The National Center for Education Statistics just released "The Condition of Education," which mines the latest national data and identifies developments and trends in education.
An alarming development: Skyrocketing debt for those earning America’s most advanced degrees.
Between 1999–2000 and 2015–16, average student loan balances for those who completed research doctorate degrees doubled, from $53,500 to $108,400, an increase of 103 percent. Average loan balances for graduating physicians is now $246,000.
The 384-page report covers the range of U.S. education, highlighting the cost of early childhood care to average graduate school debt.
Among the findings spotlighted in the report:
Early childhood care expenses were higher in 2016 than in 2001. For example, families’ average hourly out-of-pocket expenses for center-based care were 72 percent higher in 2016 ($7.60) than in 2001 ($4.42), in constant 2016–17 dollars.
Overall, 18 percent of public school teachers in 2015–16 had entered teaching through an alternative route to certification program. The percentages were higher among those who taught career or technical education (37 percent), natural sciences (28 percent), foreign languages (26 percent), English as a second language (24 percent), math and computer science (22 percent), and special education (20 percent).
Among Americans who finished graduate school and had student loans for undergraduate or graduate studies, average loan balances increased between 1999–2000 and 2015–16 for all degree types.
Specifically, average loan balances were highest for those completing medical doctorates ($246,000) and other health science doctorates ($202,400). In comparison, average loan balances were $145,500 for law school grads.
Among the findings of interest to me after looking through the report:
In 2016, the percentage of 3- to 5-year-olds enrolled in preschool programs was higher for those children whose parents had a graduate or professional degree (54 percent) than for those whose parents had a bachelor’s degree (41 percent), an associate’s degree (35 percent), some college but no degree (37 percent), a high school credential (33 percent), and less than a high school credential (30 percent)
Internet access and use by younger children is rising, while holding steady among older kids. In 2013, 31 percent of children ages 3 and 4 had access to and used the internet at home. In 2015, the rate increased to 39 percent. There was also an increase among kids ages 5 to 10, from 50 to 54 percent. Middle schoolers held steady in their access and usage at 65 percent, while older teens dropped from 77 percent in 2013 to 76 percent in 2015.
Elementary and secondary enrollment between fall 2015 and fall 2027: Total public-school enrollment in prekindergarten through grade 12 is projected to increase by 3 percent (from 50.4 million to 52.1 million students), with changes across states ranging from an increase of 28 percent in the District of Columbia to a decrease of 12 percent in Connecticut.
Public charter school enrollment between fall 2000 and fall 2015: Overall public charter school enrollment increased from 0.4 million to 2.8 million. During this period, the percentage of public school students who attended charter schools increased from 1 to 6 percent.
Private school enrollment In fall 2015: Some 5.8 million students (10.2 percent of all elementary and secondary students) were enrolled in private elementary and secondary schools. Thirty-six percent of private school students were enrolled in Catholic schools, 39 percent were enrolled in other religiously affiliated schools, and 24 percent were enrolled in nonsectarian schools.
The average amount spent each year to educate a child in public school increased slightly between the 2013-2014 school year and 2014-2015, from $11,429 to $11,734
In college, fewer students are majoring in social sciences and history, while more are opting for business and health related fields.
College tuition continues to increase to an annual cost now of $12,080.
About 60 percent of students who began seeking a bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution in fall 2010 completed that degree within six years; the six-year graduation rate was higher for females than for males (63 vs. 57 percent).
In 2015–16, over two-thirds of the 1.0 million associate’s degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions were concentrated in three fields of study: liberal arts and sciences, general studies, and humanities (381,000 degrees); health professions and related programs (191,000 degrees); and business (128,000 degrees). Of the 1.9 million bachelor’s degrees conferred in 2015–16, over half were concentrated in six fields of study: business (372,000 degrees), health professions and related programs (229,000 degrees), social sciences and history (161,000 degrees), psychology (117,000 degrees), biological and biomedical sciences (114,000 degrees), and engineering (107,000 degrees)
More U.S. students are pursuing graduate school. But grad school degrees in education are falling.
About the Author
