According to a recent report, Americans aged 25–34 have attained less education than their parents’ generation.
If the data cited by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) commission report is correct, the United States and Germany are the only two nations in the world where this holds true.
Indeed, while the United States ranks second among all nations in the proportion of population aged 35-64 with a college degree, we rank tenth in the percentage of those aged 25-34 with an associate’s or high school degree.
To make matters worse, there’s been a steady decline in American students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics — while places like China and India are investing heavily in the infrastructures to support premier programs in those courses of study.
So while the U.S. presently continues to attract more international students than anywhere else, more and more of the best and brightest foreign students may be tempted to stay in their home countries, making it less likely that they’ll bring their technical expertise to the United States’ workforce.
The report doesn’t really try to guess why this lower educational attainment and lowering interest in science, math, and engineering degrees have come about, but does note that tuition has increased at a pace that may make an education a non-option for many. Indeed, between 1958 and 2001, tuition increased at about double the rate as inflation.
I hope my future kids get full rides somewhere.
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/politics/145033/u.s._one_of_two_countries_where_kids’_educational_attainment_is_lower_than_their_parents’