Life After College Dropout: A Comprehensive Guide

Dropping out of college is a significant decision, whether it's a deliberate choice or dictated by circumstances. Millions of students across America leave college without finishing their studies, and many lead happy and productive lives. It can be the right move for many students, but it requires careful thought. This article aims to provide practical solutions and strategies for navigating life after leaving college.

Understanding the Landscape of College Dropout

Before diving into the steps to take after dropping out, it's important to understand the prevalence and reasons behind this decision.

Facts and Rates

Dropping out of college is more common than one might think. According to statistics, almost a third of students decide to terminate their education prematurely. The USA has the 19th highest dropout rate among the 28 countries included in the OECD research. The percentage of students who decide to graduate is only 40%.

Several factors influence dropout rates:

Age: Students who enroll after the age of 20 have a higher dropout rate - between 13% and 22% higher than students aged 20.
Income: The dropout rate for first-generation students with low income is about 89%.
Parental Education: Approximately 40% of students who drop out of college have parents who don’t have a college degree.
Race: Around 55% of Hispanics and 62% of African-Americans drop out of college within 6 years, compared to about 38% of white students.
Gender: Female students drop out 4% less often than male students.
Type of Institution: Students are more likely to drop out of for-profit institutions than non-profit and public institutions for 4-year college degrees.

According to a November 2023 report by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, the six-year national completion rate for the 2017 cohort was 62.2 percent.

Read also: Your Guide to Nursing Internships

Reasons for Dropping Out

Students decide to leave college for a variety of reasons, including:

Failing to Meet Academic Requirements: About 28% of students who leave college early do so because of a failure to meet academic requirements. First-year students may feel confused about assignments and frustrated about working with large amounts of material, leading to stress and anxiety.
Lack of Funds: Almost 35% of all college students experience financial difficulties. Many students need to work, sometimes full-time, leaving little time for academic responsibilities or mental health. High tuition and fees are also a major impetus. According to a survey by Public Agenda of young adults with some post-secondary education, 54 percent said a major reason they dropped out was because they couldn't afford not to work full time, while 31 percent cited high tuition and fees as the major impetus behind their decision to leave.
Poor Time Management: Students can become infatuated with the newfound freedom of college life, mismanage their time, and face unfortunate consequences.
Struggles with College Life: Adjusting socially to a new environment can be difficult. Loneliness, self-doubt, and melancholy can be destructive to the learning process.
Booming Job Market: The temptation to earn money immediately can attract students away from higher education. Almost 31% of students prefer a job over education to build their financial stability.
Changes in Personal Life: Unpredictable personal circumstances, such as the illness of a relative, the birth of a child, or the end of a relationship, can also lead to dropping out.
Online Learning Challenges: Online students don’t always take their studies as seriously; they are less motivated and less engaged academically.

Making the Decision: Is Dropping Out the Only Option?

Before making the decision to drop out, it’s worth asking yourself: Is dropping out the only option?

Exploring Alternative Paths

Consider these alternatives before making a final decision:

Speaking with advisors and student unions: Discuss your choice with education specialists or social services specialists. They can provide helpful information and address your concerns.
Lowering the costs: Transfer to a state or municipal college, where you’ll still receive an adequate education at a lower cost.
Swapping to a different program: Some universities may give you the option to change your courses. Check out programs with similar subjects to increase the possibility of transferring your credits.
Decreasing your workload: Reduce the number of hours you attend classes or switch to a part-time program to combine work with studies.
Taking a leave of absence or deferring: Ask for permission to take a one-year break from school or leave the institution for a few years to gain life experience before re-enrolling.
Changing from full-time to part-time: In some situations, changing from full-time to part-time can be a good solution.
A leave of absence: A leave of absence is another option. If you think there's any possibility that you might want to return to college at some point, be sure to talk to the administration office before you withdraw. It's easiest to initiate a leave of absence before the academic term begins.

Weighing the Pros and Cons

If you’ve looked at all the alternatives and are still unsure, weigh the pros and cons. These items will look different for each person, so you’re better off making these lists on your own.

Pros of Dropping Out:

Reduced stress and financial burden: Leaving college can alleviate the stress of academic pressure and the financial strain of tuition and fees.
Opportunity to pursue other interests: Dropping out can free up time and energy to explore other passions and career paths.
Faster entry into the workforce: You can start earning money and gaining experience immediately instead of waiting until graduation.
Personal growth and self-discovery: Taking a break from academia can provide an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery.
Chance to reinvent yourself: Dropping out of college does give you an opportunity to reinvent yourself.

