Many factors could lead to a desire for lifelong learning, but the amount of schooling acquired up to a bachelor's degree isn't one of those.
According to a recent Gallup poll in which one statement was posed to over 170,000 adults in the United States in 2014, those with a four-year college degree were nearly no more likely than those with no high school diploma to agree.
The statement? "You learn or do something interesting every day."
Using a five-point scale in which a five represented "strongly agree," 63 percent of those with a high school diploma or less ranked a four or five, while only 66 percent of those with a four-year degree said the same.
However, 74 percent of those who had either obtained a postgraduate degree or had professionally studied after a four-year degree ranked the statement as a four or five.
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Though the mission statement of many colleges includes promoting lifelong learning, the desire to continue learning after formal education doesn't seem to be sinking in for at least one-third of college graduates.
"As Americans scrutinize the value of a college degree — from whether it improves their job prospects to whether it helps them become engaged citizens and lifelong learners — it is necessary for colleges and universities to do more to measure and track long-term outcomes, as well as make good on the promises made in their mission statements and touted in admissions brochures," Gallup wrote.
A correlation to another study from Gallup of over 30,000 college graduates is drawn in a Gallup opinion piece by Brandon Busteed. The study found that almost four of 10 graduates did not strongly agree that they had one professor who made them excited about learning.
Two-thirds of the graduates also reported having not participated in a long-term project or an internship in which they applied what they learned.
"Is higher education drumming up students, gathering seat time and credits and handing out diplomas? Or is it teaching students to yearn for the vast and endless sea of knowledge? Don't bet on the latter. Unless, of course, you plan to go as far as a postgraduate education," Busteed wrote.
In a study completed in early 2014 that was financed by the European Union in 10 European countries, courses for adults were held over two years to measure the benefits participants found in lifelong learning. After participating, 86 percent of the participants said that they were more motivated to learn and 87 percent said they see adult education as more important than they did previously.
Of the many positives reflected by the response of participants, the study results also "show that adult education helps people cope better with social challenges," according to the study report.
Related links:
What will your college degree do for you? Big data could answer the question, but only if we let it
The 25 best states for your child's education
What students should really look for in a college education
Email: mmorgan@deseretnews.com, Twitter: @mandy_morg