What percentage of American citizens have college degrees?

[graciegirl]

I can't seem to find that statistic.

[Taltarzac725]

I can't seem to find that statistic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_attainment_in_the_United_States

This might help.

[Challenger]

Looks like 42per cent for AA or more and 32per cent for Bachelors

[dewilson58]

Looking for some sort of intelligence???

Not sure if you'll find it there.

:clap2:

[graciegirl]

Looking for some sort of intelligence???

Not sure if you'll find it there.

:clap2:



I agree dewilson. The reason I ask is that when listening to election returns I am hearing that some of the candidates are getting a large share of "college educated" vote or "blue collar" vote. It made me curious. Some segments of our population who are foreign born have very high education levels and some other segments have very low according to the article from Wikipedia that Tal linked.


I don't judge folks positively or negatively because of the letters after their name. There are some very wise people who have not gone to college and some dummies that have, in my opinion.

[Taltarzac725]

I agree dewilson. The reason I ask is that when listening to election returns I am hearing that some of the candidates are getting a large share of "college educated" vote or "blue collar" vote. It made me curious. Some segments of our population who are foreign born have very high education levels and some other segments have very low according to the article from Wikipedia that Tal linked.


I don't judge folks positively or negatively because of the letters after their name. There are some very wise people who have not gone to college and some dummies that have, in my opinion.

Some celebrities are much wiser than some of the academics I have come across at the University of Nevada, Reno; BYU Law School; the University of Denver Graduate School of Librarianship and Information Management; the College of San Mateo; and the University of Minnesota Law School.

If you really want to encounter some teachers with wit and wisdom, Graciegirl, check out the Teaching Company's The Great Courses. The Great Courses (http://www.thegreatcourses.com/)

[graciegirl]

I just wonder why this description about education or jobs helps people understand the vote any better? What does it mean? Anybody have any reactions? I know some of the candidates seem to be courting "groups".

[Challenger]

I think that people trying to parse the election results are attempting to understand voting patterns and thereby be more accurate in predictions. It has been clearly established that those with college degrees on average earn considerably more in a lifetime that those without. A preponderance of non degreed persons hold or held jobs that are or will be subject to significant competition from global markets.
This is not a comment on the value of jobs. Almost all jobs have dignity and many of those who I would consider heroes are those who have toiled at lower paid jobs in order to provide for their family.
Many of those of whom I speak are terrified by what they see happening and are looking for someone who promises them a better future.

[chuckinca]

About 15 years after high school I ran into a HS friend. He had three PhD's.

We were both in the unemployment line.


.

[Challenger]

About 15 years after high school I ran into a HS friend. He had three PhD's.

We were both in the unemployment line.


.Proving that there are exceptions to the "rule"

[justjim]

As a general rule, a college degree means more income, that said, much depends on what your major happens to be. An Engineer and a CPA, as examples, will generally earn more lifetime income than a Social worker or art/music major etc. etc. however, a good salesman with ambition and drive (with a high school degree) could make more than all of those so called educated folks. What we are taught at home can never be adequately measured as to how we take advantage of opportunities as they come along in life.

College is more than just courses and grades. You can learn a lot about relationships, success/failures, persistence and independence. The key word here is "can". It's up to each individual. Forty two percent sounds about right.

[dbussone]

About 15 years after high school I ran into a HS friend. He had three PhD's.



We were both in the unemployment line.





.


Given the length of time it takes to obtain an undergraduate degree and then 3 PhDs, I would surmise your friend spent the better part, if not all, of those 15 years unemployed. (That assumes that all 3 PhDs are legitimate.)

[chuckinca]

Probably true.

He could still be adding to his tally of degrees. His father was a Prof of Library Science at Univ of Chicago; his younger brother and his buds played poker using about a half dozen or more foreign languages.

.

[2BNTV]

As a general rule, a college degree means more income, that said, much depends on what your major happens to be. An Engineer and a CPA, as examples, will generally earn more lifetime income than a Social worker or art/music major etc. etc. however, a good salesman with ambition and drive (with a high school degree) could make more than all of those so called educated folks. What we are taught at home can never be adequately measured as to how we take advantage of opportunities as they come along in life.

