The College Boom

The number of students in U.S. colleges and universities is expected to grow 14% by 2009, to 16.3 million. That is likely to increase the money crunch at many public institutions. A look at recent trends, by the numbers:

State Appropriations for Higher Education

% change, 1997-98 to 1998-99

+9% and above CA OK MO KY VA FL DE MA

+5% to +8%

ID IL UT IN AZ MS CO AL NM GA NE NC KS NY MN CT IA RI AR ME

0% to +4%

AK MI WA TN OR OH NV WV MT SC WY PA ND NJ SD VT WI NH LA

Decreases TX HI

Growing Enrollment

Percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in college

ALL 1987 29.6% 1992 34.4% 1997 36.9%

BY RACE, 1997 WHITES 37.4% BLACKS 29.7% HISPANICS 22.4%

Student Population

Total enrollment: 14,367,520

BY GENDER MEN 44% WOMEN 56% Rising Costs

TUITION, ROOM AND BOARD

Public 1992 $5,695 1998 $7,628

Private 1992 $14,273 1998 $19,143

FACULTY SALARIES

[Public] 1992 $45,260 1999 $55,858

[Private] 1992 $50,030 1999 $63,458

% OF STUDENTS RECEIVING SOME KIND OF FINANCIAL AID [Public] 45% [Private] 52% Sources: Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac; National Center for Education Statistics; American Association of University Professors

Local TV News

Percentage of stories on:

Crime 1998 28% 1999 22%

Social Issues 1998 8% 1999 10%

Politics 1998 8% 1999 9%

Human Interest 1998 5% 1999 11%

Science 1998 10% 1999 9%

Business 1998 7% 1999 8%

Source: Project for Excellence in Journalism