Dropping out of College: Why, How, and What to Do After

by IvyPanda Updated on: Dec 28th, 2023

15 min

1,691

Obtaining a college degree is an important step in your professional life. Once you get a degree, it will be easier for you to find a high-paying job, receive a promotion in your career, and become a successful person. That’s why dropping out of college can be a difficult decision.

But college is a challenging and stressful time for students. If you want to drop out early, it’s important to think about your goals and whether you can achieve them without a college degree. Our team created this article specifically for students who have found themselves in the challenging situation of deciding whether to continue their higher education. Here, we’ll discuss the reasons why many people drop out of college, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of doing so. In addition, we’ll describe the steps you can take to leave college without causing yourself needless trouble in the future.

Let’s start tackling this topic by looking for answers to the core issues – why, how, and what to do after dropping out of college.

Table of contents

📉 Facts & Rates
✏ Reasons for Dropping out
🎈 Other Options
1. Pros and Cons of Dropping out
💡 How to Quit College the Smart Way
🤔 What to Do After Leaving Studies?
🏆 How to Avoid Dropping out
📎 References

📉 Dropping out of College: Facts & Rates

At first glance, you might think that dropping out of college is a personal failure. However, the statistics show us that this is not the case. In fact, almost a third of students decide to terminate their education prematurely. This number varies when you look at factors like income, age, race, etc. Let’s take a closer look at the statistics:

The USA has the 19th highest dropout rate among the 28 countries included in the OECD research. The percentage of students who decide to graduate is only 40%.
Nearly 32% of students prioritized family or personal problems and ended their college education prematurely.
According to research data, only 36% of students aged 25 and older receive a college degree.
Students who enroll after the age of 20 have a higher dropout rate – between 13% and 22% higher than students aged 20.
The dropout rate for first-generation students with low income is about 89%. However, among second-generation students, this rate decreases around four-fold.
The chance of dropout increases for students over the age of 20 during their 2nd and 4th years of study.
The educational level of a parent can influence a student’s choices. Approximately 40% of students who drop out of college have parents who don’t have a college degree.
About 36% of Alaska Natives or American Indians drop out within 2 years of attending 4-year colleges.
Around 55% of Hispanics and 62% of African-Americans drop out of college within 6 years. However, only about 38% of white students do the same.
Pacific Islanders and Black students drop out more often than Hispanic students.
The lowest dropout rate is 10%, which belongs to Asian students at 4-year colleges. For Asian students at 2-year colleges, the dropout rate is about 35%.
According to a study of six academic years, the average dropout rate showed that female students dropped out 4% less often than male students.
Statistically, students are more likely to drop out of for-profit institutions than non-profit and public institutions for 4-year college degrees.

✏ Reasons for Dropping out of College

The idea of dropping out of college can come up for a variety of reasons. For example, some students cannot cope with the academic workload, while others are forced to interrupt their studies for health reasons. In this section, we’ll look at the most relevant reasons why students may quit their education early.

Reasons why students drop out of college.

Failing to Meet Academic Requirements

About 28% of students who leave college early may do so because of a failure to meet academic requirements. This usually happens because students are unprepared for the heavy workload of college courses. Even students who did well in high school struggle with completing college tasks. The overall statistics are shocking!

60% of American students are not mentally or physically prepared for college life.

First-year students may feel confused about assignments and frustrated about working with large amounts of material. As a rule, new information is introduced quickly, so students need to be prepared and focused. However, many experience difficulties in their exams and tests. Under such conditions, it’s not surprising that young people often suffer from stress and anxiety. In order to protect their mental health, many students decide to drop out because they were not able to find a balance between study, work, self-development, recreation, and their personal life. Student life is complicated and full of challenges that are not easily overcome.

Lack of Funds

One of the most widespread reasons that students drop out of college is the lack of financial resources. Almost 35% of all college students experience financial difficulties. Therefore, many students must work, sometimes even full-time, which leaves little time for academic responsibilities or mental health. Even if a student had the opportunity not to pay tuition, the following issues would still be in question: housing, study materials, meals, and extra expenses. On top of that, some young people may already have a family that they need to support. Given this situation, it’s difficult to consider taking out a student loan and spending years repaying it.

Only 1% of all admitted students manage to secure a full scholarship.

