Education Facts from The Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac

The Chronicle of Higher Education's almanac has released its higher education facts in its most recent issue, 2011. Here are a few that caught my attention.

1. Less than one third of Americans hold at least a bachelor's degree, but at least 30 percent of adults in 16 states--mostly on the coasts--have earned a bachelor's degree or higher. The three interior states among the 16 are Utah, Illinois, and Minnesota.

2. While 347,985 students earned business degrees in 2009, only 15,496 grads walked away with a degree in mathematics.

3. One of the fastest growing degree areas is park, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. During the most recent 10-year period, the number of students earning degrees in this major (31,667) jumped 92 percent.

4. Among common majors, education experienced the biggest drop in interest among undergrads. In a 10-year period, the number of students earning an education degree declined 5 percent.

5. During a 10-year span ending in 2009, undergraduate enrollment has jumped 38 percent, with some of the highest growth occurring in Arizona (149 percent), Georgia (77 percent), West Virginia (56 percent), and Florida (54 percent).

6. Only 9 percent of students attend universities or other state colleges that conduct intensive research.

7. 16 percent of students attend private nonprofit colleges and universities.

8. Between 1999 and 2009, undergrad enrollment at for-profit schools soared 539 percent compared with 32 percent for public institutions.

9. Twenty three percent of full-time undergrads, who are 24 or younger, work 20 hours or more a week.

10. 9.4 percent of all college students attend community college in California.