| West Virginia is among 49 states that are failing to make public college education affordable, according to a national report released yesterday.
The state received an F in affordability in the 2008 "Measuring Up" Report Card on Higher Education by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.
California got a C.
Compared to other states, West Virginia families devoted a large share of family income in 2008 - about 25 percent - to tuition at public four-year institutions, even after financial aid, says the report.
State Higher Education Policy Commission chancellor Brian Noland said "I find the report card to be a pretty accurate reflection."
State appropriation for need-based aid increased from $24 million in the 2004-05 academic year to $42 million in 2007-08.
Tuition in West Virginia is among the lowest of 16 Southern states.
West Virginia also scored an F in the benefits category, which measures how states benefit from having an educated population.
The percentage of West Virginians who have a bachelor's degree or higher is very low compared to other states.
Those with bachelor's degrees went from 18 percent in the early 1990s to 25 percent in 2008.
In top-performing states, 37 percent of adults have bachelor's degrees.
The report says West Virginia's lack of college graduates "substantially weakens the state economy."
The report card graded states on three other categories: preparation, participation, and completion.
West Virginia received the following grades:
C for preparation. The state is a top performer in the proportion of high school students (46 percent) enrolled in upper-level science classes. Sixty percent are enrolled in upper-level math. But few 11th and 12th graders perform well on Advanced Placement tests.
C for participation. Young adults have a 42 percent chance of attending college by age 19, compared to 57 percent in top states.
C for completion. Few complete bachelor's degrees in a timely manner: 44 percent finish within six years.
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