What should first-generation college students know before they head to campus?
A new social media campaign organized by Better Make Room is encouraging college counselors and others to share their wisdom on Twitter.
Contribute your own tips by using #AdviceForFirstGen and #BetterMakeRoom in your tweets.
Tips already submitted include:
Although most American degree holders believe they received a quality education, more than a quarter say they would attend a different college if they had it all to do over, a new national poll shows.
A survey of 89,492 US adults by Gallup and the Strada Education Network found that 28 percent of respondents wish they would have selected a different institution. And given the chance, 36 percent would have chosen a different major.
Continue reading Survey: Many Americans Would Change Their College Choices
In just a few short months, a new crop of freshmen will begin their college journey.
For first-year students, four years may seem like more than enough time to pick a major and earn a degree.
But national data shows that roughly one in five students take longer to complete college. And each extra year cuts into their lifetime earnings and retirement savings, according to an analysis by NerdWallet — a San Francisco-based consumer finance company.
“Taking six years to get a four-year college degree can cost students up to almost $300,000 in tuition, interest on loans, and forgone income and retirement savings,” the report notes.
Continue reading Study: Extra Years in College Cut into Income, Retirement
Graduation is fast-approaching, and a new national survey suggests that college seniors are worried about money.
Researchers with Barnes & Noble College interviewed 312 graduating seniors in April. Here’s what they found:
Continue reading Survey: College Grads Concerned about Finances
Editor’s note: A version of post was first published on Counselors’ Corner.
Spring is a season of mixed emotions for school counselors. As students come in to share the exciting news of college acceptances and generous scholarships, an equal number of families come in with questions that are harder to answer:
“What more were they looking for?”
“Don’t they know this isn’t enough to cover my needs?”
“Why does college cost so much?”
It turns out this last question has a pretty clear answer—it’s complicated, but it’s clear.
“It doesn’t have to cost this much, if you start at a community college and transfer.”
The rural-urban gap in college completion continues to grow, with fewer than one in five adults in rural communities holding a four-year degree, according to a new report from the United States Department of Agriculture.
“Between 2000 and 2015, the share of urban adults with at least a bachelor’s degree grew from 26 percent to 33 percent, while in rural areas the share grew from 15 percent to 19 percent,” report authors note. “Therefore, the urban-rural gap in the share of adults with bachelor’s degrees grew from 11 to 14 percentage points.”
Continue reading Report: Rural-Urban Gap in College Completion Grows
A new public awareness campaign seeks to bring attention to the financial aid barriers justice-involved youth face when pursuing higher education.
#CollegeNotPrison — a initiative of The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) — made a splash on social media this week with a short video sharing the story of Alton Pitre.
As a teen, Pitre was arrested for a crime he didn’t commit. He spent nearly two years behind bars before the charges were dropped and the case was dismissed.
Pitre, now a senior at Morehouse College (GA), is an advocate for criminal justice reform. He also speaks out about the need to make college affordable for more young people. In the video, Pitre, 25, notes that while a college education offers great long-term rewards, cost keeps many young people from completing a degree.
The majority of community college students live paycheck to paycheck, and nearly half say a lack of finances could cause them to leave school, national survey results show.
The findings — included in a new report from the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCSE) — underscores the role finances play in educational attainment.
Continue reading Report: Many Community College Students Struggle Financially
Lawmakers in Utah are considering a pilot program to help low-income college students secure housing that’s both convenient and affordable.
The bill — sponsored by Republican state Rep. Mike Winder — would provide eligible students with a place to live near their college campus.
Residents would not have to dip into student loan funds to pay for housing. Instead the program would be largely supported by public funds and private donors.
Continue reading Utah Pilot Program Would Expand Housing Options for Low-Income Students
A growing number of colleges are using student data to identify and assist struggling undergrads, according to a recent New York Times report.
Georgia State University, the University of Arizona, and Middle Tennessee State are among institutions using analytics in an effort to boost student retention and graduation rates.
Continue reading Could Big Data Help Raise College Grad Rates?