My Economics teacher told us that under 30% of the entire U.S. population has a college degree. Why is that?

Question

I just don't understand why people wouldn't want to go through college... it's something that, in the long run, is a benefit for one's life.
Why do you think so few Americans decide to go to college?

Answer 1

The numbers are much higher if you slice out the 25-40 age groups. With the figure you quote, it's skewed due to a large amount of baby boomers and WW2 era elderly where they had no reason to attend college -- back then you could actually get a real job, have a 4 bedroom home, and live reasonably comfortably with just a high school diploma. You could have a family with just a one-income generator in the house (usually the man). With a few exceptions, that's hardly the rosey case anymore for HS-only graduates. People who attended college in the 40s and 50s, for example, were essentially relegated to scholars. Compare that to today -- very different picture.

Answer 2

College education costs an astronomical amount of money, and some people don't see the benefit of going into that much debt and spending 20 years paying it off when they can work now and make money now. It's part of the American culture. However, education is way too expensive in the U.S. Also, some people don't want to go to college, and college isn't for everyone. Emotional maturity is a factor and so is family support. Personally, I think everyone should obtain some kind of formal post-high school education, even if it's technical training or an apprenticeship. There's something for everyone.

Answer 3

I think you should be asking why so many American's can't afford to go to college?

I work as a counselor and mentor for a program that helps low income, first generation college bound High School students make it to college. I love my job because I can help people who don't have a clue how to get into college actually make it. A lot of the students I come in contact with have already decided that college isn't for them. This isn't because they don't want to be smart or make better wages or do well in life. They don't want to go to college because someone at some point told them college wasn't the right "fit" for them. You wouldn't believe how many people believe that they aren't smart because some teacher, parent, or other student told them they were dumb!

Although it is true that you don't have to go to college to be successful and that college isn't for everyone, that doesn't mean that people shouldn't be given the option to go to college. People also don't realize how much training you need to make it in the "real world." Everyone will end up taking a certificate class, on the job training, or be asked to take a college course to be successful at a career or job at some point in their lives.

I'm just really tired of seeing students tracked to go into vocational programs before they even make it to 9th grade! We aren't training our youth to even consider going into a 4 year degree program! I think that is why only 30% if the US population has a degree. In the area of California that I work only 7% have a college education and I'm in an urban location!

Answer 4

To understand a statistic like that, first examine the sample set (and for this, the sample set is way too broad). "The entire U.S. population" means everybody of all ages. Virtually nobody under 21 has a college degree, and most of the population over 60 is women, and in their day few women got degrees. For people over 45, a high school diploma was enough to get a decent job, so many fewer grads went on to college. Also, few of the millions of unskilled 'undocumented immigrants' from Latin America have degrees.

Trim away the people that shouldn't be counted for this (kids and octogenarians, mostly), and you're likely to find the percentage having degrees is closer to half.

Answer 5

I think you have to look at it this way. Many of the 30% were from another generation when college was not deemed has important as it is today! I am 47 and alot of my generation just thought it was important to get their high school education. Now, I have a daughter 13 and she will be going to college :)

Answer 6

"the world needs ditch diggers too"
- Ted Knight as Judge Smails in Caddyshack

seriously though, this is a great question. enrolling in college is usually a result of having money, having parents who went to college and therefore have expectations on their children, and/or students having the motivation to go. lots of people probably would like to go but can't afford it. lots of people probably did not do well in school and therefore don't see the value of spending at least $40,000 and 4 years to get a higher education when they can make $30,000/year right out of high school and not have to worry about doing homework and taking exams. (logic - i can either be $40k or more in debt after 4 years, or make $120k in four years - that's a difference of $160k!)

typical college students are from families of socioeconomic status of middle class or higher, which may well include only 30% of the US population of typical college age people.

when compared to other countries, i don't think the US ranks very high on the list of the collective value their citizens place on education.

Answer 7

Its not free(Unless your parents are paying for it, and it gets more expensive each year.). We live in an instant gratification culture, you don't make much more with a 4 year degree, you still need many years experience to make decent pay. I'm allergic to essays more than 3 pages long.
The excuses go on and on, however I'm registering for 3 classes tomorrow.
I'm almost 30 and I have yet to finish my degree due to procrastination, and thinking I could make a living off some random undiscovered talent.
I'm admitting I made a mistake by not getting it done sooner. I have no one to blame but myself.
See u in class.

http://www.myspace.com/curvesound

Answer 8

Hi

Some people can't afford to go to college. Even if they are awarded grants, loans, and scholarships, that still may not be enough, and they don't have the money to cover the rest. And maybe some people are just plain lazy and sorry and don't care enough to improve their lives. Another reason is that some people may not have the determination and support from others to go to college, or they feel that they are not smart enough. My mom outright told me she didn't care about me going to college, but I will be graduating in May 2008 despite the fact that some people didn't support me.

Answer 9

I love this question! Education is clearly what separates the "haves" from the "have nots". The word "education" comes from the latin word: "educare" which means to free oneself from ignorance. So why then do so little see the need to become educated? Because they are ignorant. It is, therefore, the job of the enlightened, or educated, to impart, persuade, and convince children that education is the key to finding the truth in life---not just teachers. Even if parents aren't educated themselves, they should value education for their children. The truth will make you free. You can't be happy unless you're free. You can't be truly free without an education. Ignorance is bliss? I think not!!! So, to answer your question...It is clear that 70% of the population do not see the importance of being set free, so they pass on that same ignorance to their children. It's time for us to do our part.