Postsecondary education in the United States: introducing the issue.

VOL. 23 / NO. 1 / SPRING 2013 3 Since the introduction of the GI Bill in 1944, college has been part of the American dream, in large part because it is viewed as a ticket to economic security. Currently, about 21 million individuals attend a postsecondary institution, and the vast majority of high school students aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher.1 While the popular image of college may be dominated by Ivy League schools, flagship state universities, and elite liberal arts colleges, in fact only a minority of students attend such institutions. Many go to less-selective regional four-year colleges and universities and vocational institutions, and nationwide close to 40 percent are enrolled in openaccess community colleges. A small but growing number of students are working toward college degrees mostly or entirely online.