Every parent wants to do the most that they can to set their child up for success. College seems like a no-brainer. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the typical bachelor degree holder earns $18,500 more per year than those with just a High School diploma.
College graduates also tend to report being happier and more satisfied with their work. They are less likely to be unemployed, less likely to divorce, and more likely to live longer and healthier lives.
A college education is so much more than just a ticket to a better career. It is an enriching experience that allows students the chance to grow, learn, explore and challenge themselves like nothing else.
But all those positive experiences come with a price tag, as well as a risk. Because if students don’t graduate, or graduate overloaded with debt, many of these positive outcomes are negated.
Here’s Why Families are Re-Thinking College
Consider these startling statistics.
- Only 32% of college students graduate in 4 years. An additional 17% are able to graduate within 6 years.
- Only 43% of students graduate from the same college where they start. About 30% of freshman students don’t return for their sophomore year.
- 76% of students change their major at least once. 50% change their major twice.
- At the average college, 49% of the faculty are teaching on a part-time basis.
- Graduates of the class of 2015 left school with an average of $30,000 of debt.
- The average hourly wage for college graduates has risen only 1% over the last decade.
But it doesn’t have to be that way…
Making Better College Decisions
What if you had access to tool that could simplify the college decision process, to help your child find schools that meet their needs and pose the best possible chances for them to succeed? What if you could easily form a list of colleges where your child is likely to get generous financial aid?
Start here, and learn how College Factual can help you and your child make the best education decisions possible for them.
