Statistics tell a story. You can use the numbers to get an overall picture of things, evaluate goals, and learn from the trends.
- The most expensive college in the country is Harvey Mudd, where a degree comes with a $67,155 price tag. Fortunately, graduates can expect to earn about $92,500—double what the average 20-something with a Bachelor’s degree makes.
- The first intercollegiate football game took place on November 6, 1869. Teams from Princeton and Rutgers met in New Brunswick, New York Each team had 25 players. Rutgers won 6-4.
- Approximately 2.94 million U.S. students graduate from more than 27,000 high schools each year, meaning each college applicant is competing against 27,000 valedictorians, 27,000 salutatorians, 27,000 student government presidents, and 27,000 editors-in-chief
- In 2017 nearly 700 colleges use the Common Application. At least one college in every state accepts it, with the exceptions of Kansas, North Dakota, and Wyoming. International universities from 15 countries also accept the Common Application.
- Individuals with bachelor’s degrees earn an average of 60% more than people with only a high school diploma, which adds up to more than $800,000 over a lifetime
- Of the 2,350,000 college students enrolling per year, only 1,750,000 will graduate. When choosing a college, ask about the freshman retention rate. Of students who drop out, most drop out their freshman year of college and don’t return to finish their degrees. Once you know this retention rate, you should ask the college the percentage of graduates as compared to the number of students who initially enrolled. Colleges with high retention rates are colleges that make the education experience not only productive, but enjoyable and engaging.
- Need a hug? You might take a stroll through the Northwestern University campus. Students there have created an interesting student group – the Happiness Club. Members of the club strive to ‘increase the happiness of members of the Northwestern community’ by providing students with free hugs, hot chocolate, lemonade and smiley face stickers.
- Only 0.4 percent of undergraduates attend one of the Ivy League schools. There are over 6,000 accredited institutions of higher learning in this country. Too much attention is paid to the Ivies. A student can get a quality education in college if they apply themselves, often at a much lower sticker price. And employers often tell students that the college they attend doesn’t matter as much as the degree they receive, the internships they worked at, and the connections they made while in college.
- The average college student attends 62 parties a year. For most, especially college students, this statistic is no surprise. Unfortunately, partying contributes to poor grades, poor health, and poor class attendance and participation. There’s nothing wrong with having fun in college; but in order to protect your investment and graduate with a modicum of education, do all things in moderation.