ATD Blog
Kaplan: Despite US Economy Americans Still See Value to Higher Ed
Fri Feb 27 2009
DAVENPORT, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the national economy continues to take center stage, Americans still see the value of higher education. A recent Kaplan University Education Insights Survey found 83 percent of U.S. adults agree that the U.S. is falling behind other nations economically, with 7 in 10 (71 percent) saying the nation can improve its standing if more people earn college degrees.
"America has the talent to be competitive," says Peter Smith, Senior Vice President for Academic Strategies at Kaplan Higher Education. "If we can help close the 'degree gap' - by making higher education more accessible to more Americans - we will stop wasting our talent, increase our global competitiveness and get more people into sustainable, higher paying careers."
This finding comes on the heels of a study by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems that found that the U.S. will need to produce 63.1 million degrees to match leading nations in the percentage of adults with college degrees by 2025. At the current pace, the U.S. will fall short of that threshold by 16 million degrees.
The Kaplan University survey also found that:
Higher Education = Employer Plus: 91 percent of U.S. adults feel finishing a degree, seeking a higher degree or continuing education makes someone more attractive to potential employers. 90 percent report that furthering one's education can increase one's earning potential and opportunities for promotion.
Level of Education Determines Amount of Worry: 84 percent of high school educated, employed adults have concerns about their jobs - and specifically about losing their job or not being able to find a new job if let go, while only 63 percent of college-educated adults are worried.
Economy an Education Influencer: More than half (55 percent) of those aged 18-34 say the economy influences their education decision. Women, who make up 6 out of every 10 students enrolled in college today, are more likely to be influenced by the economy (63 percent) than men (46 percent) in this age category.