College is more than just courses and grades. You can learn a lot about relationships, success/failures, persistence and independence. The key word here is "can". It's up to each individual. Forty two percent sounds about right.

:agree:

Several people have taken the courses and passed, so they obtained their college degree. I have known several people who have degrees and are no brighter than some people who don't have degrees. Being intelligent doesn't mean you have to have a degree.

Following the elections, one is better to have a self possessed BS meter. It is better to be intelligent to see through what the candidates are really saying, so we don't wind up with someone we will wind up lamenting that we chose them.

[dewilson58]

I agree dewilson. The reason I ask is that when listening to election returns I am hearing that some of the candidates are getting a large share of "college educated" vote or "blue collar" vote. It made me curious. Some segments of our population who are foreign born have very high education levels and some other segments have very low according to the article from Wikipedia that Tal linked.


I don't judge folks positively or negatively because of the letters after their name. There are some very wise people who have not gone to college and some dummies that have, in my opinion.


I've never been asked to participate in an exit poll. Do they ask, "Are you blue collar?", "Do you have a college degree?". Just wonder how they get this data.

[Challenger]

I've never been asked to participate in an exit poll. Do they ask, "Are you blue collar?", "Do you have a college degree?". Just wonder how they get this data.

Largely from demographics of the precinct

[duffysmom]

...

[duffysmom]

For years I worked in the Ph.d program at the City University of NY and found common sense was not common.:ohdear:

[outlaw]

For years I worked in the Ph.d program at the City University of NY and found common sense was not common.:ohdear:

Some of that may have to do with many PhD programs attracting people that process information in a different way (abstract/theoretical work).

[manaboutown]

It would be interesting if the degrees bestowed were broken down by field of study. Now that might prove meaningful.

[Fredster]

I heard a long time ago that the largest percentage
of what a person learns in their lifetime
is gained outside of the formal education process.
I'm not sure if that is actually true, but it very well could be!

[graciegirl]

I heard a long time ago that the largest percentage
of what a person learns in their lifetime
is gained outside of the formal education process.
I'm not sure if that is actually true, but it very well could be!



What is hard for me to absorb is that life experiences sometimes make one person wiser, more patient, more compassionate, more understanding and yet the same kind of experience fills another with hatred and impatience and the need to retaliate against the world.

[Cisco Kid]

I do not have a degree.
I am stupid.

[graciegirl]

I do not have a degree.
I am stupid.



I don't agree with you on that one.


I think you are very smart and my friend Crosby thinks the world of you.

[Shimpy]

About 15 years after high school I ran into a HS friend. He had three PhD's.
We were both in the unemployment line.
.

I'm not impressed with degrees that translates to .....can't earn a living with it. My son had a girlfriend that was getting a degree in some arts appreciation and when I asked her how she could earn a living from that she had no idea. To me a big waste of time.
At graduation I meet a very obviously educated friend of my son that was going for her Masters in meteorology. I asked her, and will never forget it, is it so you can be the girl on TV showing the weather? She said "NO" I'm going for my masters so I will NOT be the girl on the weather channel. She enlightened me to all the businesses such as farms that employ them for their business.

[Barefoot]

i do not have a degree. I am stupid. :ohdear: i know you meant that as a joke. but it's not true, you are intelligent AND a nice, nice guy.

[Cisco Kid]

I don't agree with you on that one.


I think you are very smart and my friend Crosby thinks the world of you.

>>>

[DougB]

I do not have a degree.
I am stupid.

How stupid are you?:a040:

[joldnol]

Why are some here attacking people with degrees? There is a disturbing anti-intellectual trend in the US of A today. My family has all four of us with college degrees. It doesn't make us smarter or better than others but we shouldn't be attacked for the effort of getting educated. My wife and I come from blue collar backgrounds and were the first in our families to earn degrees (both of us have masters in education) and our two kids have practical (career wise) degrees.

