Across the United States, pursuing higher education post-high school has become a norm for many. Yet, beyond the pursuit of knowledge lies the expectation of accessing well-paying jobs, with a staggering seven in ten Americans believing that individuals with college degrees earn more than those with only a high school diploma.

While it’s undeniable that some high school graduates secure lucrative positions early on, statistics reveal that, on average, college graduates in the United States accumulate $1.2 million more in lifetime earnings than their non-college-educated peers and are 3.5 times less likely to face poverty, particularly evident among male graduates who tend to command higher salaries.

This prompted the Career.io team to ponder: In which regions of the United States do college graduates enjoy the most significant salary premiums over non-degree holders? And where do both male and female graduates surpass their non-degree-holding counterparts in earnings the most?

Employing Census data, Career.io analyzed the median earnings disparity between local college graduates and high school graduates aged 25 and above across every state and the 1,000 most populous cities in the nation.

Key Findings

• California boasts the highest salary premium for college graduates, with an impressive 96.56% increase ($37,181) compared to workers without degrees.
• In Hoboken, New Jersey, college graduates enjoy the largest wage gap, earning 305.63% more ($81,478) than local workers without degrees.
• Conversely, in Gary, Indiana, the typical college graduate earns $18,750 less (-50.22%) than their non-degree-holding counterparts, marking the largest negative premium among cities.
• Female graduates in Edina, Minnesota, experience the most significant salary premium over their non-degree counterparts, with a substantial 390.29% increase ($54,059), while male graduates in Johns Creek, Georgia, lead with a premium of 341.92% ($89,444).

California College Graduates Earn 96.56% More Than High School Graduates

No matter which state you reside in, holding a bachelor’s degree significantly boosts your earning potential compared to those without higher education credentials. Our research highlights that across all states, individuals with degrees command substantial salary premiums over their non-degree-holding counterparts, with California leading the pack. In the Golden State, college graduates enjoy an impressive 96.56% increase (equivalent to $37,181) compared to high school graduates.

In both college graduates and non-degree holders, a common concern emerges – the exorbitant cost of living, which forces many workers to leave excessively expensive metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. Following California, New York presents a similar trend, with a typical graduate earning 91.47% more (equivalent to $34,190) than someone without a college degree. Similarly, New Jersey showcases a substantial price premium of 90.89% (or $36,532).

Female Graduates in New Jersey Earn 105.27% More Than Non-Degree Counterparts

Despite comprising over half of the college-educated workforce in the U.S., where do women with degrees outstrip their non-degree-holding counterparts the most? New Jersey claims the top spot in this regard, with the average female employee holding a bachelor’s degree earning $33,170 more than a female high school graduate, marking a significant 105.27% salary premium.

The Institute for Women’s Policy Research notes, ‘A growing portion of employed women in New Jersey are occupying managerial or professional roles.’ These positions, constituting approximately 45% of women’s employment, typically demand a four-year degree and offer higher wages and employment benefits.

Male college graduates in California earn $43,953 more than their high school graduate counterparts, resulting in a 102.91% increase in salary. Notably, in Big Tech firms of Silicon Valley, men occupy 70% of managerial and professional roles, highlighting a significant gender disparity. Following California, Maryland presents a substantial premium of 91.27% (or $42,951).

In both states, individuals, regardless of gender, holding a bachelor’s degree can anticipate lifetime earnings reaching $3.1 million, marking one of the highest totals nationwide.

The City in Each U.S. State Boasting the Highest Salary Premium for College Graduates

Following that, the career.io team identified the city in each state where college graduates enjoy the most significant salary premiums compared to high school graduates. Novi, Michigan, stands out prominently in this regard, with an astounding difference: on average, a college graduate earns approximately $57,703 more (a premium of 258.19%) than someone without a degree. In late 2023, the state’s governor announced the creation of 200 “high-paying” engineering jobs in Novi, a sector typically requiring a bachelor’s degree.

