Before we begin our deliberation on the role of higher education, take some time
to look over a few facts regarding this issue. The information is broken up based on the
framing question to which it is most relevant, but the information can reach across
borders and may apply to many different issues within the discussion.
Should everyone go to college?
-How should college compensate for inequalities in secondary education?
-Do we undervalue technical schools?
-See graphic on back page
*College graduates earn (on average) 85% more than those with just a high
school diploma
*42 percent of recent graduates expect they will need an advanced degree to
further their careers and almost a quarter are already planning to take graduate
courses.
*More than half of graduates said it was difficult finding a job, but 39 percent were
employed by the time they left college. Sixty eight percent said they are working
full time, while 16 percent are in part-time positions.
*An individual with an associates degree will, on average earn 7 percent more
than someone with just a high school diploma. For people holding bachelor’s
degrees, the number doubles to 14 percent.
*Nearly 50% of grads over the last five years are unemployed or underemployed,
according to a Rutgers University study released Thursday.
*According to studies, the jobless rate breaks down as follows:
 High school dropouts: 39.5%

High school graduates not in college: 26.7%

High school graduates enrolled in college: 14.9%
*The average student will graduate with an outstanding college debt of $26,000
and 10 percent of 2012 grads will have more than $63,000.
*Enrollment in degree-granting institutions increased by 11 percent between 1990
and 2000. Between 2000 and 2010, enrollment increased 37 percent, from 15.3
million to 21.0 million
*36.7 percent of college graduates are working in positions that don’t require a
degree whereas in 2007 it was 27.4%
*College enrollment in fall 2012 dropped by 467,000 people; from 2006 to 2011,
there was a total growth of 3.2 million
*The unemployment rate for recent college grads between the ages of 21 to 24
has averaged 8.8% over the last year.
*Young college grads who work full-time are now making about $3,200 less each
year than they were in 2000, after adjusting for inflation.
*Revenue at for-profit technical and trade schools has jumped by over 12% over
the last 12 months [2008], compared to average growth between 5% and 6% in
2006 and 2007, according to the financial analysis firm Sageworks.
*In Los Angeles, California, an entry level Load Dispatcher’s (a trade job requiring
two year technical school training) base salary is 82,000 with a median salary of
over 127,000
Is it the job of higher education to keep us globally competitive?
-If so, how should it?
-How does the role of STEM differ from the rest of higher ed as we move
forward?
*The number of students enrolled in tertiary education outside their country of
citizenship increased more than threefold, from 1.3 million in 1990 to nearly 4.3
million in 2011, representing an average annual growth rate of almost 6 percent.
This is a greater increase than the overall rise in tertiary enrolments globally.
*Overall, among the OECD countries with available data in 2008 and 2009, the
post-graduation stay rate is up to 25 percent.
*The United States hosts 17% of international tertiary education students in the
world.
*An average of one in five tertiary students enrolled in advanced research
programmes in 2011.
*A Stanford study indicated that 57 percent of students who enter college with
a STEM major end up switching out of it.
*A report by Recovery suggests that STEM job openings will increase by 2020.
Demand for engineering jobs, according to the report, stood at 1,820,000 in 2006,
dipped to a low point of 1,680,000 in 2010, but is expected to reach 1,940,000 by
2020.
Is it the responsibility of higher ed to teach us ethical and moral values?
-Should it encourage us to be active citizens?
*Statistics indicate a correlation between more education and decreased crime
rate.
*Increased education correlates with a higher likeliness to vote in elections.
Further Questions to Consider:
What should be the overall goal of higher education?
Is it necessarily career based (practical) or should be more for the expansion of the
mind (intellectual)?
-What are the role of gen-eds in college?
-Should they even have a place at all?