President links higher education, economic prosperity

President Obama visited the University of Texas in Austin on Monday, August 9, to emphasize the connection between higher education and the economy. Providing a world-class education for everyone, he said, is "a prerequisite for prosperity" as a nation. The President said the United States once had one of the most educated workforces in the world but today only 40% of young adults have a college degree – a lower percentage than 11 other countries and no higher than a generation ago. He discussed in detail the administration's strategy to again lead the world with the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020. To read the full speech, visit the White House website.