Palo Alto leads the way in California, boasting a staggering salary premium for degree holders of $81,503 (equivalent to 256.03%) over workers without degrees. Historically, Palo Alto has been synonymous with a highly educated populace; during the 1950s, over one in three local men held a degree, a notable feat considering only 7% of American adults had completed four years of college at the time. The city’s association with exceptional salaries is further amplified by its integration into Silicon Valley, where in 2022, the top 5% of earners in the region averaged nearly $700k in annual salaries.

Hoboken, New Jersey, and Silicon Valley cities are home to the highest salary premiums

When assessing the top 10 cities with the highest salary premiums for graduates, two additional Silicon Valley locales emerge alongside Palo Alto: Cupertino, where college graduates enjoy a premium of 232.50% (or $96,295), and Mountain View, where the premium stands at 226.96% (or $90,928). Interestingly, despite the tech-driven nature of Silicon Valley careers, industry giants like Google and Apple are progressively less reliant on requiring degrees for employment.

However, towering above all others is Hoboken, New Jersey, where the average college graduate commands an astounding premium of 305.63% (or $81,478) over their non-degree-holding counterparts. Notably, graduates from the city’s Stevens Institute of Technology out-earn their peers from any other college in New Jersey, including the esteemed Princeton University.

Conversely, the situation contrasts sharply in other U.S. cities. In Gary, Indiana, the average degree holder earns $18,750 less than a non-degree worker, resulting in a negative premium of -50.22% — the highest across any city in the nation. The most prevalent job categories in Gary include Office & Administrative Support Occupations (3,251 individuals), Material Moving Occupations (2,092 individuals), and Sales & Related Occupations (1,895 individuals).

Male College Graduates in a Georgia City Earn 341.92% More Than Non-Degree Counterparts

In Johns Creek, one of Georgia’s most affluent cities, male college graduates enjoy a remarkable premium of 341.92% (equivalent to $89,444) over their non-degree-holding counterparts. This city’s primary industries revolve around life sciences and healthcare. Similarly, in Newton, Massachusetts, male college graduates also reap significant rewards, boasting a healthy premium of 310.04% (or $104,699) over men without degrees. Notably, Newton is home to two of the wealthiest men in America, both of whom hold college degrees.

Shifting focus to female graduates, Edina, Minnesota, emerges as the city with the highest salary premium, where women with college degrees earn a staggering 390.29% more (or $54,059) than those without degrees. In Edina, women command substantial earnings in agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, and mining, with the median salary for women in this industry reaching a quarter of a million dollars.

Big Earnings Aren’t Guaranteed by College Degrees

The research uncovers instances where individuals with degrees potentially earn several times the salary of their counterparts without degrees. However, it doesn’t guarantee that obtaining a degree ensures substantial earnings. Even within the most prestigious universities in the U.S., certain majors are associated with annual salaries of less than $30,000.

It also fails to indicate that forgoing college will permanently hinder your earning potential. Many of the world’s largest and highest-paying companies are beginning to relax their requirements for a college degree. Take Google, for example, where employees can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. The proportion of Google job postings mandating a bachelor’s degree decreased from 93% to 77% between 2017 and 2021. Similarly, at Apple, this requirement decreased by 18%.

In a country where 51% of individuals are forced to drop out of college due to financial constraints and where 34% of young adults cannot attend college at all due to prohibitive costs, these developments signify positive news.

Methodology

To determine where college graduates earn the most significant salary premium in the United States, the career.io team concentrated on the 1,000 most populous cities and each state.

For each city and state, the team utilized data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey (2022) to identify the median earnings over the past 12 months (adjusted for inflation) for individuals aged 25 and older among High School Graduates, High School Graduate Males, High School Graduate Females, Bachelor’s Degree Holders, Bachelor’s Degree Holding Males, and Bachelor’s Degree Holding Females.

The career.io team computed the percentage difference in earnings for each location between high school graduates and bachelor’s degree holders. This analysis was then repeated for male and female high school graduates versus bachelor’s degree holders of the same gender.

Subsequently, the team ranked the cities, cities within each state, and states based on the highest salary premium (%) for bachelor’s degree holders.

