Reasons Why Students Dropout with Solutions for Decision Makers
Today’s higher education system, colleges, and universities are under mounting pressure. Constant talks are going on about student persistence and student success. Regardless of the type of institution and the course they offer, many reasons trigger students dropout rates. It could just be an individual issue or a mix of them. But it’s high time to review the reasons behind these dropouts and revise the factors for those young men and women to have a successful course completion. This blog aims to pull out the main reasons why students dropout of their higher education.
Students drop out: Break the scenario—you don’t deserve to be a statistic.
One in every 4 students dropout of their higher education.
These questions hammer the current status of the dropout rate. Universities and colleges are in deep introspection. In such a turn of events, what would you do to avoid becoming just another statistic? What could the vice president, faculty, and staff do to retain a student? When can you understand why exactly students enrolled in your higher education drop out?
The walk-away from their studies could happen for many reasons. The higher education voyage is never an easy one. College students at large, especially those in the first year of college find time to adapt to the expanse of college life. Even before they realize the advantages behind the newfound freedom, the campus quad, and sunny afternoons, the students drop out of college. Reports confirm that a mere 54% of students in the United States can make it to graduation. The remaining continue to be higher education dropouts.
This blog helps to figure out the potential pitfalls that prevent these young people from completing high school, leading to quitting schooling. We have worked out tips to prevent student retention too. Read through the end.
Top 7 Reasons Why Students dropout with Solutions
Reason 1: Expensive tuition fee
“I can't afford my college fees”! This is the first reason why students drop out. The skyrocketing fees increase student debts, pushing those from underprivileged backgrounds to suffer further. A survey conducted by the India Times shows that around 50 percent of 2017-2018 young adults who couldn’t afford college, dropped out. Further, the Student Enrollment Trends by high-needs Subgroup (2008-18) confirms the dropout rate due to unaffordability.
Source: Labour Market Research - SpringerOpen
On the other hand, financial aid programs can lessen this load by supporting students from challenging economic backgrounds and allowing them to learn carefree without worrying about finances. Students are keen to choose institutions with financial aid these days because of the complete empowerment they feel when it comes to handling finances plus boosts degree completion, minus college dropouts.
Reason 2: Just not prepared academically
“I’m simply not ready for it, dropping out of higher education doesn’t matter to me!” The lack of readiness is a major culprit in higher education graduation rates and first-year students are the first prey. They quit higher education because they are simply not ready for it. 2016 report produced by Education Trust shows that about 50% of higher education graduates from the US drop out of higher education without completing college and career-ready courses of study.
It is possible to reduce dropout rates and improve academic accomplishment for all students by implementing complete academic support systems that include early intervention triggers and degree completion notifications.
Reason 3: Unhappy with the college
Nagging roommates, overloaded with coursework could be the next main reasons for students to drop out of high school. Unhappiness could also arise out of the distrust that develops out of the feeling that despite paying so many fees, the institution forgets to keep students happier. The case is worse when their colleges don’t take them from the process of recruitment through placement appropriately.
The number of communications, orientations, and events to make students show up for the course becomes futile when most institutions forget to keep up the same effort. Hopelessness clouds around them when they feel that they are not up to the job ahead. These feelings force students to leave college and return to the comfort of their communities back home.
Student well-being should be given priority to reduce discontent with college using frequent contact, individualized orientations, and significant events. Involve students in hiring and placement procedures to foster stronger bonds and increase employment prospects.
Reason 4: Discouraging environment
This is yet another reason why most higher education students come to a sticky end these days. Lack of student engagement is the main reason. When a student feels less engaged and lonely, he/she is turned down. They feel bypassed when the colleges do not follow Outcome Based Education. “No one cares if I attended”, replied a student who was recently interviewed by GradNation.org survey for his dropping out. The motivation barrier can be seen here in this student’s case.
Two types of motivation barriers exist—internal and external. Internal would include a less motivational learning environment, whereas external would be a lack of peer collaboration online, fear of isolation, and the absence of social cues. Inculcating the habits of success, and forming a perfect support system can help here.
Reason 5: Picking the wrong course
Problems bud out from here. Figuring out the right course of study for a successful career path can always be of struggle. This could be a winding road rather than a straight line. It is unbelievable, but the truth is around 80% of college students get confused about changing their major at least once by the end of their studies. It is unfair to commit to a course of study only to discover later that the program is not what they expected.
Degree planning done at the early stages can become the right mentor here, where students are exposed to pick courses after much thought, on their own.
Reason 6: Academic inadequacy
Of the large number of students who attempt four-year college study, only twenty-five percent have met the ACT readiness benchmarks on all four subjects. A very sad state of affairs, indeed. In an average classroom, 28–40 percent want remedial classes. When a higher education lacks this, there is a dip in the student’s performance, which becomes a major reason for students to pull out. Students should be routed with a solid learning management system that includes polls, notifications, quizzes, assessments, and rubrics.
Reason 7: Conflict with work and family commitments
The conflict of interest between home, job, and study can cause a breach in education. This scene is most common among all departments of education, community colleges, and state universities. To back up their education students join part-time jobs. The Labour Market Outcomes of Young Dropouts statistics proved that 1 in 3 students dropped out due to the imbalance between work and college. Unable to maintain the stress the work-study gave, they drop out.
Quick Solutions for Enhancing Student Retention and Success
Completion of higher education becomes an ordeal for the above-said reasons. If not addressed adequately by campus management, these reasons might lead to a significant decrease in student retention. This wakes up colleges and universities to discuss college student retention crucially. Might look like a thorn in one’s side. Fret not, to read one of our blogs on how to improve student retention in higher education. can help you arrive at an idea on how to boost student retention. The result cannot be overnight, but yes retention rates can be curbed down and issues can be straightened up. Learning communities are budding, aiming to increase college completion rates.
There’s a growing body of research that suggests that colleges can improve their student’s chances of success by working to understand student frustrations, providing appropriate support, and finding ways to help them over the rough spots.
The complete higher education solution provided by Creatrix Campus also addresses all of the aforementioned issues and gives colleges and universities extensive assistance in enhancing student success and retention. Our package of student lifecycle solutions includes a student information system with student-first modules like SIS, advising, placement support, degree planning, and more. Contact our team now.
