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Higher Education in the United States: A Summary

Higher education in the US is an optional stage of formal learning following secondary education, delivered at 4,360 Title IV degree-granting institutions.
In 2022, around 16 million students were enrolled in degree-granting colleges and universities in the US, with college enrollment declining every year since a peak in 2010-2011.
The US higher education system is unique in its investment in highly competitive NCAA sports, particularly in American football and basketball.
Historically, religious denominations established early colleges in order to train ministers, and many closed or merged in the 19th century.
The development of the junior colleges was a major new trend in the 20th century, with community colleges continuing as low-cost institutions with a strong component of vocational education.
Online education has grown in the early 21st century, with more than 6.3 million students in the US taking at least one online course in fall 2016.
Online programs for many universities are often managed by privately-owned companies called online program managers or OPMs.
Financial difficulties, mergers, and downsizing have resulted in dramatic changes in US higher education during the 21st century, with hundreds of colleges expected to close or merge.
Social class has a profound influence on higher education, with undergraduates at elite universities having a substantial advantage if their parents also went to a particular college.
US higher education functions as an institution of knowledge but has several secondary functions, including serving as a source for professional credentials, a vehicle for social mobility, and a social sorter.
The majority of the world's top universities, as listed by various ranking organizations, are in the United States.
Strong research funding helped 'elite American universities' dominate global rankings in the early 21st century, making them attractive to international students, professors, and researchers.Overview of Higher Education in the United States
US higher education is facing challenges due to funding cuts, declining public opinion, and the presence of diploma mills and for-profit colleges.
Federal policies such as gainful employment regulations have been introduced to reform the system.
US colleges and universities offer diverse educational programs, ranging from vocational to liberal arts curricula.
Professional-level education is offered in graduate schools, requiring a bachelor's degree as a basic requirement for entry.
Employers look for critical thinking, analytical reasoning skills, teamworking skills, information literacy, ethical judgment, decision-making skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills, and a wide knowledge of liberal arts and sciences in college graduates.
Wage and employment opportunities vary greatly depending on the degree earned, with science, technology, engineering, math, and business degrees offering higher wages and better employment chances.
There are three types of educational institutions in the US: community colleges, four-year colleges, and universities.
Accrediting organizations, independent of the government, vouch for the quality of degrees offered.
The US university system is largely decentralized, with public universities administered by individual states and territories and private universities existing in both secular and religious education.
Community college enrollment has dropped since 2010-11, with declining enrollments affecting 88% of community colleges surveyed in 2017.
Liberal arts colleges emphasize interactive instruction and offer smaller enrollment and lower student-to-faculty ratios than universities.
For-profit colleges have received greater scrutiny from the US government, state Attorneys General, the media, and scholars since 2010.
Higher vocational education and training is offered at the non-university tertiary level, combining practical skills and theoretical expertise.
Professional higher education offers an intense integration with the world of work and is manifested by a strong focus on application of learning.
US colleges and universities receive funds from tuition, federal Title IV funds, state funds, and endowments.
Private giving supports both private and public institutions, with private institutions being more reliant on private giving.
Student costs have risen above inflation rates, with students receiving scholarships, student loans, or grants to offset costs.Higher Education in the United States: A Summary
Financial assistance comes in the form of grants and loans, with many institutions shifting from needs-based to merit-based aid, leaving low-income students with more debt and fewer opportunities.
Grants and scholarships are divided into need-based and merit-based categories, with work-study programs also available.
Student loans, both federal and private, are used to finance higher education, with total estimated US student loan debt exceeding $1.4 trillion in 2016.
Admission to colleges and universities is typically based on a student's ACT/SAT scores, grade point average, college application, essay, and letters of recommendation.
Elite schools offer preferences to alumni and large investors in admissions decisions.
US institutions are popular among international students due to generous subsidies and financial aid packages.
Academic labor has shifted towards poorly paid adjunct positions and graduate-student labor over tenure-track jobs.
Labor unions represent higher education faculty and staff, with a majority of faculty positions being filled by adjuncts.
College athletics in the US are regulated by the NCAA, with varsity esports growing in popularity.
Issues confronting higher education in the US include declining public opinion, rising tuition costs, student loan debt, a decline in enrollment, and a lack of soft skills being taught.The Potential Collapse of US Colleges and Universities
Many college presidents believe their campus could close or merge within five years.
The total number of degree-granting colleges in the US has decreased every year since its peak in 2012.
U.S. News & World Report education reporter Lauren Camera speculates that recent New England school closures may be the start of a trend.
Federal data analyzed by The Chronicle of Higher Education shows that over 1,200 campuses have closed, displacing approximately 500,000 students.
A Wall Street Journal article found that many master's degrees from elite schools did not provide a significant return on investment.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated financial challenges for many colleges and universities.
Some institutions are considering alternative revenue streams, such as online courses and partnerships with corporations.
The closure of small colleges and universities can have a significant impact on the local economy.
Many colleges and universities are facing declining enrollment rates due to demographic shifts.
Some institutions are struggling to maintain accreditation due to financial instability.
The potential collapse of colleges and universities could have far-reaching implications for the future of higher education in the US.
The higher education system in the US may need to undergo significant restructuring to address these challenges.