The recent report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) highlights a concerning trend in higher education: only 60 percent of students from the high-school class of 2013 completed a degree or credential within eight years of starting college. This low completion rate poses significant challenges for individual economic prospects, societal productivity, and the competitiveness of the American workforce. The reasons for this trend are multifaceted, involving financial burdens, alternative career pathways, and the structure of higher education itself.
Financial Burden and Debt
The increasing costs of higher education—tuition, room, board, and other expenses—pose substantial financial challenges for students and their families. Many students take on significant debt or abandon their studies to avoid financial strain. According to the NCES report, students from higher-income families (earning more than $115,000 annually) have a significantly higher completion rate (78 percent) compared to those from lower-income families (49 to 70 percent). Addressing this financial burden is crucial for improving completion rates.
Alternative Pathways
The appeal of entering the workforce directly after high school has contributed to the noncompletion trend. As Nate Johnson of Postsecondary Analytics noted, falling unemployment rates when the class of 2013 graduated high school made immediate employment a more attractive option. Students often perceive the immediate financial benefits of working over the long-term investment in a college degree.
Curriculum Relevance
To address noncompletion, colleges could reshape humanities curricula to emphasize transferable skills such as critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving. Despite the push for STEM education, the NCES study found that 81 percent of degree or certificate earners completed non-STEM programs. Enhancing the relevance of these programs could improve their perceived value and support student retention.
Student Support Services
Enhanced student-support services are essential for addressing noncompletion. Providing comprehensive mental-health resources, tutoring, peer mentoring, and academic coaching can help students navigate the challenges of higher education. However, these services require substantial resources and effective promotion to ensure they reach students in need.
High-School Preparation
Improving high-school education is critical for better preparing students for college. The NCES report indicates a significant disparity in completion rates between private high-school students (57.4 percent) and public high-school students (35.5 percent). Addressing these disparities involves improving the quality and resources of public high schools and examining the impact of feeder schools that consistently send many graduates to college.
Comprehensive Approach
To effectively tackle the noncompletion trend, a comprehensive approach is necessary. This includes:
- Financial Aid Reform: Increasing access to scholarships, grants, and affordable loan options to reduce the financial burden on students.
- Curriculum Enhancement: Reshaping curricula to make degrees more relevant to current job markets and emphasizing transferable skills.
- Support Services: Expanding and promoting student-support services to help students overcome academic and personal challenges.
- High-School Improvement: Investing in public high schools to ensure they provide a quality education that prepares students for college success.
By addressing these factors, policymakers and educational institutions can improve college completion rates, thereby unlocking the potential of America’s students and maintaining the nation’s legacy of opportunity and innovation.
