Higher Education is different in different countries, religion, gender, economic position and political ideologies play a role and determine who gets it , and where – when education is given.
In El Salvador, higher education is public (small % of population get access) and private (only people that can afford it have access to it).
According with The U21 ranking of national higher education systems 2012 report , US has been ranked as the highest in higher education system in terms of resources, environment, connectivity and output , if US has been ranked so high in those criteria, why it is still ranking low in the other ones?

Can we think that achievement has a direct relationship with economy?
Can we also think that we are investing more in sports?

Research (journals) about international higher ed can be found here .
I think Asia is still occupying the best education because especially in korea and japan highly value education.
Dear Artikel, unfortunately you are right. Only when education becomes a priority in U.S , we will improve our outcomes.
Well, we will see in the future, which state would rank the highest in the field of education.
we will see in the near future , countries in Asia will increasingly improve education .