Did you ever think the United States would loose its edge? The number of students who graduate from college annually in the U.S. is on a steady decline. This drop in numbers is putting our nation far behind many other countries in the percentage of students who graduate from college. This decline could possibly cause the United States to loose its competitive edge in a global economy.

As the Baby Boom generation ages and retires, a well-educated corps of young people isn’t stepping up to take their place, and the United States is slipping behind other countries that are producing a better educated young workforce, says “Measuring Up 2006,” a national “report card” on higher education released by the nonpartisan National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.

About 35 percent of the nation’s 18 to 24 year olds attend college, placing the U.S. fourth internationally and earning a B in participation, the report said. Yet only 17 out of every 100 college students ultimately receive a degree or certificate, placing the U.S. behind at least 14 other countries, including Japan (the international leader), Portugal, Ireland, and Iceland.

Enrollment in most colleges remains strong, but the number of students who actually complete their degrees is declining. Many blame the high cost of attending college as a major factor. Student aid programs have also failed to keep up with the escalating cost of attending — and staying in college.

Colleges and universities are seeing a big shift in the number of students who are continuing their education to receive graduate degrees. College graduates of all ages are returning to school to further their degrees.
Obtaining a bachelor’s degree doesn’t necessarily signal the start of full-time employment anymore nor does it mean that formal education is over. That’s because more and more college students and professionals are choosing to return to the classroom to advance their educations even further with master’s degrees.
At colleges, the numbers of graduate school applicants and enrollments are on the rise, resulting in more programs being developed to accommodate demand. And colleges are not catering only to young adults, either.
Money also is a motivator. According to a Census Bureau spokesman, higher levels … | Read the rest of this entry »

Colleges and universities nationwide are seeing a decline in student population across the country due to the rising cost of college, and students who are not academically prepared according to a recent government study.
A commission formed by U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings found that too much time is being spent at colleges and universities on remedial work because many students have not mastered the basics. “There is an urgent need for change in America’s higher education system,” Spellings said yesterday. “We know higher education is the key to our children’s future and the American dream, yet it is becoming more unaffordable and less attainable.‘’
The commission also found that the literacy among college graduates over the past decade has declined, while the cost of … | Read the rest of this entry »

Having trouble deciding on a college major? There are several promising careers that are projected to be in great demand over the next decade. Earning a degree in these key fields will almost guarantee you a job right out of college.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the economy will generate 200,000 more engineering jobs by 2014, and many employers are already noticing a shortage of skilled workers in a variety of engineering fields – civil, mechanical, industrial, you name it. Annual pay for engineers in the U.S. now averages $72,965, well over twice the U.S. average of just under $30,000 for workers in all occupations.
Biochemical engineering and Biomedical engineering are two of the fastest growing engineering specialties for engineering majors. Biochemical engineers … | Read the rest of this entry »

Anne Fisher from Fortune says it best…..
Earning a degree online just got easier
Giving your career a boost with a distance-learning program now will be simpler — financially, anyway. Plus, more on opportunities to work from home.

By Anne Fisher, FORTUNE senior writer
March 7, 2006: 1:01 PM EST
If you’re interested in earning a degree online – whether it’s an undergraduate sheepskin; an MBA or other advanced degree; or technical certification — Congress did you a big favor last week.
Slipped into a $39.5 billion budget package that passed both houses last Tuesday was a provision that repealed what used to be known as “the 50-50 rule,” which required colleges and vocational schools to offer at least 50% of their courses in traditional bricks-and-mortar classrooms before their students could … | Read the rest of this entry »