Today’s Student

Too many Americans are failing to graduate college. Why? In part, because our assumptions about them are wrong. Most of us envision college students as 18- to 21-year-olds fresh out of high school. That’s no longer the reality.

Identity

37% of college students are 25 or older, and 46% are first-generation college goers.

of college students are first-generation immigrants.

42%

of college students are students of color.

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Ivan

Fernandez

I needed some roots. I needed a connection. I wanted to be part of the community.

RESPONSIBILITY

A majority of college students work – many full time – while supporting themselves through school.

64%

of college students work, and 40% of them work full time.

49%

of college students are financially independent from their parents.

of college students serve or have served in the U.S. armed forces.

24%

of college students have children or other dependents.

57%

of students live independently – away from their parents or campus housing.

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Lisa

Villarreal

I wanted to show my kids that I had what it took.

POVERTY

Homelessness, food insecurity, and poverty affect college students.

36%

of college students reported not knowing where their next meals were coming from.

of college students reported a lack of stable housing within the past year.

31%

of college students come from families at or below the federal poverty level. The majority of college students (53%) come from families at or below twice the poverty level.

Kevin

Lee

My uncle was my role model. And I remember two things that he always told me: ‘Stay on point, and stay sucker-free.’ That’s what I’ve been doing.

Success

Students' economic backgrounds dramatically affect their success in school and work, especially when race is factored in.

60%

Ninth-graders from high-income families are 60% more likely than students from low-income families to get an education after high school.

11%

of young adults from low-income families earn bachelor’s degrees by age 24, compared with 58% from high-income families.

Students from low-income households are 5x more likely to move out of poverty if they earn a college degree.

32%-45%

45% of Black and Native American students from low-income families delay starting college vs. 32% of similar white students.

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Maliaka

White

I was kind of embarrassed to come back to school, but I always felt I had the potential to do more.

Debt

Most people with bachelor’s degrees leave college with loan debt.

68%

of bachelor’s earners graduate with student loan debt, owing an average of $30,100.

45%-85%

Graduates with loan debt: 85% (Black), 69% (white), 66% (Hispanic), 45% (Asian American).

$25k+

Average student loan debt among bachelor’s holders: $34k (Black), $30.1k (white), $25,450 (Hispanic and Asian American).

$26.9k+

Average undergraduate student loan debt by institution type: $26.9k (public), $31,450 (nonprofit), $39.9 (for-profit).

Tuition has increased 5x more than inflation during the past 35 years.

Timothy

Jones

At this time last year, I didn’t know where my life was going. Now I’ve got my foot in the door and my behind on the line.

The good news: Favorable policies can change the equation

Updating federal policies could help address factors at the heart of challenges that today’s students face – such as finances, work, and family – and boost success. Needed changes include:

Improving data collection to better inform decision making.
Rethinking how financial aid is allocated.
Creating flexibility in federal policies so colleges and universities can innovate responsibly to meet students’ needs.

Today's policies are outdated

Today’s students are vastly different from those of decades ago, but colleges are still structured as if 18- to 21-year-old, full-time students are in the majority. Some colleges and universities have improved to meet the needs of today’s students by offering convenient class times, transferring course credits, and making it easier to register for courses. But big gaps persist in many areas, including housing and child care.