Post-Secondary Education in Canada and the United States March 4, 2002

National Stereotypes – Canada and the United States “Canada...is a more class-aware, elitist, law- abiding, statist, collectivity-oriented, and particularistic (group-oriented) society than the United States.” (S.M. Lipset, Continental Divide.) “Canada...is a more class-aware, elitist, law- abiding, statist, collectivity-oriented, and particularistic (group-oriented) society than the United States.” (S.M. Lipset, Continental Divide.)

Structure of PSE in Canada and the US jurisdiction jurisdiction public vs. private provision public vs. private provision university vs. college system university vs. college system

Public vs. Private Provision magnitude of the private system magnitude of the private system – approx. 25% of all university students in the US are in private institutions – varies widely by state

Public Enrollment (% of Total) >90%80-90%60-80%40-60% AL, AZ, KA, MS, NV, NM, ND, WY AB, AK, CA, CO, DW, FL, ID, KY, LA, MD, MI, MT, NB, NJ, NC OK, OR, SC, SD, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI CT, GA, HI, IL, IN, IO, ME, MN, MO, OH, TN, UT MA, NH, NY, PA, RI, VT

Public vs. Private Provision magnitude of the private system magnitude of the private system quality quality – “In some states, the ablest students, or at least the most advantaged students, were expected to enroll in private colleges and universities. In other states the most prestigious and demanding programs of higher education were generally expected to be made available by public institutions of higher education.” John D. Millett

College Systems in Canada and the United States binary system binary system – distinct degree vs. non-degree sectors colleges offer non-university instruction colleges offer non-university instruction – all Canadian provinces except QB, BC, AB non-binary system non-binary system – colleges offer university transfer – QB, BC, AB – all US states

College Enrollment (as % of Total Enrollment) No College (<5%) 5-25%25-50%>50% AK, DC, SDAB, IN, LA, MA, MO, ME, ND, NH, RI, UT VT, WV AB, AR, BC, CO, CT, DW, HI, ID, IL, IO, KA, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NB, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR PA, QB, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI AZ, CA, FL, GA, NV, WA, WY

College Systems in Canada and the United States binary system binary system non-binary system non-binary system why does this matter? why does this matter? – access – college tuition averages 45% of public university tuition

Comparing PSE in Canada and the United States magnitude of the university system magnitude of the university system magnitude of the public component magnitude of the public component enrollment in public institutions of higher education enrollment in public institutions of higher education public expenditures on higher education public expenditures on higher education access access tuition tuition student financial aid student financial aid

Comparing PSE in Canada and the United States magnitude of the university system magnitude of the university system – total post-secondary education enrollment is higher in Canada than in the United States vocational (non-university) enrollment is much higher than in the US vocational (non-university) enrollment is much higher than in the US university enrollment is lower than in the US university enrollment is lower than in the US

Comparing PSE in Canada and the United States magnitude of the university system magnitude of the university system magnitude of the public component magnitude of the public component enrollment in public institutions of higher education enrollment in public institutions of higher education public expenditures on higher education public expenditures on higher education

Comparing PSE in Canada and the United States magnitude of the university system magnitude of the university system magnitude of the public component magnitude of the public component access access tuition tuition

Context for Tuition Comparison private tuition would be MUCH higher on average private tuition would be MUCH higher on average validity of comparison depends on the proportion of student in a state attending public vs. private institutions validity of comparison depends on the proportion of student in a state attending public vs. private institutions college tuition would be MUCH lower college tuition would be MUCH lower college tuition averages 45% of public university tuition college tuition averages 45% of public university tuition validity of comparison depends on the proportion of students in a state attending college vs. university validity of comparison depends on the proportion of students in a state attending college vs. university

Context for Tuition Comparison private tuition would be MUCH higher on average private tuition would be MUCH higher on average college tuition would be MUCH lower college tuition would be MUCH lower students have access to a broader range of tuition options (both higher and lower) in the US than in Canada students have access to a broader range of tuition options (both higher and lower) in the US than in Canada

Comparing PSE in Canada and the United States magnitude of the university system magnitude of the university system magnitude of the public component magnitude of the public component public expenditures on higher education public expenditures on higher education enrollment in public institutions of higher education enrollment in public institutions of higher education access access tuition tuition student financial aid student financial aid

Conclusions -- Comparing PSE in Canada and the United States no evidence of a more limited role for the state in the provision of PSE in the US than in Canada no evidence of a more limited role for the state in the provision of PSE in the US than in Canada existence of private institutions does not necessarily mean... existence of private institutions does not necessarily mean... more restricted access to university education more restricted access to university education weaker public university system weaker public university system Canadian university system is both less and more elitist than American system Canadian university system is both less and more elitist than American system

Conclusions -- Comparing PSE in Canada and the United States Canadian university system less elitist than in the US Canadian university system less elitist than in the US – little variation among Canadian institutions; no “super elite” schools like Ivy League (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Notre Dame) – no astronomical tuitions like Ivy League ($50,000+) – no university degrees which act as a pass to restricted social circles

Conclusions -- Comparing PSE in Canada and the United States Canadian university system is more elitist than in the US Canadian university system is more elitist than in the US – “...for many persons for whom there would be some place, somewhere in the American system, there is no corresponding place in the Canadian university system.”Leslie, – similar for tuition greater access to low-cost tuition in the US greater access to low-cost tuition in the US

Things to Think About... the California guarantee the California guarantee – “the state will provide a low-cost college education to any eligible student.” – no similar guarantee anywhere in Canada – why? in the US, it is politically necessary to offer accessible university education to previously disadvantage minorities – emphasis on equality of opportunity in the US, it is politically necessary to offer accessible university education to previously disadvantage minorities – emphasis on equality of opportunity racial politics dictate that the US politically could not accept the limits on accessibility permitted in the Canadian system racial politics dictate that the US politically could not accept the limits on accessibility permitted in the Canadian system