Hawaii behind in enrolling for college
A national higher-education study says despite some improvement over the last decade, Hawaii does not appear prepared educationally to compete in a global economy.
The "Measuring Up 2006" state report card on higher education says Hawaii is falling behind in getting students to enroll in college by age 19.
The state gets a barely passing grade of "C-" for preparation for college and a "C" for participation in higher education.
Over the last decade, the report says, the state has seen the steepest decline in the nation of college enrollment rates, primarily because of a drop in the percentage of ninth-graders graduating from high school within four years and enrolling in college by age 19.
The report praises Hawaii for keeping community college tuition accessible but gives the state a "D" grade overall for affordability because the cost to attend a four-year public university represents nearly one-third of the annual family income for low- and middle-income students.
UH system President David McClain said the university is using part of the tuition increase for increased financial aid, but the state also needs to put tax dollars into scholarships.
He said the university is also working with public schools to better prepare students for college.
The state gets an "A-" for seeing the benefits of a college education, noting that a higher proportion of residents have a college degree than the national average, strengthening the state's economy.
But the report notes fewer young people have college degrees, which will affect Hawaii's ability to compete as the baby boom generation retires.
Hawaii also gets a "B-" for completion, noting that larger percentages of first-year students return the following year and that the proportion of students who complete certificates and degrees has increased substantially over the past 12 years.
The biennial study by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education evaluates how well higher education is serving the public.
Nationally, the report flunks most states when it comes to affordability.
The report card notes that increases in state and federal aid, though substantial, have not kept up with demand and prices.
The study -- along with a separate report published last week by the Education Trust, a Washington think tank -- also says colleges are not doing enough to help the neediest students.
The report card paints a better, though still mixed, picture of how successful the states are in getting students to enroll in college and then -- just as important -- getting them through with a degree.
Half the states received A's or B's for student preparation, considering measurements such as math assessment and Advanced Placement scores. Only Louisiana and New Mexico got F's. Most states also got A's or B's in degree completion.
Seventeen states got A's for participation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
