Census finds state among least-schooled in the nation Tuesday, May 11, 2004 JOHN ARCHIBALD and CHARLES J. DEAN News staff writers About one in every five adult Alabamians has earned a bachelor's degree or better, a number that puts the state among the least-educated in the nation, according to census data released Monday. In 2002, 20.6 percent of Alabamians older than 25 had a college degree, the 44th-lowest percentage among the states. Though that number is five points beneath the national average, it represents a slight improvement, according to the Census Bureau analysis of its American Community Survey. In 2001, for instance, 19.4 percent of Alabama adults held a bachelor's or better. Alabama's education problems are many and well-documented, so the census study is little surprise, said Margaret Gunter, communications director for the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, an agency that oversees college programs and campus growth issues. "A number of problems are impacting the state's standing here. Chief among them is the financial impact we continue to see on both K-12 schools and our universities and colleges," she said. "Our budgets are not keeping pace with the cost of our programs, and as a result tuition continues to go up to the point where the increases are forcing some students to drop out." The census survey looked at states, as well as cities and counties with populations greater than 250,000. No Alabama city was large enough to be included in the survey, but three counties in the state - Jefferson, Madison and Montgomery - were large enough. Of those, Huntsville's Madison County posted the highest percentage of college graduates, at 38.7. That's about 13 points higher than the national average, and high enough for a No. 39 ranking out of the 231 largest American counties. Jefferson County's numbers also exceeded the national average, with 27.1 percent of residents older than 25 holding a bachelor's or better. That number put Jefferson County in the middle of the pack nationally, with a rank of 138. Mobile County hovered near the bottom at 205. Just 18.7 percent of adults there hold college degrees. Nationally, 25.9 percent hold a college degree. Gunter said too many high school graduates are coming to universities and colleges unprepared for higher education. "Remediation continues to be a problem," said Gunter. "We are still seeing some students who begin college not as prepared as they need to be, and the facts are that students who need remediation are less likely to complete a four-year degree program than those who come ready." Massachusetts, Colorado and Maryland led the nation in the percentage of adults with college degrees. Nevada, Mississippi and West Virginia came in at the bottom. Of the 10 states with the lowest percentage of college degrees, seven were in the deep South or Appalachian regions. The survey showed a direct correlation between income and education. Six of the top 10 states for college graduates - Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Minnesota - also are among the states with the highest estimated median household income, according to the Census Bureau. `Requiring more': Recent research backs up Gunter's point about college preparation. A 2000 study by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education awarded letter grades to states in categories such as preparation, affordability and college completion. Alabama was one of two states (Louisiana was the other) to receive an F in preparation. Alabama received a D in affordability and a B- in completion. By that standard, Alabama is not doing so badly. In fact, another 2000 study, "College Affordability: Overlooked Long-Term Trends and Recent 50-State Patterns," listed Alabama as a state with "highest productivity but lowest affordability." That study was conducted by the Indianapolis foundation The USA Group. Interim state Superintendent Joe Morton said public schools are doing more to prepare students for college by requiring them to take tougher courses and past tougher tests. But Morton said it will take a while longer for the reforms to catch up and make an impact on the kinds of numbers released Monday. "We are requiring more math, more science, more history, and this year we're going to have more money than we ever have for the Alabama Reading Initiative," he said. "That, down the road, will impact the ability of our students to prepare for academic work beyond high school more than anything we have ever done. But it's going to take some time for those changes to impact the kind of data out there right now."
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Devan Orange Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 8:14 AM To: 'RollTideFan-The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List' Subject: RE: [RollTideFan] 82 Alabama Student-Athletes Become Graduates Today Congrats to them all. May they have better lives ahead. Devan -----Original Message----- On Behalf Of Jeff Todd http://rolltide.com/AthleticDepartment/10512.asp Four senior basketball players graduated today: http://rolltide.com/Mens%20Basketball/10518.asp Roll Academic Tide!! Slef E. ______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List "Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!" To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net ______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List "Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!" To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