The analysis of this data is accurate as of February 2024.

The post Top Locations in the United States Where College Graduates Earn the Highest Salary Premium appeared first on Vivid Maps.

The term “Ivy League” originated in the 1930s, initially referring to an athletic conference formed by these eight schools. The name is thought to come from the ivy plants that often adorned the old buildings on these historic campuses. However, over time, the term has come to represent much more than just sports. Today, “Ivy League” is synonymous with academic excellence, selectivity, and social prestige.

The eight universities that make up the Ivy League are:

1. Brown University
2. Columbia University
3. Cornell University
4. Dartmouth College
5. Harvard University
6. University of Pennsylvania
7. Princeton University
8. Yale University

The map below created by Reddit user dphayteeyl shows the location of America’s Elite universities.

Let’s explore these renowned institutions and uncover some fascinating facts about each one.

Dartmouth College

Located in the picturesque town of Hanover, New Hampshire, Dartmouth College was founded in 1769. It’s the smallest Ivy League school, but don’t let its size fool you. Despite its compact nature, Dartmouth boasts a robust research program and is known for its strong undergraduate focus.

Notable Alumni: Dr. Seuss, Robert Frost, Mindy Kaling

Harvard University

Established in 1636 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just across the Charles River from Boston, Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States. It consistently ranks as one of the top universities globally and has been a cornerstone of American academia for nearly four centuries.

Notable Alumni: Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, Natalie Portman

Brown University

Brown University, founded in 1764, is situated on College Hill in Providence, Rhode Island. As the seventh-oldest college in the United States, Brown is known for its unique Open Curriculum, allowing students to shape their own education. This approach has fostered a culture of creativity and independent thinking.

Notable Alumni: John F. Kennedy Jr., Emma Watson, John Krasinski

Yale University

Established in 1701 in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale University has long been a bastion of academic excellence. It’s renowned for its exceptional drama and music programs, as well as its secret societies, including the famous Skull and Bones. Yale’s gothic architecture and ivy-covered walls epitomize the classic Ivy League aesthetic.

Notable Alumni: Meryl Streep, George W. Bush, Jodie Foster

Cornell University

Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York, is the youngest Ivy League school, founded in 1865. Its campus, perched on a hill overlooking Cayuga Lake, is known for its natural beauty. Cornell is particularly noted for its strong programs in engineering and hotel administration.

Notable Alumni: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Bill Nye, Toni Morrison

Columbia University

Established in 1754, Columbia University is located in the heart of New York City. Its urban setting provides unique opportunities for students and faculty alike. Columbia is known for its Core Curriculum and its Graduate School of Journalism, which awards the prestigious Pulitzer Prize.

Notable Alumni: Barack Obama, Warren Buffett, Amelia Earhart

Princeton University

Founded in 1746, Princeton University is located in the town of Princeton, New Jersey. Known for its strong focus on undergraduate education, Princeton’s picturesque campus features stunning Collegiate Gothic architecture. The university has a long-standing tradition of academic excellence and influential research.

Notable Alumni: Jeff Bezos, Michelle Obama, F. Scott Fitzgerald

The University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania, established in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin, is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Often referred to as Penn, it’s known for its top-ranked Wharton School of Business and its interdisciplinary approach to education. Penn’s urban campus integrates seamlessly with the city of Philadelphia.

Notable Alumni: Elon Musk, John Legend, Elizabeth Banks

Ivy League Rankings and Key Statistics

Here’s a comparative look at the rankings and key statistics for each Ivy League university:

As you can see, these universities are highly selective, with acceptance rates generally below 10%. They also have significant financial resources, with endowments in the billions of dollars, allowing them to provide extensive research opportunities and financial aid to students.

The Ivy League Legacy

The Ivy League universities have played a crucial role in shaping American higher education and continue to be at the forefront of research and innovation. Their geographic concentration in the northeastern United States has created a hub of academic excellence that attracts students and scholars from around the world.

When you look at a map of the United States, you’ll notice that these institutions are all within a few hundred miles of each other. This proximity has fostered collaboration and competition, driving each university to continually strive for excellence.

