U.S. Losing Ground in College Access, Participation

America has fallen alarmingly behind other industrialized countries in access to and participation in college, which encompasses most education and training beyond high school, according to a study recently released by the Education Commission of the States (ECS).

Closing the College Participation Gap offers a portrait of who is participating in postsecondary education and who is likely to be most at risk for losing access to such education. Accompanying state and U.S. profiles document the extent of postsecondary participation in each of the 50 states and the nation as a whole. They also examine the conditions likely to influence access and participation, calling attention to issues that must be addressed if the nation is to compete successfully in the global marketplace.

“According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) most recent figures, the United States has fallen from 1st to 13th among developed nations in college participation leading to a bachelor’s degree in the last decade,” said Sandra Ruppert, ECS program director.

The study’s key findings, as depicted in the U.S. profile, include:

• The 13 percent increase in traditional college-age enrollments projected for the next decade has captured national attention, but the less-noticed story is that half the states likely will see either little or no growth or an actual decline in their numbers. For example, by 2015, California's enrollments of 18- to 24-year-olds are expected to increase 41 percent, while West Virginia's are projected to decline by 11 percent.
• College is not just for new high school graduates anymore: Adults aged 25 and older now account for nearly half of the more than 17 million students enrolled in U.S. colleges. Changing workforce needs and economic conditions are projected to drive up demand for college access among adults, which is currently projected to increase 13 percent by 2015.
• If the nation were to match the participation rate of the top-performing states, the U.S. could boost enrollments by an additional 8 million students by 2015. It means millions more Americans who are not projected to benefit from a college education would be able to acquire the education and training needed to enjoy more prosperous lives.

Closing the College Participation Gap, which draws mainly from U.S. Census 2000 data, is part of a multi-year initiative funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The initiative assists state policymakers and leaders in their efforts to expand opportunities for postsecondary access and to increase participation, especially among underserved and disadvantaged populations.

ECS is a national nonprofit organization that helps governors, legislators, state education officials and others identify, develop and implement public policies to improve student learning at all levels. To access state profiles online or to learn more about this initiative, visit ECS at http://www.ecs.org/ccpaccess.