10 facts about today’s college graduates (2023)

FAQs

10 facts about today’s college graduates? ›

The six-year graduation rate for students of public universities and colleges is 69%. The percentage of females who graduate in four years is 51%. 36% of male Millennials have at least a bachelor's degree. 32.9% of college students drop out before they obtain an undergraduate degree.

The six-year graduation rate for students of public universities and colleges is 69%. The percentage of females who graduate in four years is 51%. 36% of male Millennials have at least a bachelor's degree. 32.9% of college students drop out before they obtain an undergraduate degree.

The evidence that a college degree significantly improves one's employment prospects and earnings potential is overwhelming. Bachelor's degree holders are half as likely to be unemployed as their peers who only have a high school degree and they make $1.2 million in additional earnings on average over their lifetime.

The 6-year graduation rate was 63 percent at public institutions, 68 percent at private nonprofit institutions, and 29 percent at private for-profit institutions. The overall 6-year graduation rate was 60 percent for males and 67 percent for females.

College is important for many reasons, including increased career stability and satisfaction, and the ability to make an impact on your community. With more and more careers requiring advanced education, a college degree can be critical to your success in today's workforce.

The Diploma – Romans first used these as validation of a soldier's time served and were written on animal skin. World's Oldest Graduate – Leo Plass set the world record when he graduated from Eastern Oregon University. The Gown – Gowns were worn as early as the 1300's!

Report Highlights: In 2019, those who've obtained their bachelor's degree or higher had an employment rate of 87% for both genders, 91% for males, and 83% for females.

College Degree = Increased Self-Satisfaction:

A study done by CollegeBoard found that four-year college graduates reported the highest levels of satisfaction in their job, when compared to others with less academic experience.

How many college graduates are in debt? ›

As of 2022, 43.5 million Americans have federal student loans. Approximately 13% of all Americans had federal student loan debt in 2021. In 2022, 9.9 million borrowers have between $20,000-$40,000 of student loan debt.

Research suggests that the more education you have, the happier you tend to be. In a survey that utilized data from the U.S. General Social Surveys, 94% of people with a bachelor's degree or more reported feeling happy or very happy with their lives overall, while 89% of high school grads said the same.

In a reversal, women are now more likely than men to graduate from college, according to the Current Population Survey. In 2021, 39% of women ages 25 and older had a bachelor's degree or more education, compared with 37% of men in the same age range.

As a college graduate, you'll likely have better career prospects, higher pay, and a higher-skilled job. These factors often contribute to stability, success, and overall happiness.

And that degree boost adds up over the course of a lifetime. Americans with a bachelor's degree rack up a median lifetime earnings of $2.8 million. Those with a high school diploma or a GED earn about $1.6 million, according to a 2021 report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.

A college's strength in your major discipline will be key. If you have no clear academic direction, look for colleges that encourage academic exploration. Level of challenge. College instruction comes at different levels of rigor.

Your qualification is your proof to yourself and to the world that you know how to do the work and see things through to the end. This is great when it comes to stepping into your career. That little piece of paper is proof that you have what it takes.

Why is graduation so special? ›

Graduation represents the culmination of a journey and the attainment of a goal. It is an exciting period in a person's life and an array of feelings will surface for the graduate.

College commencement ceremonies are important and special for each graduate who attends. The ceremonies are a way to celebrate our accomplishments and sit beside our peers and friends that have been by our side one last time before we all go our separate ways. Commencement marks the end of a big chapter in our lives.

Regardless of how you personally define success, the stats show that a bachelor's degree can make having a successful career more achievable. Consider the following: Bachelor's degree holders earn an average of 66 percent more than high school graduates.

And great news: many students are reaping the benefits of their academic success to find their way into their first jobs! College graduates ages 25 to 34 boast an employment rate of 86%, based on a 2017 study by the National Center for Education Statistics.

If you're wondering if college is necessary to have a successful career, it depends on what you want to pursue. You don't need a Bachelor's degree to succeed in most careers. Instead of four-year degrees, more companies are looking at a candidate's skills and potential.

College graduates have lower smoking rates, more positive perceptions of personal health, and lower incarceration rates than individuals who have not graduated from college. Higher levels of education are correlated with higher levels of civic participation, including volunteer work, voting, and blood donation.

Over time, college graduates have seen lower rates of unemployment and higher wages than other workers-even through the Great Recession'suggesting that college degrees have become increasingly valuable in California's labor market. The future workforce skills gap looms large.