Cons of Dropping Out:

Limited career options: Some careers require a college degree, limiting your options without one.
Lower earning potential: On average, college graduates earn more than those without a degree.
Social stigma: There can be a social stigma associated with dropping out of college.
Difficulty returning to school: It can be challenging to return to school later in life due to financial or personal reasons.
Regret: You may regret dropping out later in life if you find yourself needing a degree for a desired career.
Affects mindset and attitude: Dropping out of college affects your mindset and attitude, whether it’s a personal decision or something forced upon you.

Quitting College the Smart Way

If you’ve decided that dropping out is the right choice, it’s important to do it the smart way to avoid future complications.

Step-by-Step Guide to Withdrawing

Be confident and honest: Be completely certain about your decision to leave college. If you are not, you might regret it later in life. Be honest with yourself and others, and tell your friends or family about your decision as soon as possible.
Read through the withdrawal policies: Examine the withdrawal policies of your institution. You will need to sign all the necessary forms, state your intention to leave to the correct authorities, and announce an official withdrawal date. Start with the registrar, visit the office for financial aid, or talk to your advisor.
Consider your transcript: Filing an official withdrawal form is important to keep your transcript unaffected if you ever want to continue your educational journey. It is always better to leave college at the end of a semester, if this option is available to you. A long string of F's will make it tough if you ever decide to return to school, especially if the college puts you on academic probation.
Think about your financial obligations: Your financial situation after dropping out of college depends on several factors, including whether you are paying tuition or have a student loan and the date of your withdrawal. Your official withdrawal date will have a major impact on your financial situation. If you have a federal loan, the school is required to return a portion of the money if you do not complete 60 percent of the loan period, which is usually the academic year. So if you drop out early in the semester, the school will return some of the money, and you will owe less on your loan. If you received any scholarships or grants, you might also have to repay some of that money.
Officially withdraw from school: Officially, you drop out of school by following a specific set of steps, which your adviser should be able to explain. In most cases, you withdraw from a college by formally stating your intention in writing and noting an official withdrawal date. If you live on campus, talk to the housing office to find out when you need to move out and turn in your keys.

Handling Coursework and Grades

Incompletes: If you cannot complete your coursework due to extenuating circumstances like illness or hardship, talk to your instructors about possibly qualifying for an incomplete. With an incomplete, you will generally be given a defined amount of time to finish the course.
Dropping a course: You can drop a course in college. Deadlines vary by school, but if you pull out within a specified period (typically very early in the semester), the course is removed from your record, and you may qualify for a refund.
Withdrawal: If the drop deadline has passed, you can still unenroll, but it is considered a withdrawal, and you will get a W on your transcript. It is far better to withdraw from a class than to fail. You might also qualify for a retroactive withdrawal that lets you drop classes without getting a W or forfeiting your tuition. Retroactive withdrawals are only granted in special cases.

What To Do After Leaving Studies?

Taking Time to Decompress

No matter what made you drop out of college, it was undoubtedly stressful. Give yourself some time to decompress and relax for a while… but not too long. You don’t want to get stuck in a bad situation because you have no money and no plan. Stay in your pajamas until noon, curl up on the couch, but bring your laptop along to do some research into where you want to go next in life. Some people take a gap year in the middle of their advanced education to travel or recover from dropout stress. If you do not intent to go back to school, you might still need some decompression before taking your future in hand.

Self-Reflection and Goal Setting

What do you really want to do? What do you dream of? Who do you want to be when you grow up? These may sound like questions for wide-eyed youths, but dropping out of college does give you an opportunity to reinvent yourself. College offers a buffer between the teenage high school experience and the cold hard truth of adulthood. When you drop out before the normal four-year transition period, you have to reinvent yourself sooner. What does this mean? Not only do you need to find a job or launch your own projects, but you should also think about the type of adult you want to be. Explore new looks, interests, and possibilities.

Financial Considerations

You spent tons of money on textbooks for classes you either didn’t take or didn’t benefit from. There’s no reason to make it all a waste of time and money. Instead of tossing the books to the back of your closet, head to BookScouter.com and sell them. This super easy to use platform lets you sell your books at the best price performing just a single search per book. Just type in an ISBN (what’s an ISBN), and you get buy-back prices from 30+ vendors looking to buy your books. You just have to proceed with the best deal.

