Southern Regional Education Board Report
Report from the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB)
Fact Book on Higher Education: Virginia, June 2005
The SREB states include: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware. Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Information about the SREB Fact Book on Higher Education may be obtained from
Joe Marks, SREB Director of Education Data Services, at 404.875.9211, or by emailing to joe.marks@sreb.org. Copies of the complete Fact Book are available from the SREB Publications Office: 592 10th Street NW, Atlanta GA 30318. SREB continuously monitors new comparative data that it provides through the SREB website: www.sreb.org. The website also features an online version of the Fact Book and its links to the latest updates on tables and graphs, as well as separate reports for each of the seventeen SREB states.
From the current edition:
Population changes and growth make progress in education harder in many states. Overall progress in education could come to an unprecedented and historic halt if the fastest growing racial/ethnic groups remain at their current educational levels. More than half the nation’s population growth from 2004 to 2014 is expected to be in the 16 SREB states—an increase of 13.1 million at a rate of 12%. Virginia’s population is projected to increase by 915,800, or 12%, which is the SREB average. This nationwide increase is expected to be 9%.
Hispanic population increases represent the overriding demographic trend. Hispanic population increases have accounted for 35% of the entire increase in the SREB region from 1993 to 2003, compared to 41% in the nation overall. In Virginia the increase in hispanic population accounted for 21%. Of the 404,600 hispanics in Virginia in 2003, 216,900 (54%), have arrived since 1993. Major increases have occurred in Texas (2.7 million @ 62%) and in Florida (1.4 million @ 40%).
By 2018, hispanic students are expected to account for 29% of the SREB region’s public high school graduates, compared to 12% in 2002. White students, who represented 62% in 2002, will drop to 45%. In Virginia, hispanic high school students are expected to rise from 4% to 17% and white students to decline from 68% to 52% from 2002 to 2018.
Black students represent 13% nationally and are projected to stay the same from 2002 to 2018. In SREB states black high school students represented 22% with Virginia at 23%. A 2% decline is expected in both SREB states and Virginia.
In Virginia in 2000, 84% of white adults, 72% of black adults, and 63% of hispanic adults had earned high school diplomas or GED credentials. The percentage of hispanic adults with a high school diploma or GED credential was below that of black adults in nearly every SREB state. In 2000 there were 13.2 million adults aged 25-44 without high school diplomas or GED credentials (15%). In SREB states there were 5.2 million (17%) in that category. In 2000 Virginia had 287,200 25-44 year old adults without high school diplomas or GED credentials—13% of that age group in the state. Forty-five of Virginia’s counties had 18% or more of their 25-44 adult population without high school diplomas or GED credentials.
College enrollment patterns signal alarm, but trends are promising.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the percent of 18-24 year olds attending college in 2002, broke down as follows: white @ 41%, black @ 31%, and Hispanic @ 20%. Hispanics have the fastest growing population, but the lowest percentage of college enrollments.
Women accounted for most of the college enrollment growth in every SREB state from 1993 to 2003. Nationally women increased college ranks by 1.8 million (23%) compared to 846,400 for men (13%). In SREB states women accounted for an increase of 718,100 (29%), while men increased by 319,100 (16%). In Virginia women increased by 43,200 (22%), and men increased by 23,100 (15%).
College enrollment of black and Hispanic students in every SREB state grew rapidly from 1993 to 2003. Nationally, black and Hispanic growth accounted for an increase of 1.1 million students (47%) out of a total national increase of 2.6 million (18%). In SREB states black and Hispanic growth accounted for 576,400 (60%) compared to an overall increase of 1 million (23%). Virginia followed the national trend with 29,200 more black and Hispanic students enrolled in 2003 than in 1993. This was a 48% increase, compared to a 19% increase in total enrollment.
College degrees and certificates correlate to higher earnings in the United States.
