College/University Graduation Rates
Every year, nearly 3.6 million students are to graduate high school with an astounding 84.6% graduation rate. And after graduating, most students will rush off to forms for various colleges and universities of their choice. That said, if history serves a reminder, high school graduation might be the last commencement ceremony for most students.
Although nearly 84% of students graduate from high school every year, not even half of them make their way through college. From students dropping out to students simply not being able to graduate in 4 years, there is a multitude of factors that contribute to the 33.3% (in four years) national graduation rate.
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The Graduation Rate Increasing yet Still Low
In 2017, according to data from the national Student Clearinghouse Research Center showed the college graduation rate was 56.9%. This percentage was a sizeable increase from that of last year’s 54.8%, which itself was an increase from 52.9% in 2015.
2018 was also a year that saw an increase in the overall college graduation rate, standing currently at 59%. While it is great that the national graduation rate is increasing, it is still very low. According to these statistics, 4 in 10 students do not graduate from colleges in the United States. These stats can be quite a concern seeing how such a high percentage of students still end up with student debt and no proper way to pay them off.
According to NSC’s 2017 annual report, around only 45% of students attain their degrees from the same institute and approximately 12% of students transfer to a different institute to complete. Of these students, 12% of them do not complete but are still enrolled, and nearly 31% dropout entirely. But why is the percentage so high?
Reasons for Students Dropping Out or Not Graduating On Time
Unfortunately, there is no single reason for why such a large percentage of students do not make it out of college within four years. Family problems, personal problems, and cost are just a few of the reasons why so many students are not able to graduate from college on time. However, the most common reasons are as follows:
Juggling Work and School
Let’s start with what is possibly the most obvious one; most students going to college in the United States today are working a part-time job. Since colleges have become all the more inclusive and have increased the students from lower-income households, students had to manage their expenses and studies at the same time.
No Need to Complete a Degree
Depending on the carrier that a student is willing to pursue, they don’t necessarily need to have a degree. It is very common for students to drop out of college to pursue careers in sports or start their own business. These endeavors often do not require a student to have a dedicated degree, which leads them to drop out of college.
Unprepared For the Workload
College is quite difficult. The Multitude of assignments, classes, projects, and homework can be very stressful and is not something that everyone can keep up with. Some students also have bills to pay, which leads them to drop out of college in search of a full-time job. Moreover, these students who are juggling work and college at the same time, cannot manage the workload that comes with attending college.
Taking Fewer Credits
Students in college often take for granted how important taking 15 credits are for your degree. Although students require a minimum of 12 credits to qualify as full-time students, taking only 12 credits will automatically result in students getting their degree later. Now, most universities also do not allow students to take more than 12 credits, but that is a different problem altogether.
Conclusion
The graduation rate is gradually increasing in the United States and is quite a spectacle for students everywhere. Although there is still a long way to go, various universities are starting to take into account students from different financial backgrounds and problems and are looking for ways to help them.
Author Bio
Anne Baron is highly experienced educator, writer and copywriter specializing in academic research. She has a Ph.D. in Educational Administration with almost 25 years of experience in teaching and academic writing. She spent a dozen years managing a large college peer-tutoring program and another dozen years in the classroom teaching college students. She has since retired from teaching and devotes her time and efforts to freelance writing for institutions, businesses and colleges like Patrick Henry College.
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