While the Ivy League represents just a small fraction of the thousands of colleges and universities across the United States, their impact on education, research, and society is immeasurable. From the halls of government to the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies, Ivy League graduates have left their mark on virtually every field of human endeavor.

As you explore maps of the United States, remember that each pin marking an Ivy League location represents centuries of academic tradition, groundbreaking research, and the dreams of countless students who have walked through their hallowed halls.

Explore More with Maps of the United States

If you’re intrigued by the geography of the Ivy League and want to explore more about the United States, check out these excellent maps available on Amazon:

• National Geographic: United States Classic Wall Map
• Rand McNally Classic United States Wall Map
• USA Scratch Off Map with US National Parks

The post Ivy League Universities: A Geographic Journey Through America’s Elite Institutions appeared first on Vivid Maps.

Key Findings

• Nursing is the most popular choice, followed by business administration and law degrees.
• The Britons looked for “psychology degrees” more than any other degree during the previous 12 months.
• In India, the most desired degree is English
• Countries like the United States, Israel, Jamaica, Greece, Belgium, and Uganda are more interested in computer science degrees than other nations, probably due to the industry’s increasing employment demands and earnings.
• Psychology, business, and computer science degrees have crowned rankings as the most hunted degrees to study in New York, California, Washington, and 30 other U.S. states.
• An education degree is the most favored degree among 24 nations, including Argentina, China, Brazil, Germany, Russia, the Philippines, and others.

The Most Searched College Degrees by Country

According to the data, nursing is the most popular choice worldwide, followed by business administration and law degrees. Students living in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and some other countries are searching more for psychology degrees, while India and Uzbekistan are highly interested in English degrees. Brazil, China, Turkey, and countries of the former Soviet Union predominately search for education degrees.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s students appear to favor psychology, law, and nursing degrees. The United States, home to some of the world’s top-ranking universities, has a particular interest in computer science, business, and psychology degrees.

The Most Searched Degree in the United States

About 16 million American students yearly choose the States to pursue their studies.

According to research, psychology, business, and computer science degrees have led rankings as the most searched degrees to study in California, New York, Washington, and 30 other American states. A psychology degree is the most searched in Texas, amounting to a search volume of 2,400.

According to the map, the business degree is the most searched in the 30 States, including California, New York, and Florida.

The computer science degree is the most popular in the west and Midwest regions of the United States.

Methodology

The University of the Potomac team explored worldwide Google search data to define the degree the people of 100 countries want to study the most.

They examined the average search volumes over a year-long term and ranked them by the most searched-to-study degree within each nation. Furthermore, the team also went through the data to determine the most searched degree among all the American states.

The post The most popular degrees in each country and the U.S. states, according to Google data appeared first on Vivid Maps.

This isn’t just about buildings – it’s about priorities. The Prison Policy Initiative reports that the US has the highest incarceration rate globally. Meanwhile, data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows concerning trends in college enrollment. Let me share some numbers that really jumped out at me:

Wyoming takes the cake, but not in a good way. With just 4 colleges compared to 28 prisons, it has a mind-boggling 600% more prisons than colleges. That’s the biggest gap in the country.

But here’s where it gets really interesting: there’s a clear pattern between education and incarceration rates. The more people with college degrees in a state, the lower its incarceration rate tends to be. Let’s look at two extremes:

• Massachusetts: Tops the charts with 42,811 people with degrees per 100,000 population. They’ve got 87 colleges and only 35 prisons.
• Louisiana: Has the highest incarceration rate (680 per 100,000 people) and 300% more prisons than colleges.

Studee’s analysis found a strong correlation between education levels and incarceration rates. States with more college graduates consistently show lower incarceration rates (correlation coefficient of 0.68). Research from the Brookings Institution confirmes that access to education significantly reduces the likelihood of returning to prison.

