Four Years Later: Did Obama Make the Grade?

How the nation has fared in key areas under Obama.

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Then and Now - When President Obama was elected in 2008, the nation was experiencing an economic crisis from which it is still struggling to recover and involved in two wars. Thanks to majorities in both houses of Congress, he was able to push through some major legislation, but there's still much work to do. Here's a rundown of what's worked and what hasn't in some key areas. — Joyce Jones (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

President Obama - "The debate is about how it should be done," said President Obama in a Monday address to the nation. "How can we ask a student to pay more for college before we ask hedge fund managers to stop paying taxes at a lower rate than their secretaries? How can we slash funding for education and clean energy before we ask people like me to give up tax breaks we don't need and didn't ask for? That's not right. It's not fair."

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National Debt - In January 2009, the national debt was $10.63 trillion. As of May 2012, it has grown to $15.68 trillion, an increase of about $5 trillion under Obama.  (Photo: Jim Watson-Pool/Getty Images)

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Student Debt - A report from the Center for American Progress shows that 81 percent of African-American students who earned bachelor's degrees graduated with debt, compared to 64 percent of white students. In addition, 27 percent of Black students leave with debt levels of $30,500 or more, according to a 2010 study from the College Board Advocacy & Policy Center. In 2007-2008, 21 percent owed $30,000 or more. Under Obama, Pell Grants have been expanded and tuition interest rates lowered, but college costs continue to rise. (Photo: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Barack Obama - “We can’t go back to the policies that led to this recession and we can’t let Washington stand in the way of our recovery,” said President Obama following a positive January jobs report. “I want to send a message to Congress: Don’t slow down the recovery. Don’t muck it up. Keep it moving in the right direction.”(Photo: Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images)

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Unemployment - Black unemployment is currently 14 percent. The unemployment rate at the end of 2008 was 12.1 percent, significantly higher than the 9.1 percent rate in January of that year. The national unemployment rate at the end of 2012 was 7.8 percent. (Photo: Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images)

Barack Obama - "The war in Iraq will soon belong to history, and your service belongs to the ages,” said President Obama, marking the end of America’s military engagement in Iraq.(Photo: Davis Turner/Getty Images)

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Iraq - Obama pledged to end the combat mission in Iraq by Aug. 31, 2010 and withdraw troops by the end of 2011. The promise has been kept and the U.S. military occupation there has ended. (Photo: Davis Turner/Getty Images)

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Afghanistan - In 2008, there were approximately 30,000 troops in Afghanistan. After approving a surge of military personnel, that number increased to about 90,000. Obama pledged to end the occupation by the end of 2014. He and Afghan President Hamid Karzai recently announced plans to accelerate the withdrawal and the timetable to give Afghan security forces the lead. (Photo:Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)

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Afghanistan - In 2008, there were approximately 30,000 troops in Afghanistan. After approving a surge of military personnel, that number increased to about 90,000. Obama pledged to end the occupation by the end of 2014. He and Afghan President Hamid Karzai recently announced plans to accelerate the withdrawal and the timetable to give Afghan security forces the lead. (Photo:Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)

Wall Street Reform - When Obama was elected, the economy was in a freefall, in large part due to the unregulated financial services industry. In 2010, he signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that reins in banks and includes measures to protect borrowers from sub-prime loans and other predatory acts. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Wall Street Reform - When Obama was elected, the economy was in a freefall, in large part due to the unregulated financial services industry. In 2010, he signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that reins in banks and includes measures to protect borrowers from sub-prime loans and other predatory acts. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

President Barack Obama to the Congressional Black Caucus\r  - “Take off your bedroom slippers, put on your marching shoes! Shake it off! Stop complainin'!”\r(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Home Foreclosures - In 2008, the nation experienced a record number of home foreclosures. Various programs to help struggling homeowners, including the Home Affordable Modification Program and the Home Affordable Refinance Program, were established but have come nowhere near their goal to assist the 9 million homeowners promised. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

President Obama Backs Same-Sex Marriage - Marriage equality remained a contentious issue during the 2012 election cycle. President Obama became the first U.S. president to publicly endorse same-sex marriage during an interview with ABC News in May. However, he said that the decision to legalize same-sex unions should be left to the states. (Photo: Pete Souza/White House Photo via Getty Images)

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Gay Rights - Under Obama, the military has ended its "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. In addition, he has publically come out in favor of marriage equality. (Photo: Pete Souza/White House Photo via Getty Images)

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Health Care Reform - Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 30 million Americans who didn't have health care will be covered under the new law. In addition, the law provides preventative care, women's health services and expanded coverage for the nation's poorest. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Immigration - Obama promised comprehensive immigration reform in his first year of office, a pledge he could not honor. He has, however, devised a plan that offers a temporary respite to young people who were illegally brought to the United States as children and meet certain other conditions. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Immigration - Obama promised comprehensive immigration reform in his first year of office, a pledge he could not honor. He has, however, devised a plan that offers a temporary respite to young people who were illegally brought to the United States as children and meet certain other conditions. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)