Editorial: State must improve its college graduation rate

One of the strongest signs of economic health for any state is the rate of adults who have received a bachelor's degree. Numerous studies have shown, time and time again, that attaining a college degree equates to higher lifetime earnings.

States with high rates of post-secondary education – Delaware, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Virginia, to name a few – tend to have higher per capita Gross Domestic Product and ultimately higher incomes, as well as more diverse and dynamic economies.

And as we all know, higher incomes lead to a better standard of living.

Not surprisingly, West Virginia has the lowest rate in the nation of adults with bachelor's degrees or higher.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 18.75 percent of West Virginia adults hold a bachelor's degree. The national average is 27.5 percent.

The state, however, has shown improvement in this area. In 2000, only 14.8 percent of state residents held a bachelor's degree.

But it's not enough. West Virginians, by and large, already suffer from a self-inflicted inferiority complex.

The fact that so few residents have graduated college only furthers such feelings and hurts the state's business opportunities – as a highly educated workforce is more adaptable and attractive to investors.

The state of West Virginia must work diligently to increase higher education accessibility and affordability. The college tuition freeze proposed by Gov. Joe Manchin last January is one such step.

Increasing the number of high school graduates is another, where, once again, the state lags behind the rest of the nation. U.S. Census Bureau statistics show that only 75.2 percent of West Virginia residents age 25 and older hold a high school diploma, compared to 80.4 percent nationwide.

More high school graduates means more potential college graduates, especially since Education Secretary Arne Duncan told ABC News earlier this month that 70 percent of high school graduates enroll in college.

If the state is ever meant to climb from the bottom of the economic heap, it must address the educational attainment of its citizens.

We hope the state continues to make that a priority.