For many students and families, the road to “success” has been described the same way for decades — graduate high school, go to college, and obtain a degree. However, the landscape of higher education is constantly changing. While we’ve seen improvements this year, when looking at college enrollment from a wide, years-long perspective, fewer students are applying to colleges in Michigan and across the country. Student retention at these institutions has also decreased from a decade ago, resulting in fewer people getting to the finish line and receiving their certificates and degrees.
If we look at the Michigan Class of 2022, for every 100 graduates, only 52 of those students will enroll in a postsecondary school within six months of graduation. A decade ago, that number was 66 of every 100 Michigan grads. Michigan’s Class of 2013 saw 14% more high school graduates pursuing post-secondary education. To put it bluntly, the current trend is that 14% more high school graduates in Michigan are ending their education at high school, even though we know that choice is detrimental to their long term financial and career futures.
And for the 52% of Michigan students who do move onto college within six months of graduation, our current rates suggest that only 40% of postsecondary students will complete a degree or certificate program within six years.
In previous decades, institutions would make up for low retention rates by enrolling more students. But declining enrollment rates and demographic challenges mean that colleges are vying for the same students in a smaller pool.
Many factors have contributed to this shift. College affordability, assistance in institution selection, family and personal changes, and mental health concerns have all influenced the decision of students to either not apply and attend college or to disenroll.
In the past 40 years, costs associated with higher education — college tuition, fees, room and board — have increased by 169%. Full-time students went from paying $10,231 annually in 1980 to $28,775 in 2019. The cost of college is more than what the average family can afford, making it unattainable for many students who do not want the burden of substantial debt.
But what about the other challenges students face that aren’t as easily seen from an analytical, data-driven lens?
Feeling lost during the application process, not knowing which school to apply to, experiencing extreme stress related to financial responsibilities, lack of resources, location of the university they’re attending, and even the size of the university’s campus are some of the examples we heard from students who spoke at a Higher Education Summit hosted by Governor Whitmer.
One student, Will, attended three different colleges before obtaining his associate degree. He was an athlete who was injured at his first university, then transferred because after sports were off the table, the school did not fit his academic or community needs. He moved on to his second university but soon felt out of place and overwhelmed. He ultimately transferred to a community college close to home where he could be around family while he continued his education.
Not having assistance from counselors, mentors, or advisors in selecting a college has left students like Will to make these decisions on their own without the insight needed to choose the school that is the right fit for them. Will has shown us that it is possible to overcome these challenges, but not all students feel equipped enough to continue down this difficult path as he did — many will discontinue their postsecondary education plans and not return. We mustn't be persuaded that all the issues are solved simply because this year’s enrollment rates are higher than last year. A lot of these issues are still present, and we have a lot of ground to make up to reach the college enrollment levels we saw many years ago.
We hear from students who are at universities that are too big, or too small. Their extracurricular interests, like sports or clubs, are not available to them. The weight of too many courses or commitments is daunting. Many never meet an advisor. They are far away from home and have no sense of community, with no tools on how to build one. And those students who are far from home struggle with transportation.
Another student, Jennifer, discussed burnout that almost led to her discontinuing her college studies. She was a member of her school’s honors program, various committees and clubs, and taking eight classes at one time. She didn’t know how she was going to keep up with it all. Fortunately, Jennifer had a support system — something that not all students have — that encouraged her to seek guidance from her professors and clinicians on how to balance it all and take care of her mental health.
When you add all of these compatibility, support and mental health components on top of the enormous financial weight placed on these young students’ shoulders who have never been out on their own and responsible for themselves in that way, it becomes overwhelming. We’re responsible for helping these students through this new chapter, but we have to be there for them and do more for them to provide that guidance.
We have to make sure students know the financial resources available to them like the Better FAFSA to be implemented for the 2024-25 school year. There are also many scholarship opportunities that aren’t taken advantage of because students and their families simply do not know about them. Advisement appointments — whether they be for financial questions, school selection assistance, progress check-ups on schoolwork, or daily life — should be made available to students regularly.
Programs like AdviseMI for high school students and College Completion Corps for college students help them to choose the right school for them and develop a plan to make it through. These advisers and coaches provide the type of support that can be pivotal to students’ college success — financial planning, allowing them to have one-on-one meetings, participate in group activities with their peers, gain a sense of community, and outline a structured class schedule. If more of these types of initiatives are implemented across the state, a real change can be made in higher education enrollment and retention.
We need to prepare these young people for what’s to come and stay alongside them throughout their journey — support cannot end after high school graduation. They trust us and look to us to lead them in the right direction and it is our responsibility to do so.
For many students and families, the road to “success” has been described the same way for decades — graduate high school, go to college, and obtain a degree. However, the landscape of higher education is constantly changing.