A new report from the Lumina Foundation, "A Stronger Nation Through Higher Education," shows that in 2007, 37.7 percent of Americans between the ages of 25 and 64 held a two or four year college degree. For 2008, the number is 37.9 percent. If the current rate of increase remains, less than 47 percent of Americans will hold a degree by 2025—a rate that economic experts say is "far below the level that can keep the nation competitive in the global, knowledge-based economy," according to a recent article in the Houston Chronicle.
The Stronger Nation report tracks progress toward Lumina's "Big Goal:" that 60 percent of Americans hold high-quality degrees by 2025. It measures progress at the national, state, and county levels, with individual profiles for all 50 states. Here's a link to the full report.
On the situation in Texas, here's a nice summary from the Chronicle piece:
About 33 percent of working-age Texans, defined as those between 25 and 64, had completed a two- or four-year degree in 2008, the latest year for which information is available. Only 10 states had lower rates; the national average is about 40 percent, and 18 states had rates higher than that.
Without significant change, the report predicts Texas will reach only 39 percent by 2025.
"As a state, we started well behind other states," said Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes. "We have to reach the intermediate step before we have a shot at coming close to the goal of the Lumina Foundation."
No state is at 60 percent. Massachusetts is closest, at 49.6 percent.
Just 33 percent of Texans ages 25 to 64 have a college degree, below the national average of nearly 40 percent and far below the highest-achieving states.
A snapshot of other states:
• Arkansas: 26.5 percent
• California: 38.6 percent
• Colorado: 45.3 percent
• Illinois: 40.8 percent
• Louisiana: 27 percent
• Massachusetts: 49.6 percent
• Minnesota: 45 percent
• New York: 43.7 percent
• North Dakota: 45.2 percent
• Virginia: 43.4 percent
• West Virginia: 25.6 percent
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