Why Students Spend 6 Years on a “4-Year” Degree
Posted 26 Oct, 2007
Remember the days when earning a B.A. or B.S. really took just four years? Well it seems
that—for some students—those days are fading into memory.
According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, less than 35% of today’s college students graduate in four years. There are a few reasons for this unfortunate (and expensive!) trend:
- Difficulty Getting Into Required Classes
At larger colleges, it is often difficult for students to complete the classes required for them to graduate. Classes fill up quickly because there are so many students and too few instances of the course, forcing some students to wait up to an entire school year before they can get in.
- Indecision
Many students enter college uncertain of which field to study, or if they even like their school of choice. Changing majors (sometimes multiple times!) and transferring schools can add years (and thousands of dollars) onto the cost of a college education.
- Poor Time Management
With all the newness of their away-from-home independence, some students fall into the trap of letting their social life overtake their academic life. Without a healthy balance between work and play, some students end up failing classes—and retaking costs time and money.
- Finances
Some students struggle to afford paying their share of college fees. This can mean taking fewer classes to allow more time for work, or even taking time off from school to save.
Most of these can be avoided with careful planning! I regularly work with students who are unsure about their major preference and career goals—we even have an online tool to help them figure that out.
Another tip: Taking and passing Advanced Placement (AP) tests in high school can help students earn college credits which may allow them to even begin college with sophomore status.
All the best,
Deborah Fox
Deborah Fox is the founder of Fox College Funding, a nationwide company that helps families find creative ways to reduce their college costs.
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Remember the days when earning a B.A. or B.S. really took just four years? Well it seems that—for some students—those days are fading into memory.
According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, less than 35% of today’s college students graduate in four years. There are a few reasons for this unfortunate (and expensive!) trend:
- Difficulty Getting Into Required Classes
At larger colleges, it is often difficult for students to complete the classes required for them to graduate. Classes fill up quickly because there are so many students and too few instances of the course, forcing some students to wait up to an entire school year before they can get in. - Indecision
Many students enter college uncertain of which field to study, or if they even like their school of choice. Changing majors (sometimes multiple times!) and transferring schools can add years (and thousands of dollars) onto the cost of a college education. - Poor Time Management
With all the newness of their away-from-home independence, some students fall into the trap of letting their social life overtake their academic life. Without a healthy balance between work and play, some students end up failing classes—and retaking costs time and money. - Finances
Some students struggle to afford paying their share of college fees. This can mean taking fewer classes to allow more time for work, or even taking time off from school to save.
Most of these can be avoided with careful planning! I regularly work with students who are unsure about their major preference and career goals—we even have an online tool to help them figure that out.
Another tip: Taking and passing Advanced Placement (AP) tests in high school can help students earn college credits which may allow them to even begin college with sophomore status.
All the best,
Deborah Fox
Deborah Fox is the founder of Fox College Funding, a nationwide company that helps families find creative ways to reduce their college costs.
Subscribe in a reader
Subscribe by Email
I agree with your findings on why students are taking so long to get through college. As a management instructor, I make an assignment around students “laying out” their college plan. By doing this, I try to show them how long it will take them and little things they can do to speed up their college careers. (ie. summer classes, one extra class, etc.) Also, the never ending dilemma on “what to be when we grow up” is a problem, but we know career paths should also focus on transferrable skills as many will switch CAREERS (not jobs) 4-6 times in their lives.
Great blog.