Should you stick it out, or should you drop out? College is not the best option for every student, but the decision to leave should not be taken lightly. Everyone’s situation is different, and it’s important to weigh all the factors. Here are some of the major pros and cons of dropping out of college:
Why Dropping Out Of College Is Okay And What To Do About It
You worked hard for the SATs and headed off to college. In your mind, college probably seemed like a good picture. You get newfound freedom, wandering around the campus grounds. You get a deeper and more meaningful education in the subjects that you’re truly interested in. But then you suddenly realize that college isn’t all rainbows. I do believe that college is important. But dropping out of college is okay if it’s the right step for you.
It turns out that dropping out of college is not that uncommon. If you find out that higher education isn’t for you right now, your current situation doesn’t have to define your whole life. And if you were already in college and had to stop, this is not the end.
Maybe you’re a high school student who’s worried about the transition, there are preparations you can make right now. It always helps to know potential pitfalls to make solid action plans to counteract them.
College Dropout Statistics
According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (the Clearinghouse), the college dropout rate in the U.S. has been hovering around the 31-percent mark for the past few years. Nationally, 30.6 percent of first-time students who began their college education in 2012 had not graduated by 2018 and were no longer enrolled. (The most recent report on college completion rates, for the 2013 cohort, does not include data on the overall dropout rate.) Compare that to past cohorts:
Additionally, data from the National Center for Education Statistics show that among first-time, full-time students who enrolled at public four-year colleges in 2016, roughly one in five did not return the following fall. The retention rate was worse at the least selective institutions (such as those with open admissions), where 38 percent of students did not come back after the first year.
Interestingly, however, overall college completion rates have actually been steadily increasing. Statistics from the Clearinghouse indicate that, nationally, 59.7 percent of first-time students who entered college in 2013 completed a degree or certificate by 2019. That’s up from 58.3 percent for the group that began in 2012 and 56.9 percent for the 2011 cohort.
Why Do College Students Drop Out?
Students decide to leave college for a variety of reasons. Sometimes dropping out is a deliberate choice; other times it’s dictated by circumstances. So even if a student never wondered how to drop out of high school, he or she may run into a situation in college that makes leaving school seem like the only path forward.
Often, it’s a matter of money. Many students need to work and find that their jobs interfere with their schooling. Others find that their college education simply costs too much. In a survey by Public Agenda of young adults with some post-secondary education, 54 percent said a major reason they dropped out was because they couldn’t afford not to work full time; 31 percent cited high tuition and fees as the major impetus behind their decision to leave. And more than half of those who quit college said the need to work full time would keep them from going back to school, even if tuition and books were free.
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Final thoughts
There are numerous ways to earn an income and build a career without a college degree. Dropping out of college can simply free up your time to pursue something bigger, better, and more suitable for you. Just be sure to get creative, explore your options, and pursue your dreams.
Joanna joined the CareerAddict content team in 2017, and her role has evolved into a multifaceted one over time. In between heading our CV writing services and orchestrating our digital marketing efforts, she takes the time to share her expertise in a variety of insightful and thought-provoking articles about CV writing, HR, recruitment, social media, job search strategies and more. Joanna holds both a BA and an MA in journalism, and previously worked within a variety of fields including HR and recruitment, travel, fashion and entertainment. She’s also our in-house fashion guru and enjoys cooking up a storm in her spare time.
Joanna joined the CareerAddict content team in 2017, and her role has evolved into a multifaceted one over time. In between heading our CV writing services and orchestrating our digital marketing efforts, she takes the time to share her expertise in a variety of insightful and thought-provoking articles about CV writing, HR, recruitment, social media, job search strategies and more. Joanna holds both a BA and an MA in journalism, and previously worked within a variety of fields including HR and recruitment, travel, fashion and entertainment. She’s also our in-house fashion guru and enjoys cooking up a storm in her spare time.
References:
https://www.brooksconkle.com/dropping-out-of-college/
https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/dropping-out-of-college#:~:text=How%20to%20Drop%20Out%20of%20College%20the%20Smart,Notify%20the%20school%20authorities.%20…%20More%20items…
https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/dropping-out-of-college
https://www.wikihow.com/Drop-Out-of-College
https://www.careeraddict.com/college-dropout