College attendance rates in southern states more closely resemble those found in the rest of the country, according to a new report on the state of education in the region. But while more Southerners as a whole are attending college than 15 years ago, progress in college attendance for students from different racial and ethnic groups have not kept pace.

According to "Educational Benchmarks, 1996," an annual report by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), "Large gaps persist.... Although higher percentages of Blacks and Hispanics have attended college today, their college-going rates are about two-thirds that of whites."

In the fifteen states associated with SREB, 48 percent of adults ages twenty-five through thirty-four had completed at least one year of college in 1993 -- up from 41 percent in 1981. Nationally, 51 percent had completed at least one year of college in 1993 -- up from 45 percent in 1981.

When broken down by race and ethnicity, 51 percent of white adults, 37 percent of Black adults, and 33 percent of Hispanic adults had attended college for one or more years in SREB states in 1993. While the national numbers are comparable for whites (52 percent), there is a larger discrepancy for people of color (42 percent of Blacks and 30 percent of Hispanics).

As more and more students in the South seek higher education, college preparedness has also improved. A larger percentage of high school students take college preparatory classes and admissions test scores have risen.

In 1990, more than half (54 percent) of high school graduates in the South took an academic core curriculum which included four years of English, and three years each of social studies, science and mathematics. Some 38 percent of the graduates also took at least two years of foreign languages as part of a college preparatory curriculum. In 1982, nearly 90 percent of graduates took a less rigorous academic program, with only 13 percent taking an academic core curriculum and 7 percent completing college preparatory work.

Despite the gains, "SREB states have not matched their progress in providing access to college with similar progress in college completion. Only two SREB states. Maryland and Virginia, out-pace the nation in the percentage of adults with associate's and higher degrees," according to the report.

The report noted efforts in Florida and North Carolina to encourage students to pursue degrees within reasonable time frames, as they are more likely to complete them. It also suggests that colleges take other steps to improve completion rates.

"Institutions can improve college completion rates significantly by making sure that when they admit students who are not fully prepared (many of whom are adults returning to college) there are quality remedial programs to bring them up to speed," the report states. "Many more students might earn bachelor's degrees if more two- and four-year colleges align similar programs of study to eliminate unnecessary hurdles for students who transfer. And all colleges and universities need policies that encourage students to complete their degrees in a timely (and cost-effective) manner."

The annual report also found:

As state legislatures and the public focus more on how higher education serves students, colleges are paying more attention to quality;

Between 1984 and 1994, public colleges and universities in the South depended more on tuition and fees (which increased from 22 percent to 30 percent of their budgets) to fund programs and less on state budget support (which slid from 79 percent to 70 percent of their budgets); and

Since 1990, average salaries for four-year college faculty increased by 16 percent and average salaries for two-year college faculty increased by 13 percent since 1990. Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and West Virginia out-paced national averages in both categories.

The states belonging to SREB are: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

RELATED ARTICLE: Educational Attainment of the Population Aged 25-34

              Percent completing        Percent completing
                 at least 1 or                  4 or
              more years of college     more years of college
              United       Southern     United   Southern
Year          States       Region       States   Region

ALL RACES
1981          45%          41%          23%      21%
1985          46           41           24       21
1989          45           42           24       23
1991          45           43           24       22
1993(*)       51           48           24       22

WHITE
1981          46           43           24       23
1985          47           43           25       23
1989          46           44           25       25
1991          46           45           25       24
1993(*)       52           51           25       24

BLACK
1981          34           32           12       13
1985          35           31           14       12
1989          37           33           13       13
1991          34           35           12       12
1993(*)       42           37           13       12

HISPANIC
1981          24           29            9       12
1985          26           28           10       13
1989          28           30           11       14
1991          25           27           10       10
1993(*)       30           33            9       12

COPYRIGHT 1996 Cox, Matthews & Associates