Why Are College Graduation Rates Stagnant in Pennsylvania?

In the past, Pennsylvania could proudly say that a substantial proportion of full-time students enrolled in public and private colleges were graduating on time. But, having held this position, the numbers began to stagnate.

Although many pointed their finger at the recession as the main reason that Philadelphia area college students were withdrawing from classes, dropping out, and taking a leave of absence from school, there no denying that college tuition rates have not remained steady with inflation in the U.S.

Instead of going into specialized areas of study, choosing an online master in liberal studies may actually the best route for students who want to broaden their employment prospects post-graduation.

 

Students Are Weary About Taking on Student Loan Debt

Getting accepted to a college is not always a guarantee. For Pennsylvania residents who are accepted in-state, tuition rates are generally more reasonable.

Many of the more prestigious universities are highly concentrated in the Philadelphia area, requiring a number of students throughout the state to take on additional student loans for housing.

Although completing an online master in liberal studies degree is an excellent way to keep college debt down, students still must be able to manage their current financial situations.

With student loans usually becoming payable approximately six months after graduation, there are those who don’t want to be saddled with tens of thousands of dollars of student loan debt.

 

Changes in Government Funded Grants

Receiving a federal grant that can help to offset the price of going to college is what many students rely on to help bring costs down a bit.

Federal Pell grants usually amount to a few thousand dollars a school year, making it possible for students to choose schools that might have otherwise been too expensive.

Pell grants and other forms of government funding for college are still available, but it has become limited in many respects. A Pell grant that could have helped a student go to community college for free might only have a few credits paid for now.

Pell grants and other forms of government funding for college are still available, but it has become limited in many respects. A Pell grant that could have helped a student go to community college for free might only have a few credits paid for now.

A Pell grant that could have helped a student go to community college for free might only have a few credits paid for now.

 

Student Housing is Becoming Scarce and Expensive

Whether you go into campus housing or pay for an apartment, you going to pay a lot more to attend college than a local or online student. In Philadelphia, students regularly rent apartments as close to their schools as possible.

There’s a huge surge of students in Philadelphia looking for moderately priced housing in the summer, and a lot of landlords have seen this as an opportunity to inflate rents.

Some students have no choice but to rent housing that is further out in the suburbs, which can also require them to pay for public transportation or buy a vehicle.

 

College student graduation rates are flat because there are fewer students choosing higher education and many others decide to withdraw once they consider all the factors.

This doesn’t mean that graduation rates will continue to remain stagnant, but it is a good time for current students to double down on their efforts.

There will be fewer graduates pursuing jobs that require college degrees, which may make it easier for degree holders to land higher paying positions.

So are you attending college in Pennsylvania?  Do you notice high housing cost, or harder to get a student loan?  Share your thoughts and comments below in the comments.

Cheers!