Researching the Pros and Cons of a College Education
Excerpted from: Pro-Con website: http://college-education.procon.org/#background
Activity 1.10 Part I ~ Researching the Pros and Cons of a College Education
Freshmen ~ I have highlighted some interesting ideas in the section below on the history of
college education in America. As you read these excerpts, you will be given directions to answer
4 questions. When you are asked to write something out, please write it in RED, below the
section you have chosen or been directed to. When you are asked to highlight, do so in green.
Please share this document with me.
Directions for Question # 1
Highlight in green at least ONE MORE sentence/idea that catches your
interest, in the section below. In RED, below the sentence, explain
WHY it interests you.
EDUCATION IN AMERICA - CONTEXT
From 1939-1960s, the changing face of the college graduate and her/his expectations ~ Ms. S
In the 1939-1940 school year, student enrollment was under 1.5 million nationally, but, by the
1949-1950 school year, student enrollment grew to 2.7 million. [3] The 1944 GI Bill contributed
to some of the enrollment gains and by the beginning of the 1945-1946 school year, 88,000
veterans were accepted into the program; by 1946, over one million were accepted; and by
1950, 14 million veterans were in the program. [3] Women represented about 40% of
enrollment in the 1939-1940 school year but that number dropped to 32% in
1950. [3] Individual schools implemented honor programs, specialty seminars, study abroad,
and smaller class sizes to attract more discerning students [3] By 1960, national enrollment was
at 3.6 million and at 7.9 million in 1970. [3] Society became interested in the college lives of
"Joe College" and "Betty Coed" and created the college ideal of graduating in four years,
marrying the college sweetheart, and finding a good job. [3]
The federal government created the Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS),
later renamed the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), and collected data
in the fall of 1968, the first time standardized data was collected about colleges and universities
nationwide. [93]
Researching the Pros and Cons of a College Education
Excerpted from: Pro-Con website: http://college-education.procon.org/#background
Directions for Question # 2: Choose TWO of the most interesting data
points (years) in the chart above.
In RED, in the text box below, or on a separate piece of paper, write
out the information you found interesting, using the example below as
a model for your two responses.
Example:
In 2003, there was very little difference between the employment numbers for a high
school graduate and a person who had some college -- both groups had about 5%
unemployment. However, there was a big gap between these people, and college
graduates, who had an unemployment rate of around 3%. People who had not
graduated from college, had a 9% unemployment rate, in 2003.
In _____________,
In _____________,
Researching the Pros and Cons of a College Education
Excerpted from: Pro-Con website: http://college-education.procon.org/#background
From 1970s - 1980s ~ America’s cultural expectations change: we decide that a college
education is for ALL high school graduates ~ the public college/university and community
colleges grow ~ diverse student populations are sought and protected by Affirmative Action
(esp. students of color and women students) ~ Ms. S.
Directions for Question #3: Consider the FOUR highlighted
sentences/ideas below. Choose TWO of the highlighted sections, and
then, in RED, explain what you think caused this event/idea to come
about at this time.
Pell Grants were introduced in 1972 and increased the number of students for whom higher
education was possible. [3] By 1978, the financial aid focus changed from grants to loans,
increasing the amount of debt a graduating college student owned. [3] In the 1975-1976 school
year 75% of students received grants, 21% received loans compared to the 1984-1985 school
year in which 29% of students received grants and 66% received loans. [94]
The major shift in higher education during this time was the transition from mass higher
education, expecting to educate 40-50% of high school graduates, to universal higher
education, expecting to educate all high school graduates. [3] The shift was seen in public
school enrollments, which accounted for about 75% of enrollments in 1970, up from the almost
equal split between public and private colleges in 1950. [3] Community colleges and technical
institutes also gained students: from 82,000 in 1950 to 1.3 million in 1980. [3]
Transfer students were accommodated, classes were offered at military bases, and courses
were offered at extension sites for non-traditional students while colleges were opening to
diverse student populations. [3] Title IX (1972) and affirmative action demanded inclusive
admission practices for women and black students. [3, 95,96]
The 1970s also saw the shift from higher education for education’s sake to a need for preprofessional studies and a translation to work after graduation. [3] For many, to be considered
middle-class or to get a middle-class job required a college degree. [2]
The 1970s and 1980s brought questions of whether the return on a college degree was worth
the investment. In 1971 a male college graduate earned 22% more than a high school graduate
but by 1979 a college degree increased earnings by 13%. [7] By 1987, the earning gap was 38%,
which was an improvement but added doubts about the stability of higher education as an
investment. [29] The 1980s also brought a dramatic increase in the cost of college, which was
rising faster than inflation and the average family income. [7]
Researching the Pros and Cons of a College Education
Excerpted from: Pro-Con website: http://college-education.procon.org/#background
(Click to enlarge image)
Infographic illustrating the attributes of the average recent college graduate.
From the 1990s - to today (or, at least 2013) ~ College costs soar, unemployment rates for
students who did not graduate from high school reached almost 25% ~ Ms. S
The 1990s and 2000s saw a rise in enrollment and tuition costs, and a steadily lower
unemployment rate for college graduates. College enrollment increased 11% between 1990
and 2000 and increased 37% from 2000 to 2010 to 21 million students. [97] The average college
tuition in the 1990-1991 school year was $10,620 and rose to $13,393 in 20002001. [98] Between the 2000-2001 school year and the 2010-2011 school year, public college
costs (tuition, room, and board) increased 42% to $18,133. [98] The unemployment rate for
workers with a bachelor's degree or higher in 1990 was 6.5% (compared to 24.9% for high
school drop outs) and was 3.7% in 2000 (compared to 18.4% for high school drop outs). [99] By
2010, the unemployment rate for college graduates increased to 5.5% while the rate for
college dropouts was 17.3% [99]
Researching the Pros and Cons of a College Education
Excerpted from: Pro-Con website: http://college-education.procon.org/#background
Directions for Question #4: Read the highlighted section below. Which
group of college presidents do you agree with the most? Explain why, and
include WHAT in your life, background, experience has influenced your
opinion. Be as specific as possible.
A 2011 Pew Research survey showed 50% of college presidents said college is meant to "mature
and grow intellectually," while 48% said college should "provide skills, knowledge and training
to help… [students] succeed in the working world." [25]
The number of colleges and universities grew from 1,851 in 1950 to 3,535 in 1990 to 6,900 in
2013. In the 1949-1950 school year 2.66 million students were enrolled in colleges and
universities; by the 1989-1990 school year 13.54 million students were enrolled. [2] In fall of
2013, 19.9 million students were enrolled in colleges and universities. [1]