An increasing number of high school students believe further education is essential after graduation, but many are moving away from traditional four-year college degrees, reports Education Slice.
While 61.4% of recent graduates enrolled in college in 2023, fewer students are considering a bachelor’s degree, according to the ECMC Group’s “Question the Quo” survey.
A 2022 YPulse survey found that 63% of middle school students felt a college degree was unnecessary for success.
How are educators responding to this shift?
Career-related training opportunities are being emphasized. The EdWeek Research Center found that 62% of districts now offer more career and technical education courses than a decade ago. Increasingly, students want learning experiences tied to potential careers. Ninety percent of New Hampshire students are now participating in career awareness activities, for example.
Schools need to adapt to these changing attitudes. There are several reasons for this shift:
- The cost of college has been increasing. Tuition inflation averaged 12% from 2010 to 2022. Many students do not want to take on significant student debt. Polls find increasing numbers of high school graduates doubting the value of a college degree.
- Many students are turning to hourly jobs or careers that don’t require a degree, especially in a strong labor market where good incomes are available.
- Some students believe it’s better to start earning money by working immediately after high school.
And some students are learning skills, such as computer programming, from YouTube videos.
Education Slice