[graciegirl]

Why are some here attacking people with degrees? There is a disturbing anti-intellectual trend in the US of A today. My family has all four of us with college degrees. It doesn't make us smarter or better than others but we shouldn't be attacked for the effort of getting educated. My wife and I come from blue collar backgrounds and were the first in our families to earn degrees (both of us have masters in education) and our two kids have practical (career wise) degrees.



I don't recall anyone attacking anyone with a degree. I made the comment that degrees don't necessarily mean a person is smart.

In fact. I ask that you read every single post on this thread. One person commented that he thought that degrees that did not aid a person to be employed had little value but no one said anything against higher education in general. I think there is a disturbing lack of respect for anyone who has succeeded and become affluent.

[manaboutown]

I don't recall anyone attacking anyone with a degree. I made the comment that degrees don't necessarily mean a person is smart.

Now that might depend on the degree... IQ Estimates by College Major – Statistic Brain (http://www.statisticbrain.com/iq-estimates-by-intended-college-major/)

[joldnol]

You didn't Gracie and I understand why you asked your question and there were many useful answers but there were also multiple answers insulting folks with college degrees.

[graciegirl]

You didn't Gracie and I understand why you asked your question and there were many useful answers but there were also multiple answers insulting folks with college degrees.



Whew. You are not someone I would EVER want to insult.


Your fan,


Gracie.

[rubicon]

One can only wonder.

[Topspinmo]

I do not have a degree.
I am stupid.

I have some college and I am STOOPID, ! :popcorn: but not brainwashed:ohdear:

Some relate STOOPID to unable to spell or use proper kings grammar?
Some relate STOOPID to party affiliation?
Some relate STOOPID to difference in opinion
Some relate STOOPID to certain areas of the United States?
I sure there lots more? "0" this is STOOPID :bigbow:

[TNLAKEPANDA]

I would think that it would be under 30% for sure

[RickeyD]

Now that might depend on the degree... IQ Estimates by College Major – Statistic Brain (http://www.statisticbrain.com/iq-estimates-by-intended-college-major/)


I suppose now I'm the consummate underachiever [emoji53]

[Biker Dog]

"Trade School" learn to work with the hands you were born with.

[asianthree]

Sadly a ton of debt and not enough jobs

[RickeyD]

"Trade School" learn to work with the hands you were born with.

Unfortunately these hands are coming over our border with the resulting low wages now paid for these jobs. Difficult to compete with illegal workers.

[Biker Dog]

Unfortunately these hands are coming over our border with the resulting low wages now paid for these jobs. Difficult to compete with illegal workers.

Not true, they do not have Trade school experience. Most college degrees are not worth the paper they printed on.

[Cisco Kid]

How stupid are you?:a040:



If you gave me a penny for my thoughts, I’d have to give you change back.

[RickeyD]

Not true, they do not have Trade school experience. Most college degrees are not worth the paper they printed on.

I work new construction in NYC. Hotels mostly, both union and non union. Non union jobs are becoming more prevalent here since they come in at 80% of union bid work. Illegals are flourishing in the following trades. Carpenters, electricians, laborers, plumbers, masons. These illegals come from Russia, Ireland, Poland, Central & South America. They attended trade schools and OJT in their home countries. On these construction jobs they make one third what our citizens earn with absolutely no benefits. Anyone attending trade school in this country can look forward to low wages and minimal benefits because of our politicians and our lack of will to change it. Welcome to the new world order Biker dog.

[graciegirl]

If you gave me a penny for my thoughts, I’d have to give you change back.



Cisco,


I think we ALL sometimes feel insecure about how smart we are.


I further feel insecure about how smart the people are in college, teaching our kids and grandkids and getting BIG bucks to do it. Some are deserving of a lot of money and some are not.


THAT is the reason that although I wish that higher education would be free to all, I think it would also be a potential financing mess, with a lot of people abusing the system. And drinking in huge profits that they don't deserve. If only things were as simple and clear as they looked when I was young.


Disclaimer; So far all college education of both generations of our descendants have been paid for by US. AND all of those descendants are gainfully employed. Look at this girl...proud? Yes! BUT if they had not attended college and were gainfully employed, I would feel the same.