CECM is constantly monitoring progress and legislation in other states to use as benchmarks and examples for Missouri. But, as the world continues to become more and more connected, it is increasingly important to apply the same indicators to the global picture. We created this data series to provide readers a look into how our country’s education compares to the rest of the world’s, using interactive data charts.
Just a warning, the data may shock you.

From 1st to 15th in College Graduation Ranking

Tertiary World Graduation Rates from 1995-2007

The U.S. is seen as a world leader in many capacities, but sadly education is not one. So far in this series, we’ve learned that 25 countries outperform the U.S. in mathematics and that the U.S. ranks merely 17th in science. The data on global education continues to be disappointing for the U.S. as we look at college graduation rates.

Click the play button above to see the stark difference in how U.S. ranked in 1995 compared to 2007. With data on only 18 countries in 1995, the U.S. was tied with New Zealand at the top, both with a tertiary graduation rate of 32.7%. Which means that out of 50 people in the U.S., only about 16 would graduate college. So although the U.S. holds the number one spot, these statistics were really nothing to brag about.

When revisiting college graduation rates a year later, there is slight movement in the rankings of other countries. More importantly, most countries seem to be graduating slightly more people in 1996 then in 1995. Though the difference is definitely minimal. The U.S. moves from 32.7% to 33%, not even a full percent higher. While New Zealand gains a significant lead at 36.2%, a 3.5% increase in one year.

This patten is repeated in 1997 and 1998. And in 1999, the U.S. is outpaced by Finland, Norway and Denmark. At only 34%, the U.S. has only improved its rate by 1.3% in four years.

In 2000, you can see that seven additional countries are now reporting this data. One of these additions, Poland, along with the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands and Australia, have put the U.S. in ninth overall. That means these eight other countries were seeing more of their population get a full education then we were in the U.S.

The following year, the U.S. sadly takes its first step back and actually graduates 1.7% less students from college than in 2000. Iceland joins the front-runners, pushing the U.S. to tenth.

In 2002 the U.S. drops another 0.3%. Japan, who has been increase its graduates at a much higher rate, finally passes the U.S., who is now pushed out of the top ten.

Sweeden, Portugal and Spain pass the U.S. in 2003, as the U.S. loses an additional half a percentage. How could the U.S. be continually decreasing, while others see progress in advancing education beyond the basics?

The following year the U.S. sees a positive increase. And although the U.S. has another increase in 2005, it is a a much slower rate than others. Hungary, Italy, Israel and Canada are now graduating a higher percentage of their students with tertiary degrees, compared to the U.S.

In 2006, the U.S. is ranked 15th and will hold that spot in 2007. As of this data, Iceland boasted the highest rates at 63.1% tertiary graduation rate. While the U.S. was only at 36.5%.

There is much more than global rivalry at stake. People in our country our missing out on opportunities and enlightenment that come with a college diploma.

How does this translate to Missouri? Well according to Manhattan Institute research, Missouri ranks 23 out of 51 states plus the D.C.

This average ranking means the statistics apply almost directly to our state.

CECM is advocating, at a state and nation level, for education reforms to help give children the opportunity to go to college. We hope you join us in our fight to save education in the U.S., starting with Missouri.

Click here to view the math chart or here for the science chart. Be sure to check back next as we revel more shocking international education comparisons.

Data from the 2010 OECD Factbook

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