You can’t dispute the facts. Statistics tell a story. You can use the numbers to get an overall picture of things, evaluate goals, and learn from the trends. College admission statistics and facts are no different. They tell us about college trends, college student behavior, and the future of college graduates.
The following are 12 facts about college. Will you be surprised?
75 percent of high school seniors are accepted to their first-choice colleges, but less than 57 percent can afford to attend. Although students are often accepted to their first choice colleges, they are unable to attend due to financial constraints, especially this year due to the pandemic. This means it’s critically important to investigate the college’s financial aid awards before you apply. Do they offer merit aid in the form of scholarships and grants? What percentage of accepted students receives college-based financial aid? What is the average financial aid award?
70 percent of full-time college students are working. Low-income working students are more likely to work full-time than those who are high income (26 percent versus 22 percent). The majority of students across income brackets are working 15 to 35 hours per week. Statistics show that working during college is a good thing; contrary to what most students and parents believe. Working students are forced to organize their time, set aside time to study, and prioritize their lives around their work hours. And an added bonus is scoring some cash for college expenses. There is, however, a threshold where it starts to do more harm than good. Students who work 15 hours or more per week are more likely to have a C average or lower, while those who work less than 15 hours are more likely to have a B average or higher.
The annual family income of more than 49 percent of undergrads at 4-year colleges is less than $50,000. College, if done right, is affordable. Families have options when it comes to paying for college. Students with lower family incomes look for scholarships, work during summers and while in school, and attend community college at a cheaper per credit cost to get the basic courses out of the way. On top of that, good grades make a huge difference when it comes to colleges awarding merit aid, meaning students with financial need are working harder in high school.
Less than one percent of undergraduates attend one of the Ivy League schools. There are over 4,000 accredited institutions of higher learning in this country. Too much attention is paid to the Ivies. A student can get a quality education in college is they apply themselves, often at a much lower sticker price. And employers often tell students that the college they attend doesn’t matter as much as the degree they receive, the internships they worked at, and the connections they made while in college.
The official four-year graduation rate for students attending public colleges and universities is 33 percent. The six-year rate is 58 percent. At private colleges and universities, the four-year graduation rate is 53 percent, and 65 percent earn a degree in six years. It’s clear the sooner you graduate, the sooner you begin earning. And, the longer you remain in college, the greater your cost. The goal is to graduate in four years or less.
The overall college dropout rate in the U.S. is 40% for undergraduates. Of those who drop out, 28% of them drop out before they become sophomores. When choosing a college, ask about the freshman retention rate. Once you know this retention rate, you should ask the college the percentage of graduates as compared to the number of students who initially enrolled. Colleges with high retention rates are colleges that make the education experience not only productive but enjoyable and engaging. Conversely, colleges with a low retention rate might indicate a further investigation into the quality of their education.
Among the Class of 2019, 69 percent of college students took out student loans. They graduated with an average debt of $29,900, including both private and federal debt. Meanwhile, 14% of their parents took out an average of $37,200 in federal parent PLUS loans. The average student loan payment is $432 per month. Imagine graduating from college and starting out with thousands in student loan debt. A huge chunk of your salary will go toward making loan payments, especially if you are starting at a lower salary or are unable to find a job using your degree. Think long and hard before you use student loans to pay for your entire college bill.
The average college student attends at least two parties a week. Of students who chose a college, 27 percent say they went to college to party. For most, especially college students, this statistic is no surprise. Unfortunately, partying contributes to poor grades, poor health, and poor class attendance and participation. There’s nothing wrong with having fun in college; but in order to protect your investment and graduate with a modicum of education, do all things in moderation.
Around one-third of college students transfer schools before earning their degree. The number of transfer students varies by institution but generally falls somewhere between 15 and 40 percent of all newly enrolled undergraduates. Finding the perfect fit college is crucial to staying in college and remaining where you begin. Do your research before you apply and ask if the college is a perfect fit financially, academically, and socially. Time spent on research before applying will translate into a happier, more content, college experience.
More females attend college than males. 8.5 million male students are expected to enroll in college this year; 11.3 million female students. This statistic might be surprising. The number of women enrolling in college is almost double that of men. Does this statistic tell us that women are more serious about pursuing higher education? You decide.
College enrollment this year is expected to be about 6 percent lower than the peak of 21.0 million in fall 2010. Could this be due to the pandemic? Or is the high cost of tuition discouraging many students to apply?
62 percent of all students receive some form of grant aid. In comparison, only 32 percent of students take out loans to pay for college. In the last ten years, the percentage of students taking out some type of loan has dropped by 10 percent. There are many ways to graduate from college without incurring debt.