According to the US News rankings, the average cost of college tuition for the 2021 and 2022 academic years reached approximately $22,000 for public colleges and $38,000 for private colleges. Costs can vary significantly, however, because the statistics don’t include personal expenses. In the case of a bachelor’s degree, the situation is much more dire. Tuition ranges between $102,000 all the way to $215,000. College expenses are so high that 29% of students who have already dropped out of college cannot re-enroll because they can’t afford it.

Poor Time Management

How well do you manage your time? It’s crucial to create good time management habits in your life. After all, when teenagers live at home, their parents often help them manage their time. When we go off to college, probably for the first time, we are given unlimited control over what, when, and how we do things – from bedtimes to deadlines. Students can become infatuated with this power, mismanage their time, and face unfortunate consequences, including debt, health problems, sleep disturbances, and missed classes.

You should be aware that higher education is a multi-year commitment that requires serious dedication.

Scheduling is vital, especially at first. College life is extremely hectic, and you need to schedule your activities weeks in advance. This abrupt shift to a more independent life carries a lot of responsibility. Those students who are not up to the challenge often feel the pull to drop out of school. About 4% of students who don’t live on campus leave college for good. The longer the commute to school, the more likely a student is to drop out.

Struggles with the College Life

Adjusting socially to a new environment is just as important as having breakfast in the morning. Going to college is another transitional period with not only new surroundings but also new faces, too. Even those students who were very popular in high school blend in with the crowd because everyone is a newcomer. It can be difficult to find like-minded people to befriend. Moreover, not everyone is lucky enough to live with a roommate who shares the joys and sorrows of your new adventures.

13% of students drop out of college to return home to a familiar and friendly environment.

Additionally, if this is a student’s second attempt at a degree, they may experience discomfort while communicating with younger people because of the differences in values and life experience. They could also feel like an outsider who lost their chance at an education. In these cases, deciding to drop out is understandable, since loneliness, self-doubt, and melancholy are destructive to the learning process.

Booming Job Market

The global service market is evolving, and the job market’s diversity is developing along with it. This trend attracts students away from higher education with the temptation to earn money here and now. This argument becomes especially convincing because of all the trials young people face. Almost 31% of students prefer a job over education so that can build their financial stability. The same factor motivates students to leave college if they are unsure of their professional choice. They might enter the job market to find a paying job now instead of investing their money into an uncertain future.

Factors such as physical and psychological health problems, unemployment, inflation, and the impact of COVID-19 are changing the lives of young people. These global crises often convince students that earning money is a better option than studying.

Online learning has gained popularity in recent years, but this format has already shown its shortcomings. Online students don’t take their studies as seriously; they are less motivated and less engaged academically. As a result, these students often drop out of college and look for full-time jobs. Other students – about 28% of them – leave college with the intention of being entrepreneurs.

Changes in Personal Life

One of the most unpredictable factors that pushes students to drop out are their personal circumstances. After all, no one can predict when an important event will occur. Perhaps a student is very affected by the illness of a relative, the birth of a child, a loved one’s new career opportunities, the end of a relationship, etc. At these moments, academic goals fade against the background of life challenges.

Our resources are not infinite, neither physically nor emotionally. A student’s choices depend on their resources and priorities.

In addition, some young people face challenges at traditional institutions. Not all colleges meet the appropriate requirements for non-traditional students. The statistics prove that about 73% of non-traditional students attending U.S. institutions of higher education drop out. It’s only natural to prioritize your personal comfort, health, and the health of your friends and family.

🎈 Is Dropping out the Only Option?

Before you make the decision to drop out, it’s worth asking yourself one crucial question: Is dropping out the only option? In this situation, you’ll need to think about the potential alternatives and weigh the pros and cons. We’ll focus on those questions in this section.

So, what options do you have besides leaving college early?

Alternatives to dropping out of college.

