Gallup-Lumina Foundation Postsecondary Study: High aspirations but significant barriers

Submitted by Cynthia Zafft on Tue, 05/12/2015 - 14:54
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Hello colleagues,

A 2014 Gallup-Lumina Foundation Study of the American Public's Opinion on Higher Education is out today. This 21 page report consists of simple tables containing the answers to the study's 4 main survey questions on the importance of degrees or professional certificates, especially related to job prospects and the cost of education beyond high school.  Three finding noted by Lumina Foundation:

  • Hispanic and African American survey respondents believe most strongly in the power of postsecondary education for job and quality of life.  Lumina e-Newsletter outlines the findings.
  • Many who do not yet have a postsecondary degree or credential say they have taken steps toward attaining one, including 35% who say they have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), 33% who have researched degree programs that award credit for prior learning, 50% have talked with a college adviser or recruiter, 47% have researched a degree program that fits their needs; and 25% say they have spoken to their employer's human resources staff about tuition support or reimbursement. (See page 9)
  • While "good jobs and good lives" are seen as an outcome of education, just 13% strongly agreed that U.S. college graduates are well-prepared for success in the workforce.

A mix of good news, bad news, and conflicting news.  What do you see in the report?

Cynthia Zafft, Moderator

Postsecondary Completion

Comments

Hi Cynthia, Thanks for posting this report. It's clear that a very large majority (almost 96%) of those polled believe some kind of postsecondary credential is somewhat or very important. Yet 79% said postsecondary education is not affordable for most people, and 80% said colleges need to change to better meet the needs of students, including preparing them better for the workplace. This is some pretty interesting data!

What kind of advocacy efforts can people who care about this issue engage in to support individuals to access affordable postsecondary education? What can citizens do to ensure that programs that are offered really lead to meaningful careers?

Cheers, Susan

Moderator, AELL and CCRS  CoPs