How many of you have gone to college? Finished college? You may be surprised to learn that Russia leads the world in having the highest percentage of college graduates. According to findings by the Organization for Economic and Co-Operative Development, 54 percent of Russians between the ages of 25 and 64 have at least an associates degree. In comparison, the United States, which used to be ranked number one, was listed in 12th place with just over 40 percent holding associate or higher degrees. Canada, Israel, and Japan were second, third, and fourth.

You may argue that it is easier to go to college in Russia than it is in the United States because of the lower tuition rates. If you attend a state higher education institution and are a Russian citizen, your tuition will be free. In rare cases, it may cost you a little. According to the College Board, the average annual cost of tuition in the U.S. in 2013 at public universities was between $8,893 for in-state residents and just over $22,000 for out-of-state residents. I am thankful I went to college before I moved here – it can prove very difficult to find that kind of money.

You may say that a good education comes with a price and a great education with an even higher price. According to The Times Higher Education University Rankings 2013-2014 rankings, there was not a single Russian university listed in the top 100, most of them being in the U.S. or United Kingdom. California Institute of Technology came in at number one, followed by Harvard and Oxford. Some may say that maybe a free education should not be cherished if the school is not great. Here is a link that you can use to see the rankings of various universities around the world:

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2013-14/world-ranking

Due to my being slightly biased, I would say that it is admirable that more Russians have attended and received degrees than any other country. Most of the people that have degrees in many countries, did not attend Harvard, Oxford, MIT, or any school on this list – though this is my opinion based upon simple observation. They attended schools, like many in Russia, that were satisfactory and in line with their goals, financial ability to pay, and previous academic accomplishments. In all fairness, most people could not get into many of these schools by design; Harvard would not be as prestigious if they admitted each applicant. In my opinion, it is admirable to have a degree, no matter which university or program it came from – a degree helps to demonstrate our commitment to finishing what we’ve started.