For a very long time, the United States has prided itself for its higher number of students who can access higher education (Borgen 28). However, in the last few years the number of college dropouts in America has increased. The phenomenon has led to many young people being academically unqualified and unprepared to fill numerous high paying professions in the job market.
In the year 2014, a report by National Center for Education Statistics approximated that 3 out of 5 fourth year students finish their studies within six years of entering college (Borgen 30). The research illustrated that many dropouts fail to join their second year of study for one or more reasons. The article below focuses on the causes of student’s resolution to drop o their college education.
Rising tuition
Numerous students cannot manage to pay for the cost of tuition in higher education institutions. According to the figures from the National Center for Public Policy and Education released in the year 2013, the cost of college tuition has increased by approximately 400% in the last two decades. Within the same period, family income has increased by around 150% (Crede and Maura 1560). The above indicate that the rise in the cost of higher education is not proportional to the rise in incomes.
One research shows that 31% of all the college dropouts in America cite lack of inability to raise tuition fees as their reason for suspending their studies (Levin 14). In this regard, many students register for college education hoping that somewhere in the course of their studies they will find means to pay all their college fees. The above is not always true because some learners find it impossible to raise all the required fees and drop out of their courses.
Too much stress
If learners can manage to pay for tuition charges, the pressure and deprived sleep associated with demanding college courses may become unmanageable for some students. Compared with other causes of college dropouts, too much stress has been blamed as the leading cause of learners’ choice to suspend or terminate their studies. More a times, juggling between workplace and school becomes stressful for many people.
Because of increased cost of living, few well-paying jobs, and volatile future in social securities, many parents cannot afford to support their children comfortably through college. The above situation has forced many students to work part times while studying. A study indicated that six in every ten students were accountable for paying for their university fee (Crosling 145). The phenomenon has increased stress levels among college students.
Insufficient preparation or motivation
Another study indicates that some students joining college are not well prepared to endure their course studies. As such, transitioning from high school to higher education institution comes as a shock to some students. These persons find it difficult to manage their time well or advance time management abilities required in college.
Such students cannot balance between social life and learning. Seventy-three percent of college dropouts claimed that their high school education did not equip them with the right skills and enthusiasm required to inspire them through their college life (Hamblet 6). Main problems comprised of being overwhelmed by studies, registering for the wrong courses, being bored by classes, and challenging assignments.
Family issues
Unlike in the past, parents are joining colleges in large numbers. Notably, these parents have to balance their time between studying and meeting family obligations. Children and spouses of these persons might influence their decisions to drop out of their courses. Sixteen percent of college dropouts surveyed indicated that they had to terminate their studies to devote more time to their families.
Additional stress causing family conditions affecting college studies comprise of nursing ill family members and working part time to meet the cost of rising household expenses. Another study found out that 53% percent of college dropouts cited family obligations as the primary reason to why they dropped out of their learning (Friedman 10). Online programs and more part-time classes should be rolled out to address family issues from affecting studies of some students.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be noted that the number of college dropouts in America is on the rise. The issue has denied many young people with the ability to fill numerous high paying professions in the job market because they are academically unqualified. Studies indicate that college dropouts fail to join their second year of study for one or more reasons.
Rising tuition fees, family obligation, too much stress, and insufficient preparation or motivation are some of the leading causes of student’s resolution to drop o their college education. Based on the above illustrations, it is apparent that there are no precise causes of learners drop out behaviors. Instead, the decision is fueled by several reasons that interact with one another in a complex way. Online programs and more part-time classes should be introduced to address some of these issues from affecting studies of some learners.
Works Cited
Borgen, Solveig. “Student Retention In Higher Education: Folk High Schools And Educational Decisions”. High Educ (2015): 28-31. Print.
Crede, Erin, and Maura Borrego. “Understanding Retention In US Graduate Programs By Student Nationality”. Studies in Higher Education 39.9 (2013): 1599-1616. Print.
Crosling, Glenda. Improving Student Retention In Higher Education. London: Routledge, 2008. Print.
Friedman, Barry. “Motivation Predictors of College Student Academic Performance and Retention’. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory, and Practice 13.1 (2011): 1-15. Print.
Hamblet, Elizabeth. “Understand The Myriad Factors Affecting Student Retention”. Disability Compliance for Higher Education 20.9 (2015): 6-6. Print.
Levin, Aaron. “Early Depression Screening Could Prevent College Dropouts.” PN Journal 48.1(2013): 14-15. Print.