“With Their Whole Lives Ahead of Them: Myths and realities about why so many students fail to finish college”
The report explores young Americans' views on higher education and college completion, particularly in regard to access to college and college success. Researchers found that the number one reason that many young adults drop out of college is an inability to juggle school and work
The findings contract popular thought that most college students are supported by their parents and take advantage of a multitude of loans, scholarship and savings plans. Instead, researchers found that young people who fail to finish college most often attribute the decision to being forced to choose between a degree and going to work, paying rent, buying groceries or supporting family members. Of students surveyed, 58 percent said they did not receive any financial help from their parents or relatives to pay tuition or fees, and 69 percent had no scholarships or financial aid. When these students decided to drop out, 70 percent said they did so because they needed to work to support themselves
The authors recommend ways to make it easier for working students to complete school, including reducing tuition, allowing part-time students to receive financial aid, providing child care and scheduling more classes at night and on weekends.
The report -- which is the first in a three-part series -- was produced by Public Agenda, a nonpartisan public policy research firm, and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It comes as the United States slips to 10th place in international college completion rates. Data is based on a national survey of over 600 young adults ages 22 to 30.