Some other eye-openers from Studee’s analysis:

• Texas leads with the most prisons overall: 313 facilities compared to 149 colleges
• California shows a different path with 280 colleges outpacing its 147 prisons
• Arizona stands alone with perfect balance: exactly 36 of each

The regional patterns tell an interesting story too. Most Northeastern states have more colleges than prisons, while Southern states show the opposite trend. These aren’t just random numbers – they reflect decades of policy choices and priorities.

What do you think about your state’s numbers? Do they surprise you? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments – especially if you’ve seen how this plays out in your community.

The post Prison vs. College: The Map That’s Making Americans Think Twice About Their State’s Priorities appeared first on Vivid Maps.

But what are the occupations that people complain about the most?

This new study from Resume.io gathered hundreds of thousands of tweets about various professions and studied the language used by Twitter users to discover the occupations that people love and hate the most.

Resume.io used sources like Indeed, MySalary, TheBalanceCareers, and CVLibrary to make a list of the most common occupations and trades, including ones that people had strong opinions about.

Tweets for each occupation were gathered using the Twitter API, georeferenced, and analyzed for sentiment using the AFINN lexicon, which classifies the sentiment of text from -5 (negative) and +5 (positive). Resume.io only looked at tweets that referenced the occupations plus “are,” so it was clear they gave an opinion on the professions.

Tweets where the aggregate score was less than 0, were deemed negative, and each occupation was then ranked on the percentage of negative tweets in all the tweets mentioning that occupation. Occupations with the highest percentage of negative tweets were deemed “least loved,” while those where that % was lowest were considered to be “most loved.”

Data was gathered in Nov 2021.

The Most Loved occupation in the United States

Receptionists are the most loved occupation in the United States. Only 5% of Tweets about Receptionists were negative, making it the most loved occupation in the United States.

Students get the most love, with 12 U.S. states tweeting positively about them – only an average of 19% of Tweets in those states about them were negative. Coming in second are Chefs. It’s often said that the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, and seemingly, in seven states, they say rings true.

The Least Loved occupation in the United States

The United States might be the lawsuit capital of the world, but Lawyers are very disliked as 61% of Tweets about them were negative.

Lawyers are guilty of being the most unpopular occupation in 15 U.S. states – an average of 66% of Tweets about them in those states are negative.

The most and least loved occupations in the United Kingdom

Only 15% of tweets about Receptionists were negative, making them the most loved occupation in the United Kingdom. A role that’s integral to any company, Receptionists have the power to influence the mood and experience of all those they come into contact with and visitors alike. On the contrary, real estate agents the least loved occupations in the United Kingdom – 68% of Tweets about them were negative.

The post The Most and Least Loved Occupations in the US and UK appeared first on Vivid Maps.

Learning a new language is a challenge that many people have taken on over the past year.

Teaching yourself to speak a foreign language while airports were closed may seem loco. But learning a new language gives a taste of another culture, keeps your brain active and healthy, and helps you think and see in new ways.

But what languages are individuals in different countries most interested in learning?

This new study from WordTips digs into Google search data to uncover which language each country is most interested in learning.

WordTips compiled a list of the top 50 most spoken languages based on their previous article ‘The 100 Most-Spoken Languages in the World.’
Then the WordTips team translated the following phrases into 119 languages:
● [Language Name] language (e.g. “English language”);
● Study Language Name;
● Learn Language Name

Then the team used Ahrefs to identify monthly Google search volumes of those phrases translated to one of the country’s official or widely used languages. Then WordTips summed up the monthly search volumes of the phrases and found out the two most popular languages in every country.

Finally, they enriched the study’s data with the number of internet users and calculated the number of yearly searches per 1000 internet users. The data was collected in May 2021.

The most sought-after language in each country

Most popular language in every country

The maps below show reveals the most sought-after language on every continent.

North America

South America

Europe

Middle East and Central Asia

Africa

The rest of Asia and Oceania

Below the World Map showing the second most popular language that each country wants to learn.