Finding Employment

Unless you’re going right back into another full-time educational process, you need to find a job. Maybe part-time will work for you, but most adults need the income that comes with a 40-hour work week. If you’re lucky, you can find something that matches your interest. To be honest, you probably won’t at first. Any job is better than no job as long as it doesn’t destroy your spirit or your body. Fundamentally, finding a job after dropping out of college is no different than if you had graduated. You still need to show that you possess the skills and abilities to get the work done.

Exploring Alternative Educational Paths

Dropping out of college can be an opportunity to make a fresh start. You can take control of your life's direction and define success on your own terms. But as you move forward, why not explore good alternatives to traditional colleges? A trade school, vocational college, or technical institute can help you discover and open new doors. Such schools offer practical, convenient, career-driven training for a wide variety of occupations.

Developing Skills and Experience

Lifelong Learning: Successful people don't stop learning when they leave college, whether they have a degree or not. The lecture-based learning environment at college may not have been to your liking, but there are many different routes to reach your educational goals. Vocational training, formal apprenticeships, and industry-specific certifications are valuable ways to achieve qualifications. You could also take advantage of the training available from free online courses to expand your knowledge and augment your skills.
Focus on Experience: Keep in mind that job requirements are often negotiable. Even if the position calls for a degree, you may be able to get around that if you can demonstrate how you will add value to the company. The reality is that, in many fields, what you can do is far more important than what credentials you hold. So focus on getting that experience. Personal projects are a great way to develop practical skills that will impress a hiring manager: You could build a mobile app, maintain a marketing blog, or amass a digital art portfolio.
Offer Value: One of the most effective ways to overcome an employer's reluctance to take a chance on you is to make it risk-free for the company. Offering to work for nothing, at least at first, can pay off handsomely in the long run. So seek out internships, volunteer roles, and job shadowing opportunities. Get in touch with companies in your area of interest and pitch them on the value you could bring to their business at no obligation to them.
Networking: The informal job market consists of unadvertised career opportunities that you dig up through knowing someone who knows someone who might be interested in your skills. That means networking. These kinds of opportunities are harder to find, but they typically come with less competition, since the positions aren't officially advertised.

Considering Self-Employment

Maybe the reason you didn’t fit in college was because of your undeniable entrepreneurial spirit that longs to forge an individual path into a brighter future. Starting your own business is easier than in past generations (listen to our college entrepreneurship podcasts)… mostly due to the internet and accessibility. Many company types require a big investment, and you could draw up a business plan and get a loan.

Boosting Your Spirit

Did you love the quick cash you got from those textbook sales? There are tons of side hustles out there today that can make you money without trapping you in a structured schedule. You can even stay in your pajamas on the couch for some of them. Sell other people’s textbooks for them or branch out with other product types online. Do rideshares or deliveries of food or other local purchases. Offering your time and energy to a cause may not earn you any money, but it does boost your spirits, help you feel fulfilled, and pad your resume. This is a great way to revitalize your spirit after the defeat of becoming a college dropout.

Seeking Support

This is tough. Dropping out of college affects your mindset and attitude, whether it’s a personal decision or something forced upon you. All this reinventing and forced adulting makes things even harder. Never avoid getting help when you need it. This can come in the form of personal therapy ( read about depression in college students) or career counseling services. Look into online group sessions or opportunities from your local Chamber of Commerce.

How to Avoid Dropping Out

To avoid dropping out in the first place, consider the following:

Time Management: Create good time management habits in your life. Scheduling is vital, especially at first. College life is extremely hectic, and you need to schedule your activities weeks in advance.
Address Academic Challenges: Seek help from tutors or academic advisors if you are struggling with coursework.
Manage Finances: Explore financial aid options, scholarships, and part-time work to alleviate financial stress.
Build a Support System: Connect with classmates, join clubs, and seek support from friends and family.
Consider Your Program: Maybe your chosen degree program wasn’t right for you. Maybe the first school cost too much or was too far from home. There are many reasons why you might have dropped out of college that didn’t have anything to do with your academic performance. Consider a new school such as a community college or online courses where you can tailor what you learn to a new, more exciting interest.

