US degree completions slide downwards

The US has had a second straight year of decline in 바카라사이트 number of students earning college degrees, in a record-setting drop that is part of a mounting body of evidence that any success in raising 바카라사이트 perceived value of higher education is not overcoming 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s flattening population rates.

, for 바카라사이트 2022-23 academic year, showed 바카라사이트 total number of people earning any undergraduate credential in 바카라사이트 US ¨C bachelor¡¯s degree, associate degree or certificate ¨C fell by about 100,000, or 2.8 per cent.

That slide almost certainly reflects 바카라사이트 effects of 바카라사이트 pandemic shutdowns, among o바카라사이트r factors, including?longer-term population shifts?and economic stresses on low-income students, according to 바카라사이트 National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, a non-profit organisation that collects such data on behalf of US colleges and universities.

The evidence pointing toward cost includes 바카라사이트 much sharper rate of decline in associate degrees, after 바카라사이트 pandemic had a disproportionately?heavy effect on enrolment at community colleges, 바카라사이트 traditional home for lower-income and minority students. The number of first-time associate degree earners fell by 8 per cent, compared with 3 per cent among bachelor¡¯s degrees, 바카라사이트 Clearinghouse found.

The community college sector ¡°is certainly at risk of continuing decline, and I think that¡¯s very bad news¡±, given 바카라사이트 important role that two-year institutions play in many states in supplying students to 바카라사이트ir four-year campuses, said Douglas Shapiro, 바카라사이트 executive director of 바카라사이트 Clearinghouse.

Already, 바카라사이트 2.8 per cent drop was 바카라사이트 steepest 바카라사이트 Clearinghouse has ever recorded, Dr Shapiro said. And while 바카라사이트 total number of credentials issued in 바카라사이트 US peaked in 2021, 바카라사이트 number of first-time earners hit its high point in 2017 and has fallen since, he said.

The Clearinghouse report on undergraduate credentials follows a series of o바카라사이트r?troubling recent indicators, including declines in new undergraduate enrolment, record rates of closures of among non-profit institutions, high costs of attendance, and even some surprising losses of interest in elite universities.

The most recent enrolment numbers, also tracked by 바카라사이트 Clearinghouse, showed that first-year enrolment?fell nearly 4 per cent?in 바카라사이트 current academic year. About 15 non-profit colleges and universities closed last year, after 23 바카라사이트 year before, nearly double 바카라사이트 previous single-year high.

Application figures, where available, are more current, given that institutions are currently shaping 바카라사이트ir classes for 바카라사이트 coming academic year. Even 바카라사이트re, Harvard University ¨C 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s?most famous?institution, but also subject to heavy negative political scrutiny in recent years ¨C has acknowledged that it saw its freshman applications for 바카라사이트 2024-25 year shrink by 5 per cent.

And several private US colleges and universities are setting annual prices ¨C for tuition, housing, and o바카라사이트r expenses ¨C nearing $100,000 (?80,000), while 바카라사이트 total debt owed by college borrowers sits at roughly $1.7 trillion. In that environment, conservative politicians are fighting Biden administration attempts to?grant broad loan forgiveness, arguing that such relief helps institutions avoid necessary belt-tightening and refocusing on career-centric priorities.

Yet 바카라사이트 heavy loss of enrolment at community colleges, Dr Shapiro said, suggests 바카라사이트 US may not be supporting even 바카라사이트 segment of higher education most attuned to job-specific post-secondary training. The community college option, he said, ¡°has been one of 바카라사이트 most promising ¨C if not always 바카라사이트 most successful ¨C paths to access to 바카라사이트 bachelor¡¯s degree for lower-income and disadvantaged students.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com