NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — The devil’s in the details, but we look forward to seeing proposals from the state Higher Education Department for tying the amount of taxpayer money that state colleges and universities receive to graduation rates. The head of the department told legislators that he would be making recommendations on the topic.
There’s some value in any education — but there’s a cost to. Going to college without getting a degree doesn’t do much to raise earning potential. The student is left with college expense — and often a student loan to repay — without the higher pay that goes with a degree. Arguably, they’re worse off.
That’s in particular. In general, everybody suffers in a job market that can’t attract businesses that need degreecarrying skills. Many a worker in Arkansas — even one without a college degree — would have a higher paying job today if more companies would come here. The lack of a base of degree-holding people in Northwest Arkansas, compared to places like Austin, Texas, is a major mark against us in economic development here, recent studies show.
U.S. Census data released this month shows Arkansas ranked second from the bottom in degree-holding adults with only 18.9 percent of residents over age 25 holding bachelor’s degrees. This compares to a national average of 27.5 percent. Only West Virginia had fewer with 17.1 percent.
These figures are especially sobering when you consider that a greater-than-average number of state high school graduates enter college.
Part of the problem lies in the general education system. The amount of remedial courses taught in colleges is far too high. This is a point we’ve made before. The general education system is failing to ready many students for college, and higher education isn’t filling the gap.
However, finger-pointing between general and higher education doesn’t get anybody anywhere. The question is, what do we do now?
As a general rule of thumb, we suggest that thought and effort on fixing problems usually follows the money. Put more emphasis on successful attainment of complete, worthwhile and deserved college degrees, and many other good things will follow.
A report by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education showed that the state taxpayer contribution to education costs at state schools dropped from 62 percent of a full-time student’s education in 1998-99 to 49 percent in 2008-09.
Most of that is not a cut. Most of that comes from the fact that higher education spending remained flat while costs and enrollment went up. The difference is taken out of the pockets of students and their families.
The economic benefits of having more graduates are shared by all. Therefore, the costs of higher education should be shared by all.
We haven’t forgotten there’s a recession. We repeat a point we made earlier this week: When this recession eases and state revenues start growing again, higher education deserves a place at the head of the line — especially if they concentrate on increasing the number of graduates.