In recent decades the United States has come to a virtual halt in increasing college participation.
Exacerbated by a failed economy, the percentage of college-age students graduating from liberal arts institutions has declined as young Americans struggle to afford a college education.
“(Despite the current financial crisis) it is important to see this as a longer-term trend that has been going on for 20 years or more,” said Dana Professor of Psychology Richie Zweigenhaft. “During the Reagan administration, more people became very wealthy but there were also fewer people occupying the middle class. Even in the Clinton years, which were seen as very prosperous, the middle class did not improve as much as the top.”
According to the National Report Card on Higher Education, for most of the 1990’s the United States ranked last among 14 nations surveyed in rising college participation rates.
Today, the United States still ranks among the top countries in educational attainment for older adults (ages 35-64), but dropped to seventh for younger adults (ages 25-35). America ranks in the bottom half of developed nations, 16th out of 27 countries, for college completion.
According to an op-ed article from The Baltimore Sun, higher education in the United States reflects and reinforces inequalities in American society. Whereas the wealthy are able to afford Ivy League institutions, the middle class falls into debt to attend state universities. The lower-middle class borrows heavily to enroll in community colleges, and America’s poorest are generally unable to attain any form of higher education.
“Over the last eight years the upper-middle class and middle class have become more stretched to afford four years of college, especially private schools like Guilford,” said Zweigenhaft.
Despite this harrowing national trend, according to an e-mail from Vice President for Enrollment Services Randy Doss, traditional student applications for enrollment have continued to steadily increase for the past four years.
“(In spite of hard economic times,) spring enrollment is stronger than anticipated/budgeted. Eight year average persistence rates indicated we should have 1,229 returning from the fall semester. We now have (and it only becomes official on February 1) 1,275. Obviously more students came back,” wrote Doss.
According to The Baltimore Sun, three-fourths of Americans are worried about college costs and debt. Barely half think students get a valuable return on their college education.
“I’m going to be in $40,000 of debt when I graduate,” said senior Allen Sharpe, who wants to teach abroad in Germany after he graduates to avoid the poor job market. “If I didn’t have to worry about paying back loans, I wouldn’t have to work so hard to scramble to find a job right after I graduate.”
Instead of teaching abroad, those who wish to stay in the United States are choosing government programs like Americorps that pay off student loans.
“I decided to do Americorps because I know the job market is not hot right now,” said senior Kenza Hadj-Moussa, who has accepted an Americorps Vista position at St. Stephen’s shelter’s human rights program in Minneapolis, Minn. “Americorps pays poorly but it will be good job experience and will help pay off student loans, which will be a huge concern after I graduate.
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U.S. no longer a leader in higher education
Jasmine Ashton
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January 30, 2009
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