More than ever before, education means better income. In 2003 adults with high school diplomas or GED credentials earned up to 54% more than those without. Those with associate’s degrees earned 25% more, and those with bachelor’s degrees earned 77% more than those without high school diplomas or GED credentials. According to the Census Bureau, in 2003 the average earned income for adults 25 or older was $40,800.
Averages by credential are as follows:
Professional degree $115,600
Doctoral degree 88,600
Master’s degree 62,800
Bachelor’s degree 53,400
Associate’s degree 37,500
Some college, no degree 35,200
High Scholl diploma or GED credential 30,100
Some high school, no diploma 22,200
Less than ninth grade 19,600
The fastest growing and highest paying jobs will require education beyond high school. Most new jobs will still be those that require work experience or on-the-job training. Jobs in the U.S. for people with associate’s degrees are projected to increase by 1.3 million (26%) by 2012, and for those with bachelor’s degrees jobs are projected to increase by 3.6 million (21%). U.S. Census Bureau projections are as follows:
Total 21.3 million 15%
Doctoral degree 700,000 36%
Associate’s degree 1.3 million 26%
Master’s degree 400,00 22%
Bachelor’s degree 3.6 million 21%
Bachelor’s degree with work experience 1.4 million 20%
Professional degree 400,000 18%
Postsecondary vocational certificate 1,1 million 18%
Work experience or on-the-job training 12,5 million 12%
More students are staying in college and graduating with women and minorities making gains.
Of all full time freshmen enrolled in SREB colleges to earn an associate’s degree or certificate in 2000, 43% had graduated in within three years, were still enrolled, or had transferred to another college. This was an increase from 40% in 1995. Virginia had a one point decline from 45% to 44%.
Of all full time freshman enrolled in SREB colleges to earn bachelor’s degrees in 1997, 74% had either graduated in six years, were still enrolled, or had transferred to another college. This was an increase from 67% in 1992. Virginia had a two point decline in this same period, from 80% to 78%, but ranked second among all SREB states. Texas, up from 80% in 1992 to 81% in 1997 ranked first. States making significant gains in retention were South Carolina (13%), West Virginia (13%), Arkansas (8%), Tennessee (8%), Delaware (7%), and Oklahoma (7%).
From 1993 to 2003 women accounted for 71% of the increase in bachelor’s degrees in the SREB region, representing a growth of 59,900. The increase of bachelor’s degrees earned by women nationally was 180,000 (73%). In Virginia there were 4,400 more women who earned bachelor’s degrees in 2003 than in 1993, an increase of 74%. In numbers, Virginia ranked fourth behind Texas with 12,500; Florida with 12,400; and Georgia with 5.100. Percentage-wise Virginia ranked sixth behind Alabama (136%), Mississippi (90%), West Virginia (78%), Delaware (76%), and Maryland (75%).
From 1993 to 2003 black and Hispanic graduates accounted for nearly half the increase in bachelor’s degrees in the SREB region (47%), representing a growth of 40,300. The increase in bachelor’s degrees earned by blacks and hispanics nationally was 87,900 (36%). In Virginia there were 2,100 more black and hispanic students who earned bachelor’s degrees in 2003 than in 1993, an increase of 36%. Virginia stands at the national percentile, but ranks sixth in total student increase, and seventh in percentage increase, among the sixteen SREB states.
The costs of public college are now a bigger challenge for middle and lower income students.
In 2004 the average costs of one year of public college attendance (tuition, fees, room and board, books, etc.) were 26% of income for middle-income households, up from 16% in 1984. For students in the lowest fifth of annual household income, one year’s costs represented a staggering 113% of income—48 percentage points greater than in 1984.
