The United States is slipping further behind other developed nations in academic achievement and risks losing its competitive edge, warns a report from the College Board’s Commission on Access, Admissions, and Success in Higher Education.
The report notes that the country ranks sixth in the world—behind Russia, Canada, Israel, Japan, and New Zealand—in postsecondary attainment of 25- to 64-year-olds, and drops to 12th place for 25- to 34-year-olds.
To increase competitiveness, the commission set a goal of 55 percent of young adults in the United States holding postsecondary credentials by 2025. It offers 10 recommendations for reaching that goal, including providing universal preschool, improving college and career counseling, and establishing more need-based grant aid for college students.
