Education 2009

The education system is expected to continue growing in the years to come. In elementary and secondary education, following population shifts, enrollments are projected to increase each year through 2018 to an all-time high of 54 million, with the South expected to experience the largest increase in enrollments. Enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions at both the undergraduate and graduate levels is projected to increase through 2018, the last year for which projections have been developed.

These increases in enrollment have been accompanied by a growing diversity of students. Between 1972 and 2007, the percentage of public school students who were White decreased from 78 to 56 percent and the percentage who were of members of other races and ethnicities increased from 32 percent to 44 percent.

Over the long-term, there has been improvement in the scores of 9- and 13-year-olds on national reading and mathematics assessments since the early 1970s, reflecting increases for White, Black, and Hispanic students. Although the overall average score of 17-yearolds remained flat between 1971 and 2008, there were increases for White, Black, and Hispanic 17-year-olds.

In 2007, some 64 percent of college students were White, 13 percent were Black, 11 percent were Hispanic, 7 percent were Asian/Pacific Islander, 1 percent were American Indian/Alaska Native, and 3 percent were students from other countries. About 7 percent of all college students attended institutions in which 75 percent or more of the students were Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaska Native. At public 2-year institutions, 8 percent of enrollment was at such institutions, compared with 6 percent at public 4-year institutions. Larger percentages of students who were Hispanic and Black attended such institutions than students who were White, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, and nonresident alien.

Of the 1.5 million bachelor's degrees awarded in 2006-07, over 50 percent were concentrated in five fields: business (21 percent); social sciences and history (11 percent), education (7 percent), health professions and related clinical sciences (7 percent), and psychology (6 percent). Overall, more bachelor's degrees were awarded in 2006-07 than in 1996-97 (a 30 percent increase). In addition, in 2006-07, about 57 percent of all bachelor's degrees conferred were awarded to females; females also earned between 49 and 86 percent of all degrees awarded in the five most prevalent bachelor's degree fields.

In 2008, some 88 percent of 25- to 29-year-olds had received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate, 31 percent had attained a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7 percent had completed a master's degree. The rate of educational attainment in this age group was higher in 2000 than in 1971 at all levels. For example, the percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds who had completed a bachelor's degree or higher increased from 17 to 29 percent between 1971 and 2000 and was 31 percent in 2008. The percentage of young adults who had received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate also increased from 78 percent in 1971 to 88 percent in 2008. Although the percentage of young adults with a bachelor's degree increased for all racial/ethnic groups, the gaps widened between Whites and their Black and Hispanic peers between 1971 and 2008

The percentage of full-time college students ages 16-24 fluctuated between 46 and 49 percent during the period of 2001 through 2007. In addition, the number of hours these students worked has increased since 1970.

Nearly three-quarters of full-time, first-time ndergraduates received a student loan or grant in 2006-07. The percentage of students receiving financial aid was higher at private not-for-profit institutions (85 percent) than at public institutions (70 percent) and private for-profit institutions (69 percent).

In 2006-07, student tuition accounted for 17 percent of the total revenue for public institutions, 26 percent for private not-for-profit institutions, and 75 percent for private for-profit institutions.

NCES produces an array of reports each year that present findings about the U.S. education system. The Condition of Education 2009 is the culmination of a year long project.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Stuart Kerachsky, 7/2009