The study funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts surveyed 1,827 graduating students from 80 randomly selected 2-year and 4-year schools. Pew tested students on three types of literacy, including performing basic computations; understanding documents like job applications; and comprehending news articles or instructional materials.

"The surprisingly weak quantitative literacy ability of many college graduates is troubling," Stephane Baldi, who directed the study, said in a release. "A knowledgeable workforce is vital to cope with the increasing demands of the global marketplace."