Second-most popular language in every country

Second-most popular language

Interesting Findings

● English is the most popular language to learn in 98 countries.
● Spanish is the second most popular language in 14 countries.
● Japanese is very popular in the English-speaking world — it’s the most popular language to learn in Canada, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand.
● Ukraine has the highest interest in the local language, with 25.94 yearly searches per 1,000 internet users for Ukrainian.
● Arabic is the most popular language to learn in 12 countries — Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Maldives, Niger, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
● The Korean language is surprisingly trendy in multiple South American countries. It likely can be explained by a combination of the reasons:
○ the popularity of the Korean culture among the young generation;
○ relatively small interest in learning languages in Spanish-speaking countries overall (supposedly because of tons of content in Spanish);
○ The alphabetical writing system (in contrast with the logographic one in Chinese and Japanese) makes the language simpler to learn for Latin languages speakers.
● It is estimated that up to 30 million Argentines have some degree of Italian ancestry (62.5% of the total population), so it is not surprising that the most popular language to learn in Argentina is Italian.
● Russian is still prevalent in the countries of the former USSR. It is the second-most popular language in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan (everywhere after English), and the most popular in Armenia. However, none of the local languages of these countries were in the research because we limited the list to only 50 most spoken languages.

The post Which language does every country want to learn? appeared first on Vivid Maps.

OnlineSchoolReports.com decided to research the longest-surviving schools and universities in every country in the world, dating as far back as 141 BC.

The team then distilled those findings into a series of illustrated maps – both world and continent versions.

The world maps below show which schools have lasted hundreds and even thousands of years.

World

The very oldest schools in the world are mostly divided between Europe and Africa. In fact, Europe is home to 19 schools that are more than 500 years old. Africa has four universities that are over 1,000 years old. Still, there is a big gap between Sankore University in Mali (989) and the continent’s next oldest school, which was founded more than seven centuries later.

The map below shows the oldest school by type of school (primary, secondary, university) that is still in operation.

To create these maps, the OnlineSchoolReports team first consulted existing lists from sites such as Wikipedia and Ranker.

Top 10 Oldest Schools in the World

North America

The oldest schools in the Americas are relatively young. Before colonization, an advanced Native American education system took place in ‘real world’ settings such as the farm or home, led by family members. North America’s oldest surviving school was founded by Spanish Roman Catholics in 1538, by decreeing Pope Paul III. The Autonomous University of Santo Domingo still thrives in what is now the Dominican Republic.

The oldest school in the US is Boston Latin School (1635). Classes were originally led by one teacher and assistant in the teacher’s home. Five of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were former pupils of Boston Latin School.

South America

South America’s oldest school is the National University of San Marcos in Peru (1551). Originally known as Universidad de Lima, the institution was founded to meet the demand for education from monks and laypeople. The school has been led by 216 rectors without a gap, from Fray Juan Bautista de la Roca 500 years ago to Dr. Orestes Cachay Boza today.

Bolivia’s University of San Francisco Xavier was founded on March 27, 1624, ‘rubber-stamped’ by Pope Gregorio XV and King Felipe III; the opening ceremony concluded with the sound of chirimías and trumpets. The original curriculum covered Scholastic Theology, Moral Theology, Philosophy, Latin, and the indigenous Aymara language.

Europe

The world’s earliest ‘university’ is in Italy. Although Africa has older institutions of higher education, the University of Bologna (1088) was the first to refer to its scholars and teachers by the Latin term, Universitas. When the school opened, Catholics considered scientific knowledge to be a gift of God that could not be ‘sold.’ Instead, students paid teachers a donation (colectio).

England is home to the second-longest surviving institution in our study. Just a century after the fall of the Roman Empire, Augustine of Canterbury – one of the founders of the English church – established what would become known as The King’s School (597).

The Middle East and Central Asia

Mustansiriyah University is Baghdad’s “great survivor,” according to locals. The Abbasid Caliphate built the school’s beautiful premises between 1227 and 1234, when Baghdad had a multicultural population of over a million people. The university and its architecture have survived the rise and fall of empires, regime changes, and drastic urban modernization to make it the oldest school in the region.

Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II founded Istanbul University in 1453, bringing together the madrasas (Islamic theological schools) of two local mosques. Classes originally included astronomy, philosophy, philology, and literature. It is the alma mater of the Nobel Prize-winning writer Orhan Pamuk.

The rest of Asia and Oceania

Shishi High School, in China, is the oldest school in the world. A Han dynasty governor ordered the building to be constructed from stone (Shishi means ‘stone chamber’) around 140 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. The premises have been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, but there has been a school on the site for over two millennia.

Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea opened in 1398. East Asia’s oldest university was founded to develop a scholarship in Confucianism, and its name means, “An institution for building a harmonious society of enlightened human beings.”

Africa

Université Zitouna in Tunis can claim to be the world’s oldest University. Ubayd Allah Ibn Al-Habhab founded the Zitouna mosque in 734, and teaching began in 737. Tunisia’s French colonizers later saw the school’s importance to Tunisian culture and identity. They tried to reform it, but efforts to protect Zitouna’s unique pedagogical approach have since been enshrined in law.

Guinness World Records lists the world’s oldest school like the University of al-Qarawiyyin in Fes, Morocco. Al- Qarawiyyin gets the stamp because it has been in continuous operation since 859. However, this is based on the idea that reform and renaming of Université Zitouna in the 20th century counts as the closing of the old school and opening a new school.

The way we teach our children and students today will shape the world for generations to come. But education is also our past. This project pays tribute to bygone days of schooling and shows that education is the cornerstone for any future.

The post The Oldest School In Every Country Mapped appeared first on Vivid Maps.

Color intensity represents the distance from the median, with the darkest countries having both bachelor’s degree attainment and unemployment levels both more than one standard deviation (SD) from the median, medium colored U.S. counties having one of those two measures over one SD from the median, and light-colored counties being within one SD from the median on both measures.

Data comes from the USDA Economic Research Service.

The U.S. is more educated than ever: In 1973, workers with postsecondary education held only 28% of jobs; by contrast, they held 59% of jobs in 2010 and will save 65% of employment in 2020.

The United States economy will rise from 140 million to 165 million jobs by 2020. By 2020, 65% of all jobs in the economy will need postsecondary education and training beyond high school. 35% of job opportunities will need at least a bachelor’s degree, 30% of the job opening will need some college or an associate’s degree, 36% of the job opening will not require education beyond high school.

Job openings in healthcare, community services, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) will grow the fastest among occupational clusters. Between 2003 and 2015, the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded in STEM increased from 470 thousand to 681 thousand.

The map below, created by a Reddit user, Academiaadvice, shows where STEM degrees are most common in the United States.

American adults hold approximately 16.7 million bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (75 degrees per 1,000). The U.S. counties with the highest concentration of STEM degrees are Santa Clara in California and Los Alamos in New Mexico.

The post Education and Unemployment by U.S. Country appeared first on Vivid Maps.

Among the younger demographic, typically aged 18-24, there is a notable prevalence of individuals who have achieved at least upper secondary education. Completion of high school or its equivalent is widespread in many European countries within this age bracket. Moreover, a growing trend is the pursuit of higher education, including enrollment in universities or vocational training programs.

Moving into the middle age groups, spanning from 25 to 54, a higher proportion of individuals possess post-secondary education. This includes attainment of university degrees, vocational diplomas, or professional certifications. Many within this cohort have completed their formal education and are actively contributing to the workforce, leveraging their educational qualifications across various professions and industries.

The map of Europe below created by @NaytaData using Eurostat data shows the most common educational attainment level among 30–34-year-olds in Europe in 2017.

Conversely, among older age groups, aged 55 and above, educational attainment can vary considerably. Factors such as historical access to education, societal norms, and economic conditions influence the educational landscape for this demographic. While some may have completed only primary or lower secondary education, others may have pursued higher education later in life or through continuing education programs.

Despite these age-related distinctions, overarching trends indicate a general increase in educational attainment levels throughout Europe in recent decades. This trend is propelled by initiatives such as government policies promoting education, economic development, and improved access to educational opportunities. Nonetheless, disparities persist across demographic groups, including variations based on socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and geographical location.

