Fewer high school graduates were interested in pursuing higher education in 2020 than in 2019. Arizona-based research group OH Predictive Insights examined the reasons.
Only 46% of those graduates enrolled in a two- or four-year college in 2020. That is a 6% fall from the previous year.
Mike Noble is the chief of research with OH Predictive Insights. He says the three main reasons behind the drop was the pandemic, a decline in Arizona’s birth rate and cost of tuition.
Arizona covers less of education costs than it did before the Great Recession of 2008.
He said he is shocked by the fall of interest.
“It’s interesting that you know, there’s actually a lot of options and a lot of availability to go get your degree. However, I don’t think a lot of people are maybe aware of all the resources and tools that are available and how doable it actually is," He said.
Noble says the decline in enrollment could lead to Arizona students being less competitive than others in the job market.
“It’s expanded out where you’re competing against, essentially against folks across the globe. And to keep up, the numbers show having a college degree, long term you’re gonna have a higher income rate overall.”
Noble added the best way to get more people to attend college is to raise awareness of the benefits education offers.