Speaking with advisors and student unions.
Discuss your choice with other people. You can contact the student union and consult with an education specialist or social services specialist. They can provide you with helpful information and address your concerns about studying. You’ll receive instructions for possible actions that will lead you to a decision.
Lowering the costs.
We encourage you to try lowering your college costs. If you choose a less expensive alternative, you can continue to obtain your desired degree without any issues. Perhaps you could transfer to a state or municipal college, where you’ll still receive an adequate education. Many employers pay attention to your specialty, degree, or work experience and not necessarily the name of the institution itself.
Swapping to a different program.
This is an option for those who would like to keep studying but want to change their program. Some universities may give you the option to change your courses. We recommend checking out programs with similar subjects, since this will increase the possibility of transferring your credits. You can discuss this with your student counselor, but don’t wait too long. After all, you should choose before the tuition withdrawal date to avoid losing money and opportunities.Swapping to a different program.
Decreasing your workload.
Reducing your academic workload will have a favorable effect on your mental and physical well-being. If you don’t have time for essays or term papers, ask for assistance from an academic help service or a student union. Also, you can reduce the number of hours you attend classes or even cut back on the number of courses you take. Another option is to switch to a part-time program and combine your work with your studies. This way, you can earn money and gain experience while you continue your education.
Taking a leave of absence or deferring.
Academic leave can be a reasonably effective solution. Ask for permission to take a one-year break from school. By doing so, you’ll have the opportunity to go back to school without having to re-enroll. Alternatively, you can leave the institution for a few years, gain some life experience, and enroll again once you are older and more financially stable. You might be more motivated and you’ll have a better understanding of what you want out of your education.

Pros and Cons of Dropping out of College

If you’ve looked at all the alternatives and are still unsure, we suggest you weigh the pros and cons. These items will look different for each person, so you’re better off making these lists on your own. However, we will give you an example of how to do one. Below, we have described a few general points that are likely to be relevant to any student.

Pros

🕊 More time and freedom.	If you leave your university, you’ll have more freedom. You won’t have to attend daily classes or do assignments and projects. This will be a huge relief, especially if you don’t love your field of study. You will have a lot of time at your disposal to pursue your dreams and ambitions.
💰 Saving money.	When students drop out of college, they will no longer have to spend money on tuition, books, and other expenses. A scholarship won’t cover all college expenses, so most people spend years paying off student loans. This means denying yourself the opportunity to grow your business, travel, buy an apartment, etc.
💸 Early career start.	Yes, leaving university can indeed open you up to new opportunities! This will be an especially freeing experience if you don’t see the point in what you’re studying. Maybe you’re full of business ideas or already have a job you like. You can start reaching your financial goals without waiting until graduation.
🎡 Other opportunities.	In this day and age, all doors are open to us. You can attend conferences, courses, seminars, and lectures by different specialists and gain knowledge without leaving your house. You can build your learning path just by studying online! Alternatively, you could travel, start your own business, or volunteer. Remember that dropping out is just another opportunity to get to know yourself better.

Cons

📜 Lacking a formal degree.	Getting a degree could guarantee your stability and security – especially if you don’t have a clear plan of what to do without one! You will need to be able to find work that doesn’t require a diploma. For example, some professionals, such as surgeons or notaries, cannot run their practice without proving their qualifications.
👋 Missing out on a potential network.	Going to college is an opportunity to find lucrative acquaintances that could help you with your career or other future prospects. You also get to meet interesting people from different cultures and nationalities. College opens up the potential for social development, lifelong friendships, and networking.
🎈 Not experiencing college life.	College life is full of memorable experiences. This time is as challenging as it is exciting. You’ll learn to be independent, manage your schedule, and decide when to party. This stage of self-development will also reward you with real friends and unforgettable moments.
💬 Having to explain your decision.	Your parents, friends, and family will likely find it difficult to understand your decision. You will probably have to explain yourself many times. No matter how many success stories exist, formal education is still valued in our society. Think about your plans so that your loved ones won’t be worried about your future. Remember to believe in yourself and your strength – that is the only way you will achieve your goals.

💡 How to Quit College the Smart Way

Has no alternative worked out for you? Did the pros of dropping out outweigh the cons? Are you ready to say goodbye to college life? If you have answered “yes” to all these questions, then you can start planning your next steps in life. Naturally, you cannot simply stop going to classes, since this can have unpleasant consequences. Instead, we are going to tell you how to quit your studies the smart way.

6 steps to quitting college the smart way.

Step 1: Be confident and honest.

We’ve mentioned this several times, but it is important to emphasize again – be completely certain about your decision to leave college. If you are not, you might regret it later in life. However, if you have made up your mind, you need to be honest with yourself and others. Tell your friends or family about your decision as soon as possible. Hiding your choice will only result in more stress.

Step 2: Read through the withdrawal policies.

Once you are certain about your decision, you will have to examine the withdrawal policies of your institution. You will need to sign all the necessary forms, state your intention to leave to the correct authorities, and announce an official withdrawal date. Start with the registrar, visit the office for financial aid, or talk to your advisor.

