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It's a bad-news report: The United States has fallen behind 11 countries in its proportion of college graduates.

But the report contains good news for Minnesota.

The state ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of 25- to 34-year-olds with at least a two-year degree, according to the report released this week by the nonprofit College Board. Neighbor North Dakota ranked higher, while Louisiana and Arkansas were at the bottom.

We land above the national average of 41.6 percent, but below the College Board's new goal: 55 percent by 2025.

Minnesota wants to hit that mark, but 55 percent shouldn't be its aim, said David Metzen, director of the state's Office of Higher Education.

It should be 70 percent -- "minimum."

"If Minnesota is going to be a leader, we're going to have to do better than the national average," he said, pointing out that an educated population boosts a strong economy.

Metzen has ideas about how to get more students degrees. So does the College Board, which recommends 10 steps.

Half the steps relate to the pre- and K-12 system, including making preschool education universally available. Then there's No. 5: "Clarify and simplify the admission process." No. 8 is: "Keep college affordable."

Those goals make sense, Metzen said. Hard to argue with apple pie. "The key is going to be, what gets measured gets done," he said.

He referenced his office's annual report, called Minnesota Measures. It contains all kinds of handy statistics that speak to the successes and challenges of getting through college.

The good news: Nearly 7 of 10 state high school graduates enroll in college right away.

The not-so-good news? Students of color -- a growing group -- don't graduate as quickly or as often as their white counterparts.

"The achievement gap persists into postsecondary education," the report finds. "Solutions to improve student success rates are needed."

Jenna Ross • 612-673-7168

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