2) Desire for a degree doesn’t equate to the ability to complete the degree.

At some schools and in some programs it’s way higher than 51%. In the music program I was in, the freshman drop rate was 33% — that’s 1/3 in the first year! By senior year, it was nearing 85% had dropped or been dropped.

What I observed were only a few things that were significantly contributing. First was that study in college requires a dedication and commitment that many of these folks didn’t have. They thought it was going to be “pay your fee, get a B” and it simply wasn’t.

Second; and this one was fatal to more than half of those I watched. While the social life of college is important, partying with your friends and clubbing every night is an almost certain way to fail out.

So, it’s not about ability or desire — it’s all about choices of priority.

Although 51% may seem a little biased towards the negative, the drop-out rate is very high – probably more like 30-35%. THis has nothing to do with the academic preparation of the student. THere are several factors that make people withdraw: no funding to continue studies. Finances are the number one reason stated for kids withdrawing from school. Another reason is that after the first semester, many students go to college not prepared for the discipline required to study independently and be successful. They often withdraw and then attend the community college to finish. This adds to the drop-out rate never taking into account that the student did continue with their studies.

I hope this helps.

These reasons include : financial constraints, family matters, course is different to what is expected, course does not fulfill requirements, can not cope with college lifestyle/study and many others.

I completed university in Australia and in my first lecture we were told to look at the student on our right and left and, statistically, only two of the three would be here at the end. These figures have probably as fees have increased considerably (in real terms) since then. <50% is quite believable.

Too many people get into college who are really not ready for college… they find it out when they have to do the work and they don’t have the personal resolve to do it.