A college degree opens up more opportunities, even in fields that aren't in your major. Improve Discipline and Develop Strong Character. Obtaining a degree takes discipline and a will to succeed. By getting your degree, you overcome procrastination and learn to do what it takes to reach your goal.

confidence, a better sense of independence, and stronger feelings of control over their lives. ⌘ College graduates tend to be more resilient and less depressed. In fact, communities that have more well-educated residents have fewer incidences of depression and suicide.

How will a college degree impact your life? ›

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ​workers with higher levels of education “typically earn more and have lower rates of unemployment compared with workers who have less education.” Over a lifetime, reports show that college graduates will make 84 percent more than those with a high school diploma.

Atop the list is Maine Maritime Academy, where 2019 graduates who borrowed left with an average debt load of $56,897 – nearly $27,000 above the average among all ranked colleges. See: How Average Student Loan Debt Has Changed in 10 Years.

Borrowers between the ages of 25 and 34 carry about $500 billion in federal student loans—the majority of people in this age group owe between $10,000 and $40,000. However, people carry their education debt well into middle-age and beyond. Borrowers ages 35 to 49 owe more than $620 billion in student loans.

Looking at graduation rates can assist you in getting a sense of the quality of the college. These metrics give you insight into not just how many students are enrolling at that college, but also how many are finishing their degrees in a timely manner.

According to the study, financial sacrifice and stress related to it are some of the most common reasons cited for dropping out. Students who choose to complete school have to contend with higher tuition rates, currency inflation and a rising cost of living.

Sitting comfortably at the top 10 universities list with eight billionaires is Harvard – no real surprise there, considering its reputation as one of the best universities in the USA. It also has the highest total net worth with $217.5bn.

The college enrollment rate in 2020 was higher for 18- to 24-year-olds who were Asian (64 percent) than for those who were White (41 percent), Hispanic (36 percent), Black (36 percent), of Two or more races (34 percent), Pacific Islander (34 percent), and American Indian/Alaska Native (22 percent).

The future may seem uncertain, but college will help you discover the career path that matches your interests and motivates you to become the best version of yourself. You'll learn to be more independent and gain the skills and knowledge you need to prepare you for the future.

Unemployment rates for college grads overall were stable in 2022, hovering around 2% in the last half of the year following consistent declines from June 2020 to May 2022.

What do college students care about the most? ›

Students are mostly concerned about money, cost of living, and economic instability. These concerns dominate safety and health-related issues.

Having a great college experience is about experiencing everything your campus has to offer. From clubs to events to new friends to incredible opportunities for academic exploration, a college campus can provide a wealth of new experiences. Read on to learn how to have the best college experience possible.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ​workers with higher levels of education “typically earn more and have lower rates of unemployment compared with workers who have less education.” Over a lifetime, reports show that college graduates will make 84 percent more than those with a high school diploma.

Finishing college takes dedication. By graduating, you show that you have the work ethic and desire to get the job done. Employers know that, while a degree isn't the sign you know everything, it is a sign that you aren't afraid of challenges and hard work.

Your qualification is your proof to yourself and to the world that you know how to do the work and see things through to the end. This is great when it comes to stepping into your career. That little piece of paper is proof that you have what it takes.

The most important factor when considering a college is how the school made you feel. Regardless of all the programs, opportunities, and scholarships, the school you choose should feel like home, a place where you will be able to grow and develop not just academically but in all aspects of life.

Bachelor's degree holders generally earn 75% more than those with just a high school diploma, according to “The College Payoff,” a report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce — and the higher the level of educational attainment, the larger the payoff.

Through volunteer work, leadership, and philanthropic contributions, public university graduates enrich the civic and economic life of their communities. They also contribute more in taxes and are less reliant on government services than their peers whose highest degree is a high school diploma.

While it depends on who you ask, and the data you crunch, to find an answer about whether a person's chosen school really, truly matters, attending college and earning a degree is generally an achievement that opens new career opportunities and leads to higher lifetime earning potential.

What do college students do when they graduate? ›

Post-grad blues or post-graduation depression happens when college students graduate. They leave their student days behind them and begin a new chapter of their lives. This new chapter comes with a lot of change. Everything they've known for the past four or so years is gone, and they start feeling depressed.

Life after graduation can be just as fun, if not more exciting. Being an adult doesn't mean you have to stop enjoying life. In fact, if you don't allow yourself to relax and have fun, are you truly living? Good memories may be behind you, but great ones that you've yet to experience are ahead.

College graduation can represent an attainment of the American Dream, the culmination of years of hard work for the student, and the payoff for sacrifices made by supporting parents and friends.