Students are dropping out of U.S. colleges and universities at alarming rates, but it's often not the students' fault. The pressures of succeeding in their classes and juggling multiple responsibilities at once are more likely the cause of so many dropouts. Institutions could provide support to make things easier for their students—especially when it comes to handing out disciplinary actions and preventing students from progressing.

If you're struggling at college and wondering if you would be better off simply dropping out, you should call the Lento Law Firm. Our Student Defense Team can help you deal with a wide range of problems at school, including defending against disciplinary charges or negotiating academic progression issues. Call us at 888-535-3686 or send us a message via our contact form to schedule a consultation.

Does the U.S. Have a College Dropout Problem?

Higher education institutions have known for several years that students are dropping out of college in increasing numbers. They're more likely to drop out in their first year, and fewer than 60 percent of students don't finish their degrees “on time,” if they finish them at all. Colleges and universities still aren't held to account when it comes to dropouts—nobody wants to take responsibility for such high numbers of unfinished degrees.

We know that college dropout rates are a problem in the U.S., but why? A recent survey from TouchNet and Higher Ed Dive investigated the reasons behind students dropping out. According to their data, emotional or mental stress had the most significant impact on students' decision to drop out. Financial hardship, job or family responsibilities, and perceived lack of support from the institution were also big factors. The survey also looked at the biggest signs a college student is slipping and a dropout is imminent. Frequent class absences and falling grades were the biggest indicators.

Other Causes of Dropouts

Dropouts can also result from disciplinary action, such as suspensions, or purely academic reasons, like a failure to progress. When a student is prohibited from pursuing their studies for a semester or more, they almost certainly fall behind. They have to push back their graduation date and may end up deciding it's not worth it and drop their studies altogether. Students who aren't allowed to progress or are forced to retake classes due to academic performance face a similar issue.

The institution that's supposed to be supporting them is instead actively preventing them from reaching their goal. College is hard enough as it is; when you fall behind because your school doesn't have your interests in mind, it's no wonder you may feel like dropping out.

At the Lento Law Firm, we understand the enormous pressure today's college students are under. Our Student Defense Team helps undergraduate students defend themselves against adverse actions from their schools, such as disciplinary measures or progression issues. If you're in a similar situation and considering dropping out—don't. Call the Lento Law Firm instead. Contact us at 888-535-3686 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation with our attorneys.