Measuring Up 2002 Grades States on Higher Education Performance

Many states have made substantial strides in preparing students for college-level education, but widespread gains in the proportion of Americans going to college have not been made, according to Measuring Up 2002, a report released by the independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. The report finds that overall college opportunity in America also is at a standstill, remaining unevenly and unfairly distributed.

Following up on the previous, first-of-its-kind Measuring Up 2000, the new report measures the nation and each state’s performance in providing education and training beyond high school by updating each state’s performance and comparing each state’s 2002 results with its results two years ago.

In Measuring Up 2002, each state’s higher education performance is evaluated by using "A" through "F" grades in five key areas of higher education performance — preparation, participation, affordability, completion, and benefits. All grades are based on each state’s index score in 34 quantitative indicators weighted by their "importance to the performance category – as informed by research and policy experience." The sum of all weights is 100 percent for each category. Although many states perform well in several areas, none receive straight A’s. With each area, respectively, the report strives to answer the following:

* How well are students prepared to take advantage of college?

* Do state residents enroll in college-level education?

* How affordable is higher education in each state?

* Do those who enroll complete their educational goals?

* What economic and civic benefits does each state receive as a result of having a more highly educated population?

For the nation as a whole, college opportunity is at a standstill, the report states. In the area of preparation, Measuring Up 2002 makes these observations:

* The strides that states made in preparing students for college-level education were greater than in any other performance area. For instance, in Arkansas the proportion of 8th graders taking algebra increased from 8 percent to 23 percent. California had an increase from 21 percent to 33 percent on the same measure.

* However, only four states (Maine, New York, Tennessee, and Virginia) improved their results on all measures in preparing students for college-level education.

* Students in many states still do not have the opportunity to take challenging high school courses that could prepare them for college. In North Carolina, 61 percent of students take at least one upper-level math course; in New Mexico, the percentage is about 31 percent.

In the area of participation, the report contends:

* Seven states (Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, and South Carolina) improved their performance on all measures in enrolling young adults and working-age adults in college-level education and training.

* Overall, however, the gains in this area were not as great as in preparation. For instance, the percentage of high school freshmen enrolling in college within four years increased from 31 percent to 35 percent in Louisiana and from 34 percent to 40 percent in North Carolina.

* In most states, between 40 percent and 50 percent of high school freshmen complete high school within four years and then immediately enroll in college.

Eleven states improved their performance on all measures in providing affordable college education to their residents, according to the report. Most of this progress may well have been lost in recent months, however, as states have responded to revenue shortfalls through steep tuition increases and insufficient investments in student financial aid, the report adds.

Only five states (Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, New Hampshire, and Utah) improved their performance on all measures concerning the timely completion of certificates and degrees. From Measuring Up 2000 to Measuring Up 2002, the proportion of students completing certificates and degrees rose in Alabama from 18 to 24 per 100 undergraduate students and in Arizona from 14 to 17.

Completion of degrees at four-year colleges and universities is low, even among the top-performing states, the report suggests. In no state do more than 70 percent of full-time students complete a degree within six years of enrolling in college. Similarly, in only half of the states do more than 50 percent of first-year students at community colleges return for their second year.

Despite the improvements made by some states and their higher education systems, the benefits of American higher education continues to be unevenly and unfairly distributed, according to the report.

Measuring Up 2002 was funded through grants from The Atlantic Philanthropies, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Ford Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Measuring Up will be updated again in 2004 and 2006. Comprehensive, individual profiles of each state, as well as brief state summaries, are featured in the 2002 edition. The report is available at http://measuringup.highereducation.org/.

For further review, SSTI has prepared a table showing states’ grades and scores in each of the five performance categories. The table is available at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/111502t.htm

Copyright State Science & Technology Institute 2002. Information in this issue of SSTI Weekly Digest was prepared under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration. Redistribution to all others interested in tech-based economic development is strongly encouraged — please cite the State Science & Technology Institute whenever portions are reproduced or redirected. Any opinions expressed in the Digest do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Commerce.