College education: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos

Three Spelman College graduates in caps and gowns smile together, each wearing a blue and white Spelman stole, at an outdoor commencement ceremony.

The north side of the White House in Washington, D.C., illuminated at dusk, with the fountain on the North Lawn and the Washington Monument visible in the background.

Portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart, showing Washington in a dark coat with a white cravat against a dark background.

Portrait of John Adams by Gilbert Stuart, showing Adams with white hair, wearing a red coat and white cravat, against a dark neutral background.

Portrait of Thomas Jefferson by Gilbert Stuart, showing Jefferson with white hair, a white ruffled shirt, and a dark coat against a neutral background.

John Quincy Adams

Portrait of Andrew Jackson by Thomas Sully, showing Jackson with gray hair, a serious expression, and wearing a dark coat over a white shirt against a neutral background.

Martin van Buren

See All Images →

Topics

education higher education University college Free college School vaccine mandates School uniforms Standardized tests Book bans Teacher tenure Homework Student loan debt Artificial intelligence (AI) for schoolwork Animal dissection