1 in 3 recent high school grads skipping college because it's a "waste of money" - Intelligent
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We asked these young adults why they aren't currently attending college, what they're doing instead, and if they have any plans to pursue higher education in the future.
In fall 2021, undergraduate enrollment at colleges decreased by 3.1%, equating to 465,300 students, while overall enrollment dropped by 5.1% since fall 2019, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors influencing young adults to delay or skip college. According to a survey conducted by Intelligent.com, of 1,250 young adults aged 18-24 not currently enrolled in college, 51% never attended while 49% dropped out. Financial barriers were significant, with 34% citing affordability issues, and 31% opting to work full-time instead. Additionally, 29% considered college a waste of money, and 31% were deterred by pandemic-related uncertainties.
A significant 86% of respondents continued their education through alternative means such as YouTube (26%), online materials (24%), and internships (23%). Despite financial and pandemic-related deterrents, 38% plan to attend college in the future, while 30% have no intention of enrolling. Preferred industries for work include business, healthcare, media, IT, and hospitality. Many are choosing work for financial independence (39%), hands-on learning (31%), or to gain life experience (30%), with some citing labor shortages as a reason for choosing work over college. The survey was conducted online via Pollfish over two days in January 2022.