The Shortest Distance Between You and Your Degree
College Students and the Retention Crisis
College enrollment rates have climbed from 13.8 million in the fall of 1990 to 17.5 million in the fall of 2005. During this time span, the number of people under age 25 enrolled in college jumped 33%, while the enrollment of those 25 and older rose 18%. Based on these numbers, it would seem that the world of higher education was stronger than ever. Unfortunately, getting students to enroll in college seems to be only half the battle.
While students are signing up at record rates, a shockingly high percentage are also dropping out before they get a chance to don their cap and gown. 30% of students nationwideleave after their first year and almost 50% never graduate. Compounding the problem, students who are ducking out early without a degree have still accumulated plenty of debt – the average student owes $15,000 to $20,000 after four years – yet these dropouts are left with a significantly lower earning potential to pay off their loans.
So What Went Wrong?
Clearly, some of the attention dedicated to recruiting students needs to be reallocated towards keeping them on the right track. Before approaching this rising problem, one has to put their finger on what exactly is causing students to bow out early. One obvious answer is that entering students are simply unprepared – academically, financially, and emotionally. Students are leaving home without the fundamental academic skills, the time management abilities, or the emotional stability to withstand the pressures of collegiate life. Community colleges which are designed to ease the transition from high school to college, are failing in their mission by graduating only 29.1% of its students with an associate’s degree after three years.
Today, the research and technology are available to help students succeed in higher education. High school students, their parents, their academic advisors - whoever is involved in the college search process - should realistically assess students’ potential to thrive on a traditional four-year campus. With thousands of dollars on the line, and college retention rates as dismal as they are, students should consider all available options before thrusting themselves into a pit of academic turmoil and financial debt.
While students are signing up at record rates, a shockingly high percentage are also dropping out before they get a chance to don their cap and gown. 30% of students nationwideleave after their first year and almost 50% never graduate. Compounding the problem, students who are ducking out early without a degree have still accumulated plenty of debt – the average student owes $15,000 to $20,000 after four years – yet these dropouts are left with a significantly lower earning potential to pay off their loans.
So What Went Wrong?
Clearly, some of the attention dedicated to recruiting students needs to be reallocated towards keeping them on the right track. Before approaching this rising problem, one has to put their finger on what exactly is causing students to bow out early. One obvious answer is that entering students are simply unprepared – academically, financially, and emotionally. Students are leaving home without the fundamental academic skills, the time management abilities, or the emotional stability to withstand the pressures of collegiate life. Community colleges which are designed to ease the transition from high school to college, are failing in their mission by graduating only 29.1% of its students with an associate’s degree after three years.
Today, the research and technology are available to help students succeed in higher education. High school students, their parents, their academic advisors - whoever is involved in the college search process - should realistically assess students’ potential to thrive on a traditional four-year campus. With thousands of dollars on the line, and college retention rates as dismal as they are, students should consider all available options before thrusting themselves into a pit of academic turmoil and financial debt.
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