In summary, 37% of people in the European Union have tertiary education, 16% completed at least an upper secondary education. About 32% of 25-34 year-olds have a higher level of education than their parents.

According to forecasts, by 2020, at least 40% of 30-34 year-olds in the European Union will have completed tertiary education.

The post Most common educational attainment level among Europeans appeared first on Vivid Maps.

Global Education Attainment: A Statistical Portrait

Primary Education

Primary education serves as the foundation upon which all subsequent learning is built. Globally, primary education has witnessed significant advancements, with enrollment rates steadily increasing over the past decades. According to UNESCO, the global primary education enrollment rate reached 91% in 2020, reflecting remarkable progress towards universal primary education.

Secondary Education

Secondary education marks a crucial stage in a student’s academic journey, offering specialized knowledge and skills essential for personal and professional development. While secondary education enrollment has seen notable improvements, disparities persist, particularly in low-income regions. UNESCO reports that in sub-Saharan Africa, only 36% of adolescents were enrolled in secondary education in 2020, highlighting the challenges faced in achieving equitable access to quality education.

Tertiary Education

Tertiary education, including universities and vocational institutions, plays a pivotal role in shaping skilled professionals and fostering innovation. Global tertiary enrollment has surged in recent years, driven by increasing demand for higher education and advancements in online learning. According to UNESCO, the global tertiary enrollment rate stood at 38% in 2020, reflecting a significant increase from previous years. However, access to tertiary education remains uneven, with disparities evident between developed and developing nations.

Regional and Gender Disparities in Education

Regional Disparities

Regional disparities in education persist, with significant variations in enrollment rates and educational outcomes across different regions. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia face the greatest challenges, grappling with issues such as limited access to schools, inadequate infrastructure, and socio-economic barriers. In contrast, regions like North America and Europe boast higher enrollment rates and greater educational opportunities.

According to the map above, created by Reddit user Cute_data using World Bank data, Northwestern Europe and Japan have the highest levels of tertiary and secondary education. On the other end of the spectrum are places like Ethiopia and India, where the majority of the population seems to have received only primary or no education.

Gender Disparities

Gender disparities in education continue to pose a major concern, particularly in regions where cultural norms and socio-economic factors hinder girls’ access to education. While progress has been made in closing the gender gap, disparities persist, especially in higher education and STEM fields. Initiatives promoting girls’ education and gender equality in schools are critical to addressing these disparities and fostering inclusive education systems.

Implications of Educational Attainment

Economic Development

Education serves as a catalyst for economic growth, empowering individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy. Countries with higher levels of education attainment often experience higher GDP per capita, as educated individuals contribute to innovation, productivity, and overall competitiveness.

Social Cohesion

Education plays a pivotal role in fostering social cohesion and reducing inequalities within societies. By promoting values of tolerance, respect, and understanding, education cultivates a more inclusive and harmonious society, bridging divides and promoting unity among diverse communities.

Health and Well-being

Education is closely linked to health outcomes, with higher levels of education attainment associated with better health and well-being. Educated individuals are more likely to adopt healthy behaviors, access healthcare services, and make informed decisions about their health, leading to improved overall health outcomes and life expectancy.

The Evolution of Global Education: Trends Over Time

Technological Advancements

Advancements in technology have revolutionized the field of education, offering new opportunities for learning and skill development. Online education platforms, digital resources, and e-learning tools have expanded access to education, enabling individuals to pursue learning opportunities regardless of their geographic location or socio-economic status.

Shifts in Curriculum and Pedagogy

The evolution of global education has also been marked by shifts in curriculum and pedagogy, with a greater emphasis on holistic learning and skills development. Modern education systems prioritize critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, preparing students for the demands of the 21st-century workforce.

Increasing Focus on Inclusive Education

In recent years, there has been a growing focus on inclusive education, ensuring that education systems cater to the diverse needs of all learners. Efforts to promote inclusive education include providing support for students with disabilities, addressing gender disparities, and accommodating diverse learning styles and backgrounds.

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