Returning to College After Dropping Out

If you’re thinking about going back to college after dropping out, you may have some hesitations. You know the benefits of getting a college degree, but you also know first-hand that finishing your degree can be a challenge. It may feel hard to see yourself as a “traditional” college student. An increasing number of working adults are now completing their college degrees, supported by educational institutions committed to their success.

Overcoming Hesitations and Challenges

There are many individuals considering returning to college as an adult who are concerned about the perceived obstacles. As mentioned above, a significant portion of college dropouts return to complete their education. This trend is seen across various age groups and educational backgrounds, with a notable increase among adult learners who return to college seeking better employment opportunities and higher wages.

The well-documented benefits of finishing your bachelor’s degree aren’t limited to career advancement or improved salary potential. You’re also likely to experience increased self-esteem, for having accomplished a goal that seemed out of reach. If you’re concerned that you don’t have enough time or money to complete your degree, or are worried about juggling your many existing commitments, there are a variety of ways to overcome these challenges.

Steps to Take When Considering Returning

Identify Your "Why": Identify the exact reason you’re returning to school to complete your degree. What’s stirring your renewed interest? Keep the reason for your decision (also known as your “why”) at the forefront of your mind and revisit it on at least a weekly basis.
Consider Online Classes: If there’s still apprehension about going back to college, remember that taking online classes is another viable option in achieving your goals. Online degree programs offer the flexibility not found in a traditional classroom setting. Since there is not a designated class time, you can complete coursework on your own schedule as defined in the course syllabus. Check out the online program offerings of your prior institution. If they don’t offer the online coursework for your intended major, perform an online search for accredited schools that do.
Explore Employer Tuition Reimbursement: Your employer might help with funding your degree. Some employers offer tuition reimbursement as a recruiting tool, hoping to attract and retain employees by adding this perk to the employee benefits package. Contact your human resources department to see if your employer has a program to help pay for the cost of finishing your degree. If your employer does not offer tuition reimbursement, it may be worth considering changing jobs, especially if you were already planning on changing careers. And if you use your employer’s annual tuition reimbursement limits wisely, you could drastically reduce the cost of returning to college. For example, instead of taking four classes per semester and having to pay for one out of pocket, you might consider only taking three and having your semester fully funded by your employer’s program. You do not repay the funds received from tuition reimbursement programs; however, be prepared to pay for your tuition upfront.
Apply for Financial Aid: Don’t try to foot the bill on your own. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You may be eligible for federal grants and loans even if you were ineligible during your prior college years. If you’re not interested in taking out loans, your tuition reimbursement program may still require the completion of the FAFSA. Remember, the FAFSA will also help decide federal grant eligibility.
Consider Part-Time Enrollment: Many students prefer to enroll part-time during their first semester to help ease back into college. Check on the requirements for part-time enrollment by talking to an admissions representative and review the school’s catalog to confirm the minimum course load requirement for half-time students. Part-time enrollment moves you closer to completion while allowing you to maintain a sense of balance. If you were overwhelmed in your first pass at a degree, it’s important to avoid falling into the same patterns this time around.
Build a Support System: You may be hesitant to return to school, and that’s understandable. Once you return, you may continue to have doubts about your ability to finish your degree. Let those you’re close with know in advance that you’re returning to college. You’ll need their support since their lives will be affected as well. Don’t forget friends as a support system. They need to understand they’ll see less of you since more of your time will be dedicated to coursework. Electronic calendars and apps should also be a part of your support arsenal. Evan Grenier, director of bachelor’s degree completion enrollment at Northeastern University, has seen firsthand that students who set dedicated times for classwork are more likely to be successful. A calendar can help manage competing time commitments and reduce anxiety. Grenier believes that students have more control over their schedule than they might think.
Transfer Credits: Your prior education can reduce the time to finish your degree. You don’t need to start from scratch unless you failed all your prior coursework, which is unlikely. Speak with the admissions office to make sure all transcripts are received so any eligible college credits can be applied. Transfer credit acceptance may ultimately influence where you enroll. The more transfer credit you receive, the less money you must pay for college.
Meet with an Advisor: Meet with a student services advisor at your prospective school so they can help you design a tailored degree plan. When speaking with the advisor, share your “why”. Your personal and career goals can be used to better customize which classes should make up your degree, when to take them, and how this will fit with your current work and family commitments. This might mean enrolling in summer or half-term courses to finish your degree quickly.

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