The big goal:

To increase the proportion of Americans with high-quality degrees and credentials to 60 percent by the year 2025.

Korea

Canad

a

Japa

n

New Z

ealan

d

Norway

Irelan

d

Denm

ark

Belgium

Austra

lia

United

Sta

tes

Sweden

Franc

e

Nethe

rland

sSpa

in

Luxe

mbo

urg

Switzer

land

United

King

dom

Finlan

dChil

e

Icela

nd

Poland

Gre

ece

Hunga

ry

Ger

man

y

Portu

gal

Italy

Mex

ico

Austri

a

Slovak

Rep

ublic

Czech

Rep

ublic

Turke

y

Percent of adults with 2- or 4-year degreeSource: OECD Education at a Glance 2010

25 to 34, 35 to 44, 45 to 54, 55 to 64

58

56

54

52

50

48

46

44

42

40

38

36

34

32

30

28

26

24

22

CanadaJapan

Korea

Massachusetts

Minnesota

North Dakota/Iowa/Connecticut

Colorado

New Hampshire/NebraskaSouth Dakota/Illinois/Pennsylvania/Vermont

Wisconsin/Washington/Hawaii

Virginia/Kansas/Rhode Island

Indiana/CA/DE/NC/MI/IDFlorida/Oregon/South Carolina/Maine

Wyoming/Georgia

Mississippi/AlabamaKY/TN/OK/AZ/AK/TX

New Mexico

Nevada

Louisiana/West VirginiaArkansas

Ireland

Netherlands

UK/Finland/Switzerland

Greece

Italy/Mexico

Spain/Luxembourg

Poland

Germany/Hungary

New Zealand

Norway

Sweden/France

Iceland

Portugal

US states25 to 34 year olds

Utah/Missouri/Montana/Ohio

Chile

New York

New JerseyMaryland

Denmark

United States/Belgium/Australia

52

50

48

46

44

42

40

38

36

34

32

30

28

26

24

22

20

64

60

56

52

48

44

40

36

32

28

24

20

16

12

8

Hamilton

Porter/Johnson

Monroe

Hendricks

Tippecanoe

Lawrence/Fulton/Daviess/Jennings

Indiana counties25 to 34 years old(population over 20,000)

Boone

Adams

LaGrange

White/Fayette

CanadaJapan

Korea

Ireland

United States/Belgium/Australia

Spain/Luxembourg/UK/Finland/Switzerland

Greece

Italy/Mexico

Poland

Germany/Hungary

New Zealand

Norway

Sweden/France/Netherlands

Iceland

Portugal

Denmark

Chile

Bartholomew

Owen/Cass

AustriaCzech Republic/Slovak Republic

Turkey

Warrick/Hancock

Income by level of education Source: US Census, Current Population Survey

master’s

bachelor’s

associate

high school

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20080

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

Less than high school

Unemployment by level of education Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2008

HS dropout HS graduate Associates degree Bachelors degree Masters or above0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

From the Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution

From the Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution

35.8 million working-age adults have attended college but don’t have a degree.

Less than high school

High school

Some college, no degree

Associate degree

Bachelors degree

Graduate or professional degree

12.8%

27.1%

22.2%

8.4%

19.0%

10.5%