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Dropout Rates Turning US Colleges Into 'Failure Factories'

Students' failure to make it to the finish line is dragging down the economy

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 9, 2009 6:17 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The failure of America's colleges to turn more freshmen into graduates is doing huge amounts of damage to the economy, David Leonhardt writes in the New York Times. Only half of those enrolled in college emerge with a degree, the worst rate of any developed country except Italy. This dismal performance of public universities—dubbed "failure factories" by one economist—is largely responsible for rising inequality and falling productivity, Leonhardt writes.

"Under-matching"—when lower-income students don't choose to attend the best college they can get into—is a major cause of high dropout rates, say the authors of Crossing the Finish Line,  a new book looking at the trend. Almost as big a problem, they say, is that a culture of failure that has become acceptable, and many students just don't see the need to graduate within four years. Doing so is "like leaving the party at 10:30 pm," one student told them.

Only half of students who enrol in American colleges graduate, one of the worst rates among rich countries.
Only half of students who enrol in American colleges graduate, one of the worst rates among rich countries.   (Shutter Stock)
Students' failure to make it to the finish line is dragging down the economy.
Students' failure to make it to the finish line is dragging down the economy.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
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At its top levels, the American system of higher education may be the best in the world. Yet in terms of its core mission—turning teenagers into educated college graduates—much of the system is simply failing. - David Leonhardt

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 17 comments
cornelison
Sep 10, 2009 10:21 AM CDT
The most successful colleges are the ones that teach the trades (eg. air-conditioner repairs). There's no shame in this. You can't export those types of jobs. No one in India, China or Mexico can fix a plumbing emergency in your home. Besides, the money is pretty good.
cornelison
Sep 10, 2009 10:14 AM CDT
That's disturbing. I went to an ivy league university and there were plenty of rich kids there. They took their courses seriously. What about the parents? Where do these students get their values from???
emptycalm
Sep 10, 2009 5:32 AM CDT
failure and debt factory. Not to mention the college lifestyle turns most people into stupid bro's who'd rather play beer pong than learn anything.

 
higher education • US economy • graduation • college tuition • colleges and universities • state colleges • graduation rates • Jay-ZTV

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