Higher education has been part of the United States for 374 years. In that time, a lot has changed. What once started as an institution for rich white males has now become an institution for all Americans despite the race, nationality, gender or economic situation.
Here we will delve deeper into 374 years of higher education.
1636 – In 1636, Harvard College becomes the first U.S. higher education institution.
1791 - The Congress of the new United States passed The Bill of Rights. Education becomes a function of the state.
1848 – Massachusetts School for Idiotic Feebleminded Youth established. It was the first school of its kind in the U.S.
1862 -The Land Grant Act becomes a law. Public lands were donated to the states and sold. The money collected was used for endowment, support, and maintenance of at least one college.
1894- Jewel Lutheran College charges twenty seven fifty ($27.50) for a ten-week semester, which includes tuition, room and books!
1905 – The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is founded.
1926 – The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is first administered. It is based on the Army Alpha test.
1931 – Alvarez versus the Board of Trustees of the Lemon Grove (California) School District becomes the first successful school desegregation court case in the U.S.
1944 – The G.I. Bill is signed by FDR. More than two million World War Two (WWII) vets go back to school, nearly doubling the college population. About 238,000 of them become teachers.
1954 – On May 17th, the U.S. Supreme Court announces its decision in the case of Brown versus Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. The ruling states that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. (Banishing separate but equal)
1966 – The Equality of Educational Opportunity Study (the Coleman Report) is conducted in response to provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It concludes that African American children benefit from attending integrated schools.
1970 – Four students are killed by Ohio National Guard troops on May 4th during an anti-war protest at Kent State University.
1986 – Christa McAuliffe is chosen by NASA to be the first teacher-astronaut.
2003 – The Higher Education Act is amended and reauthorized, expanding access for low and middle income students, providing additional funds for graduates, and increasing accountability.
2010 – The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act represents major investment in education – expanding educational opportunity for students and families.
The Change in the Average Harvard College Annual Tuition
Laws are not the only thing that changed in 374 years. In that time, Harvard has continually increased the annual tuition. When Harvard started in 1870, tuition was $150. By 1980, that jumped up to $11,000 only to triple to $33,696 in 2010.
- In 1870, tuition for Harvard was $150
- In 1900, tuition for Harvard was $3,000
- In 1940, tuition for Harvard was $5,000
- In 1980, tuition for Harvard was $11,000
- In 2010, tuition for Harvard was $33,696
Adults with Degrees Increase Over the Years
It should be no surprise that over the years with all the changes in law, that more and more adults received degrees. The number started out low with less than 3% of adults, age 25 and older, having a college or university degree, but enrollment doubled with the introduction of the GI Bill in 1944 when almost 5% earning degrees. By 1970, the numbers doubled again to 11%. By 2008, that number tripled to close to 30%.
The specific numbers are as follows:
- In 1910, 2.7% of adults over 25 had college or university degrees.
- In 1970, 11% of adults over 25 had college or university degrees.
- In 2008, 29.4% of adults over 25 had college or university degrees.
