Students Are Rethinking the Four-Year College Degree

Today's high school students are living in very different times. With the pandemic changing so many things about our daily lives, students are starting to rethink the wisdom of the four-year degree.

Are your high schoolers rethinking attending college? They’re not alone. A recent survey found that high school students are 20% less likely to enroll at a four-year school than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The cost of a four-year education has continued to climb by 3.5% each year since 2005. Today’s students are very cost conscious and are leaning towards more affordable career options, such as technical or trade schools.

Today, the average cost for an in-state public school is $27,330/year, and the average cost for private school has gone up to $55,800/year. Colleges are already seeing lower enrollment this year despite record levels of financial aid being offered.

This is a segment of Bautis Financial’s college planning series, which includes webinars, podcast episodes, blog posts and downloadables to aid college-bound students and families in the admissions process. Visit our college planning hub for more valuable resources.