A recent survey indicates a declining motivation among Higher Education school students to pursue college, with more emphasis placed on on-the-job training and certificate programs for quicker, cheaper, and easier job opportunities.
Higher Education
Since 2019, college enrollment has dropped by 8%, as reported by USA TODAY. The survey, conducted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and published this month, cites several reasons for this trend, including reluctance to accumulate debt, the stress associated with college, and doubts about its value relative to its cost.
Data collected from high school juniors and seniors, as well as young adults aged 18 to 30 who opted out of college, highlights their perceptions regarding the value of various educational paths.
Key insights from the survey:
College is viewed as having “middle of the pack” value, with 72% of high school students and 57% of non-enrolled graduates considering four-year degrees as having “excellent/good” value. This represents a decline from the previous year’s survey, where 60% of non-enrolled graduates held this view.
On-the-job training is increasingly valued by both high school students and non-enrolled graduates, with 83% of the former and 77% of the latter rating it as excellent or good. Favorability towards trade and vocational schools has also risen, reaching 63% among non-enrolled graduates, up from 58% in the previous year.
Two-year degrees are considered to have excellent or good value by nearly 70% of respondents, demonstrating moderate favorability.
Other notable findings:
The primary motivations for pursuing a four-year degree, as identified by both groups, are the potential for higher earnings and improved job prospects with opportunities for advancement.
While 58% of high schoolers and 51% of non-enrolled graduates believe that a college degree is necessary for securing a good job in today’s environment, navigating the barriers to obtaining such a degree may prove increasingly challenging.