Annual Household Income 1984 cost percentage 2004 cost percentage
Highest average 1/5: $147,100 6% 8%
$69,000 11% 16%
Middle average 1/5: $43,600 16% 26%
$25,700 27% 44%
Lowest average 1/5: $10,000 65% 113%
The average in-state tuition and required fees at four-year public colleges and universities in the U.S. was $4,200 in 2004, an increase of 48% from 1994, after adjusting for inflation. For SREB region institutions the average in-state cost was #3,700 in 2004, an increase of 62% from 1994, after adjusting for inflation. In Virginia the in-state cost was $4,900 in 2004, which reflected only a 2% increase from 1994, the lowest rate of increase in the SREB region. However Virginia ranked fourth in actual average cost, behind Maryland at $5,600 (52% increase), South Carolina at $5,500 (45% increase), and Delaware at $5,400 (43% increase). The median annual tuition and required fees for full time in-state students among the SREB schools was $3,600.
As for two-year public colleges in the SREB region, the average cost of tuition and required fees was $1,700 in 2004 for in-state students, a 56% increase from 1994. The national average was #2,200 in 2004, an increase of 52% from 1994 (adjusted for inflation). In Virginia tuition and required fees averaged $1,900, which was also the median figure among the SREB schools. This represented an increase of 12% from 1994, the second lowest increase in the SREB region.
Nationally 68% of full-time, first-time freshman seeking undergraduate degrees at four year colleges and universities received a financial aid grant or took out a student loan, or did both. 40% took out loans. In Virginia the percentages were 54% and 46%. The average loan for Virginia freshmen was $2,700.
Enrollment growth and inflation have eroded funding increases.
From 2001 to 2004, Full Time Equivalency (FTE) enrollment increased by 11% in SREB region states; in Virginia the increase was 9%. Funding from state appropriations, tuition, and fees increased by 14% in SREB states, and by 4% in Virginia. However, with increased enrollments these figures translated into an actual decrease in funding per FTE. In Virginia in 2004, state funding per FTE student was $10,510, a 12% ($1,420) reduction from 2001 after adjusting for inflation. The SREB regional average state funding per FTE student was $10,780 in 2004, a 5% ($550) reduction from 2001. Decreases in SREB region states also occurred with their two-year colleges. The regional average funding per FTE student in 2004 was $5,460, an 8% ($490) reduction from 2001. In Virginia funding per FTE student was $4,960 in 2004, a 12% reduction ($700) from 2001.
Increases to tuition and required fees were the largest source of new funds for SREB institutions. State appropriations have not kept up with enrollment increases.
At Virginia two-year colleges tuition and fees increased 44% ($194 million) compared to a 19% increase ($270.7 million) in state appropriations from 2001 to 2004. For the same period at the four year Virginia institutions, tuition and fees increased 35% ($419 million), whereas state appropriations only increased 9% (199.9 million).
Percentage increases in faculty salaries trail those for the average American worker.
Despite the fact that college faculty have higher levels of education (and higher pay) than workers overall, faculty nationwide and in the SREB region continue to lose ground in the growth of the average wage in the U.S. Since 1974 the average wage for all U.S. workers has risen 47% to an average of $36,500 in 2004. For public four-year college faculty in SREB states the increase during the same 30 years has been 18% to an average salary of $61,000 in 2004. Between 1974 and 1985 faculty salaries nationwide declined by 13% while the average working wage rose by 6%. Since then the rate of increase for faculty salaries has been well behind that for the average worker.
From 1994 to 2004 the SREB region’s average faculty salary rose 9% to $61,600; the average in Virginia also rose 9% to &68,100. The U.S. average faculty salary rose to $66,300, an increase of 8%. Virginia’s average salary is ranked third among the SREB states, behind Delaware at $75,700 (a 16% increase) and Maryland at $68,300 (a 14% increase). Two other SREB states with significant increases are Georgia at 16% (to $66,500) and South Carolina at 11% (to $60,100).
The average salary at public two-year colleges rose by 1% from 2001 to 2004 to an average salary of $51,300; in SREB colleges the rate of increase was 3% to an average salary of $43,800. In Virginia the rate of increase was 2% to an average salary of $45,800. This percentage ranked eleventh among the seventeen SREB colleges, but the average salary ranks fifth.
