Statistics may build case for taking shorter, online certificate programmes
“With Their Whole Lives Ahead of Them: Myths and Realities About Why So Many Students Fail to Finish College”, a Public Agenda report, has recently been released. Underwritten by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the study looks at all the reasons behind two important statistics. According to the U.S. Department of Education: 1.) only 20 percent of young adults who begin their higher education at two-year institutions graduate within three years, and 2.) in the case of four-year institutions, only four out of 10 students receive a degree within six years.
The report states that this phenomenon not only perpetuates disappointment for students and their families, but experts and leaders also see it as a threat to U.S. international competitiveness.
Cutting to the chase, the number one reason students gave for leaving school is the fact that they had to work and go to school at the same time and, despite their best efforts, the stress of trying to do both eventually takes its toll. More than one-third of those who left school said that even if they had a grant that fully paid for tuition and books, it would be hard to go back. And, twice as many of them said the need “to work full-time” (56 percent) and “family commitments” (53 percent) are major reasons they can’t go back, compared with 26 percent who said they would “not be able to afford college.”
This could be very good reason to look into online programmes for those who have dropped out or for those who know their schedules, family commitments and lifestyles are too hectic to accommodate the rigid schedules of a college classroom. With a college campus scenario, not only do you have fixed classroom schedules to meet, but the travel back and forth must be added to the time spent physically sitting in the class. All of these things add substantially to the time commitment, before the student even sits down to start studying.
Nearly six in 10 students in the study who left higher education without graduating said that they had to pay for college costs themselves, rather than being able to count on help from their families. And, of the major reasons for dropping out of a postsecondary program, the number one answer (54 percent) was “I needed to go to work and make money.”
Using Gatlin International’s online programmes as an example, let’s look at how many of these problems can be solved. Most GI programmes can be completed within about 90 days. Students can enrol anytime and study when they want, take exams when they want, and finish the programme on their own timetable. There is no rigid class schedule or travel time back and forth to a classroom. Students can take the GI online programmes from some of the most prominent and respected, accredited colleges and universities in the world without regard for how far away they are physically. The monetary commitment is a fraction of a four-year degree, yet you receive a certificate of completion for the career-specific program completed from the accredited college or university. Everything you need is included in the price of the programme, including text books and materials. And, there are real live instructors that guide and support you throughout the course of study. Although not all online programmes are equal and certainly don’t include many of the benefits of a Gatlin International programme, almost all of them provide more flexibility for working students than the traditional two and four year degree programmes.
The study brought to light the difficulties of trying to further a career with higher education while supporting ones self or a family. Luckily today, online programmes are available that can help kick start a career or provide the higher education needed to advance an existing one.
Tags: certificate programme, college drop-out, online programme, pay for college, statistics