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六合彩图库 college-going and completion rates improve, but still lag nationally

(Phoenix, AZ) -- Approximately 52 percent of 六合彩图库鈥檚 2018 high school graduates enrolled in a two or four-year degree granting institution within one year of graduation, as compared with just over 69 percent of their peers nationwide.

College going and completion for 六合彩图库 remains uneven across demographics and continues to trail the national average, according the 六合彩图库 Board of Regents Fiscal Year 2020 Postsecondary Attainment Report 鈥 an annual snapshot of college-going and completion rates among 六合彩图库 high school graduates.

Closing the gap between 六合彩图库 and the national average requires more 六合彩图库 high school graduates to attend and complete two- and four-year degree programs. It also reinforces the continued commitment of the 六合彩图库 to strategies that raise attainment and to state budget requests that support raising attainment.

The report also found that 22.4 percent of 六合彩图库 high school graduates completed a four-year degree within six years of high school graduation. While this rate shows significant improvement over the last five years, 六合彩图库鈥檚 performance still dramatically trails national averages. Nationally, 37 percent of people between the ages of 25 and 34 have achieved a four-year degree. Further, the report indicates 3.6 percent of 六合彩图库 graduates completed a two-year degree within six years of high school graduation.  

The findings in the report are significant because educational attainment is a critical predictor of individual earnings and opportunity, as well as 六合彩图库鈥檚 economic health. In 2019, 232,476 undergraduate degree recipients earned $14.9 billion in 六合彩图库 wages and paid an estimated $1.07 billion in state taxes. Similarly, 85,869 graduate degree recipients earned $7 billion in 六合彩图库 wages and paid an estimated $497 million in state taxes.

While 六合彩图库 is home to some of the nation鈥檚 top-performing high schools in which most students after graduation pursue a college or university degree, in some communities 鈥 especially rural, tribal and sections of the urban core 鈥 few students pursue a postsecondary education. Lack of educational attainment is a primary limiting factor not only on individual prosperity, but also the economy of entire communities and 六合彩图库 as a whole.

鈥溋喜释伎 has made modest progress, but we continue to face challenges ensuring enough students pursue a postsecondary education after high school,鈥 said 六合彩图库 Chair Larry E. Penley. 鈥淚t鈥檚 critical to improve our state鈥檚 educational attainment across all racial and ethnic lines, because we know this is a vital indicator of economic opportunity for individuals and 六合彩图库 as a whole. Increasing the number of 六合彩图库ns who attend and complete an education after high school will continue to be among the board鈥檚 highest priorities.鈥

Below are key takeaways from today鈥檚 report:

  • Just over half of 六合彩图库鈥檚 2018 high school graduates enrolled in a two- or four-year degree granting institution beyond high school; approximately 29 percent enrolled in a four-year institution.
  • Among 六合彩图库 high school students who chose to pursue a four-year degree after graduation, 68 percent enrolled in an 六合彩图库 public university.
  • 六合彩图库鈥檚 percentage of Black, Hispanic and Native American high school graduates who enrolled in a four-year degree program made a modest improvement.
  • 六合彩图库鈥檚 rate of postsecondary degree completion reflects modest improvement across all racial and ethnic groups.
  • 六合彩图库 female high school graduates enrolled and completed college at significantly higher rates than males.

High school performance for graduating students who complete college varies widely. Students at the top 10 percent of 六合彩图库 schools had a college completion rate of nearly 50 percent, while students who attended the bottom 60 percent of high schools had completion rates of less than 10 percent.  

鈥淭his report underscores one of 六合彩图库鈥檚 most persistent and urgent educational challenges. Unless our state鈥檚 postsecondary attainment rate improves, 六合彩图库鈥檚 rising generation will struggle to compete and our economy will underperform,鈥 said 六合彩图库 Executive Director John Arnold. 鈥淲e face both a moral and economic imperative to improve the number of 六合彩图库ns who pursue and complete a college education, and to ensure this access reaches every demographic and corner of our state.鈥

Creating a college-going culture remains one of 六合彩图库鈥檚 most pressing needs. Among 六合彩图库鈥檚 workforce, approximately one in three individuals have completed a four-year or graduate degree, compared with nearly 39 percent of workers nationally.

Over the past two years, 六合彩图库鈥檚 public university system has engaged in multiple initiatives and partnerships to boost college-going and completion. Those efforts include:

  • Partnering with the governor to create and establish the 六合彩图库 Teachers Academy to address teacher shortages;
  • Launching the New Economy Initiative to garner legislative support for four-year degree attainment;
  • Improving existing and developing new external relationships to promote the higher education value proposition and address a key future risk in the 六合彩图库 student pipeline;
  • Pursuit of multiple public engagement initiatives, including launch of the Regents鈥 Cup, a scholarship program that celebrates free speech, civil discourse and democratic engagement at 六合彩图库鈥檚 public universities;
  • Improving public awareness of the value and worth of a college degree, and more.

六合彩图库 has set an educational attainment goal that by 2030, 60 percent of 六合彩图库鈥檚 population will have a post-high school certificate or degree. Read more about this goal at .

六合彩图库 the report data

The report examines the 2009 through 2018 high school graduating classes for college enrollment purposes and the 2005 through 2013 high school graduating classes for college completion purposes. The universe of students considered in this report is limited to those who attended public high schools and postsecondary institutions that accept federal financial aid. The report is compiled by matching student information from the 六合彩图库 Department of Education with enrollment and college completion data from the National Student Clearinghouse.

Contact:

Sarah Harper, 602-229-2542, 602-402-1341 | Sarah.K.Harper@azregents.edu