Step 3: Consider your transcript.

Your transcript is one of the main reasons you should file an official withdrawal form instead of just quitting classes. If you just stop going to class, your grades will plummet, which will reflect poorly on your achievements thus far. However, by withdrawing, you will keep your transcript unaffected if you ever want to continue your educational journey. It is always better to leave college at the end of a semester, if this option is available to you.

Step 4: Think about your financial obligations.

Your financial situation after dropping out of college depends on several factors. One of them is whether you are paying tuition or have a student loan. Another is the date of your withdrawal. If you do have a loan and have completed less than 60% of your course, your institution will return some of the money you have borrowed. Therefore, you will have less to pay back. Sometimes, you may be required to pay the tuition fees for the rest of the academic year. In other cases, you may be refunded some of the tuition. It is also important to consider any grant or scholarship money that you might need to return. Think about your financial obligations carefully to avoid any unpleasant situations in the future.

Step 5: Speak with school authorities and staff.

As we’ve mentioned above, speaking to your advisor, the registrar, and someone from the financial offices is a mandatory step. However, there are other people you might want to consider talking to before you leave. If you reside on campus, be sure to speak with the housing office to set a date for moving out. Additionally, if you are on good terms with any of your teachers or other faculty members, consider asking them for a letter of recommendation. This will help you during your job search or future educational pursuits. Also, try to stay in touch with them after you leave – they could provide invaluable advice, help with readmission, or offer networking opportunities.

Step 6: Remember that leaving is not the end!

We are not saying that this is going to be an easy process – quite the opposite, actually. With everything you will need to take care of, you will likely be very stressed and confused for a while. This emotional reaction is valid, and it doesn’t mean that you have made the wrong choice. After all, when you finally leave, you will have plenty of other opportunities ahead of you. Remember to make a plan beforehand, get involved in different activities, have a strong support group around you, and keep moving forward. And if you are still unsure of what to do after college, be sure to read the section below!

🤔 What to Do After Dropping out of College?

Ideally, you should think about what to do after college before you quit your studies. It is better to take care of your plans early on rather than get stuck being stressed and uncertain later. Have no clue what to do after you leave? You can always ask for advice from your friends, family, or a student advisor. You can also read through our suggestions below. Maybe you will find the inspiration for your next step among them!

🖨 Apply for internships.	An internship (or an apprenticeship) is the perfect opportunity to gain some professional experience. It will also allow you to continue learning outside a school setting. And if your internship proves successful, you might even end up with a job offer on your hands!
🗣 Speak to a professional counselor.	If you don’t know what professional field or industry you’re interested in, a career advisor could help. They can match your passions with your current experience and recommend an appropriate path.
💼 Become an entrepreneur.	Many people who leave college decide to embark on an entrepreneurial journey instead. Some of them even become renowned globally. However, this path requires a lot of effort. It’s would be a good idea to start thinking about your next steps before you drop out.
💞 Check out volunteering.	Becoming a volunteer is a great way to learn new skills, gain experience, and provide a service to those in need. Plus, it looks great on your CV! Through volunteering, you may get the chance to explore your passions while supporting a worthwhile cause.
📰 Find an entry-level job.	We all yearn to work at our dream job right away. However, no matter your level of education, this is rarely possible from the get-go. An entry-level or part-time job is the perfect place to start your professional journey.
🧧 Go through a certification program.	If college didn’t work out for you but you still wish to earn some qualifications, you have plenty of other options. For example, you might want to sign up for one or two classes at your local institution. Alternatively, you could try taking online classes or searching for specialized certification programs.
😴 Rest up.	There is yet another option for what you could do after you quit your studies – nothing! You will likely be exhausted after the stress of dropping out, so there is no shame in taking a much-needed break. Consider taking some time off for yourself, do a bit of thinking, and decide on your next steps when you are mentally prepared.

🏆 How to Avoid Dropping out

Of course, dropping out is not the end of the story. You have plenty of other opportunities, and you can always go back to college later in life. However, dropping out is not the most optimal scenario, since the whole procedure takes a lot of time and energy. Thus, in conclusion, we’d like to leave you with a couple of tips about how to avoid dropping out of college.

We hope that our recommendations have helped you through this challenging time in your life. If you know someone who is in the same situation, suggest this article to them as well!

📎 References