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Higher Education
Expand to Learn more EDUCAT ION Knowledge and Skills f or the Jobs of the Future Earning a post-secondary degree or credential is no longer just a pathway to opportunity f or a talented f ew; rather, it is a prerequisite f or the growing jobs of the new economy. Over this decade, employment in jobs requiring education beyond a high school diploma will grow more rapidly than employment in jobs that do not; of the 30 f astest growing occupations, more than half require postsecondary education. With the average earnings of college graduates at a level that is twice as high as that of workers with only a high school diploma, higher education is now the clearest pathway into the middle class. In higher education, the U.S.. has been outpaced internationally. While the United States ranks ninth in the world in the proportion of young adults enrolled in college, weve f allen to 16th in the world in our share of certif icates and degrees awarded to adults ages 25-34 lagging behind Korea, Canada, Japan and other nations. We also suf f er f rom a college attainment gap, as high school graduates f rom the wealthiest f amilies in our nation are almost certain to continue on to higher education, while just over half of our high school graduates in the poorest quarter of f amilies attend college. And while more than half of college students graduate within six years, the completion rate f or low-income students is around 25 percent. Acknowledging these f actors early in his Administration, President Obama challenged every American to commit to at least one year of higher education or post-secondary training. T he President has also set a new goal f or the country: that by 2020, America would once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. To achieve this bold goal f or college completion, ensure that Americas students and workers receive the education and training needed f or the jobs of today and tomorrow, and provide greater security f or the middle class, President Obama and his Administration are working to make college more accessible, af f ordable, and attainable f or all American f amilies.

Helping Middle Class Families Af f ord College Keeping Costs Down Strengthening Community Colleges Improving Transparency and Accountability

View the Icon Credits Provided 33 states and the District of Columbia f lexibility f rom No Child Lef t Behind while raising student achievement standards, improving school accountability, and increasing teacher ef f ectiveness.

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