State of Higher Education report identifies barriers to college
We know education after high school has the power to transform the lives of students and their families. Breaking down barriers to get more students to enroll – especially Latino, Black and those from low-income backgrounds – remains a challenge.
The State of Higher Education 2023 report by Gallup and Lumina Foundation explores barriers keeping many across the United States from enrolling as well as reasons why currently enrolled students may be considering leaving – and what makes them stay.
The report by Gallup and Lumina Foundation finds financial barriers – including cost and inflation – top the list of reasons keeping many from enrolling in a certificate or college degree program. Emotional stress and mental health were also weighing heavily on the minds of many adults who are not enrolled.
The responses were similar for students who were thinking about withdrawing from their studies.
More students also said they were thinking about disenrolling compared to last year’s State of Higher Education report. Black and Hispanic students, in particular, were more likely than white students to say it was difficult for them to remain enrolled.
Perhaps even more concerning is that college enrollment rates have not bounced back to pre-pandemic levels and that undergraduate credential completions fell for the first time in a decade in the 2021-2022 academic year, according to the Gallup-Lumina report.
Despite all this, most adults see the value and importance of higher education. The Gallup-Lumina report found nearly three-quarters of adults said they view a two- to four-year degree as a prerequisite for a successful career.