Higher College Graduation Rates Planned

The Obama administration wants the governors of the 50 states to improve college graduation rates. Each governor is being asked to host a state college completion summit. Vice President Joe Biden announced a new grant contest focused on helping institutions of higher education boost completion rates.

To meet the President’s 2020 goal, the United States will have to increase the number of college graduates by 50 percent – turning out at least 8 million additional graduates by the end of the decade.

Northern Michigan University looks forward to the challenge.

University officials say they will work to package financial aid programs to meet the needs of potential students.

As of 2009, Michigan had 433,940 college graduates in the state.

That’s 36 percent of the state population.

Nationally, 39 percent hold a college degree.