Business
New Research Report From Sallie Mae and Ipsos Examines Obstacles to College Completion
“How America Completes College” Shows Change in Focus, Motivation, or Life Change, Financial Concerns, and Mental Health Challenges Are Top Reasons Students
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[{"type":"text","content":"\n“How America Completes College” Shows Change in Focus, Motivation, or Life Change, Financial Concerns, and Mental Health Challenges Are Top Reasons Students Leave College Before Graduating\n\n NEWARK, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nStudents who attended college but did not complete are more likely to be first-generation college students, those from diverse backgrounds, and from lower-income households, according to “How America Completes College,” a new national study from Sallie Mae and Ipsos. Roughly 4 in 10 (40%) students who did not complete their program of study cited change in focus, motivation, or a life change, nearly 2 in 10 (19%) cited financial concerns, and 14% reported mental health challenges as the top reasons for leaving college early, according to the study.\nThis press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220615005735/en/\nSallie Mae’s “How America Completes College” explores the factors and considerations that impact a student’s journey from accessing higher education to completing their degree or program. The study compares the perceptions of higher education among completers: young adults ages 18 to 30 who have completed a 2- or 4-year degree, and non-completers: young adults ages 18 to 30 who started a 2- or 4-year degree but withdrew before completing the program.\n\n“We often talk about the advantages of having a college degree, but it’s important to look at the things that will help students make it to that finish line,” said Jennifer Berg, research director, Ipsos. “The belief that the college degree is going to help them be more successful seems to be an important driver and when they lose sight of that goal they tend to fall off course.”\n\nKey findings of the “How America Completes College” study include:\n\n\nThree-quarters of completers (74%) decided to attend college before reaching high school while more than half (55%) of non-completers decided to pursue higher education after they started high school; 34% of non-completers decided to attend college during or after their junior year of high school.\n\n\nFour in ten completers (42%) reported having a plan to pay for college compared to 26% of non-completers.\n\n\nWhile 12% of non-completers have definite plans to return to college within the next year, more than 8 in 10 (82%) are open to c...