Paying for college is a huge investment for families, and student mental health struggles, future epidemics, and economic uncertainty have increased the financial risks in higher education. The new 2022 College Confidence Index by GradGuard and College Pulse offers insights on the range of public perceptions regarding the value, affordability, and viability of a college education.
“Consumer confidence indices already exist across several key industries providing economists, industry leaders, and the general public insight into the current and future conditions of vital sectors of our economy,” said Terren Klein, CEO and co-founder of College Pulse. “Given the strong influence of higher education on the U.S. economy, we recognized the need for data on consumer confidence in the value and viability of a college education.”
The College Confidence Index is based on the answers of 2,000 overall respondents from the following college consumer groups:
- College Students enrolled in two- or four-year universities
- High School Juniors or Seniors who plan to attend college or university
- Parents of College Students
- Parents of High School Juniors or Seniors who plan to attend college or university
Key highlights include:
- 83% of college students are confident they will earn enough money to make the cost of college worth it, but parents of college students are less confident they can pay for four years of college
- 4 in 10 college students have considered withdrawing, most frequently citing financial or academic difficulties
- 1 in 6 college students report knowing someone who withdrew from school due to health issues, illness, or injury
To gain access to more insights, download our free report.
This report was featured in: Inside Higher Ed
