Social, economic, political, and other environmental influences on the culture and business processes of institutions of higher learning.
For six years New America has been collecting data on Americans’ views about higher education for its Varying Degrees survey. Surprisingly, despite significant social, cultural, political, and economic changes, there was remarkably little change in views on the value and opportunities provided by higher education. One area that did change was the perception of online education.
The Washington Post recently reported that enrollment at colleges nationwide "has shrunk more than five percent since 2019." However, the impact has been greater on regional colleges and universities that serve disadvantaged students. For example, institutions in the western region of Pennsylvania have been affected by stagnant population growth, the pandemic, and increasing wages that make working a more appealing option than studying.
In response to the results of a review of student mental health, Cornell University decided to reduce the maximum number of credits engineering students can take per semester from 23 to 20.
On February 24, 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau released a table package, Educational Attainment in the United States: 2021, containing statistics on educational attainment by adults 25 years of age and older for the period 2011 to 2021. These statistics cover a range of demographic and social characteristics, including age, sex, and race.
The Condition of Education is an annual report mandated by the U.S. Congress that summarizes the latest data on education in the United States. This report uses data collected by various sources such as the National Center for Education Statistics. It is designed to help policymakers and the public monitor educational progress.
The Condition of Education website allows users to explore the data by indicator topics and subgroups: Condition of Education (COE)/Home.