How Common is Dropping Out of College?

Hi all, I've been hearing a lot about students not making it through all four years of college recently. Do most people drop out of college or is it a smaller percentage than sensational headlines might lead us to believe?

It's interesting that you bring this up. College dropout rates are a significant concern, but they tend not to be as dramatic as certain headlines might suggest. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, about 40% of first-time, full-time undergraduate students in the U.S. do not complete a bachelor's degree within six years at the institution where they started. However, this doesn't necessarily mean they've all "dropped out" permanently.

Many of these students transfer to different institutions, take a break from their studies for personal or financial reasons, or switch to part-time status, which can extend the time it takes to earn a degree. Some return to their education later on, perhaps at a different institution or in a different form, such as an online or community college program.

So, while there are certainly students who do not complete their college degree, the story is often more nuanced than simply "dropping out." It's crucial to consider the unique situations and challenges each student faces on their path to a degree.