college, and another 40 percent enrolled but didn't finish a certificate or degree within eight years, the longitudinal study found.
Of those who ever enrolled in college, 60 percent completed a certificate or degree.
Not surprisingly, students from affluent families were more likely to enroll in college and complete degrees.
Asian-American students, who tend to have the highest grades and test scores, were the most likely to enroll in college (86 percent) and to earn a bachelor's degree (67 percent). Whites were next (75 percent enrolled, 50 percent earned a four-year degree), followed by Hispanics (65 percent, 30 percent) and blacks (59 percent, 29 percent.)
Students who'd earned dual-enrollment credits in high school were more likely to complete a degree.
Only 19 percent of college enrollees completed a STEM credential. In another non-surprise, success rates correlated with high school math grades.
Americans are losing confidence in higher education: Only 36 percent of those polled by Gallup last year said they have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in higher education, down from 57 percent in 2015. Even among college graduates, only half express "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in higher education.
College readiness is down due to Covid disruptions. High absenteeism, high anxiety and smartphone addiction will make young people even less prepared for higher education (or the workforce). Maybe they can all be influencers.