New OECD Data Show U.S. Continues Below Average in Degree Attainment

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released its annual Factbook 2009 recently, containing statistical comparisons for more than 30 member countries.  The organization looks at wide ranging data from population and demographics to suicide rates to water consumption. 

Among the annual data are rates for tertiary, or postsecondary, degree attainment in OECD countries.  The United States ranks fourth out of all OECD countries in ages 25-64 total tertiary degree attainment.  This encompasses what the OECD considers “Type A” degrees – a degree from a traditional university; and “Type B” degrees, which generally refer to shorter, vocationally oriented programs of study which lead to direct career access, such as certificates and degrees from career colleges in the United States.   

However, the new data also show that the U.S. ranks 14^th in terms of total tertiary graduation rates at expected age of graduation (approximately age 24 based on OECD information), trailing countries like Ireland, Italy and Poland and below the OECD average.  The data also indicate a continued downward trend in attainment rates in the U.S., which it has shown in years past.  This is due to the significant increase in the proportion of the adult population attaining postsecondary education in most OECD countries in recent decades. 

Some good news indicates that Americans pursue their degrees later in life, as the U.S. moves up slightly to 11^th in tertiary attainment between ages 25-34, with just over 39% of the population having degrees. 

However, the report finds that some countries are improving markedly in this area. For instance, it states, “comparing the tertiary attainment levels of 25-34 year olds with those of 55-64 year olds indicates that in Korea, there has been an increase in tertiary attainment over the past 30 years of more than 40 percentage points, nearly 30 percentage points higher than the OECD average increase over this period. In contrast, some OECD countries have only seen marginal increases (USA) or even decreases (Germany) over the same period.”

The data bear this out.   While ranking 11^th in the younger group, ages 25-34, in ages 55-64 in tertiary degree attainment U.S. is second. 

Andreas Schleicher, Head of the Indicators and Analysis Division, OECD Directorate for Education, says the long-term prognosis for the U.S. workforce’s higher education attainment looks bleak. 

“When you look at today’s workforce qualification, the U.S. still ranks high,” he says.  “But other countries have caught up and overtaken on Type A degrees.”

Furthermore, the OECD says that the United States does not have a strong presence with Type B, career-oriented degrees either.

“Current graduate output for the United States is about 10% for Type B degrees, while the OECD average is 12%.  Ireland has 27%, Japan 35, Spain 40%.  There are a lot of countries where Type B programs are very popular and have a long tradition,” says Schleicher.  “The U.S. still has a way to go in these degrees as well.”