The long term cost of skipping college classes
Because students miss class, they often perform below their abilities in their work. Statistics from the federal government reveal that nationally about 40% of students do not have a degree 6 years after beginning classes. Many factors contribute to that alarming statistic, and skipping class is a big one. Skipping class can lead to failing or sometimes dropping classes. Consider what the cost of just one additional semester for your child would be to catch up those classes and ask yourself if it is worth taking that chance. As if additional tuition were not enough, the cost of additional semesters also includes housing and other living expenses. The key to controlling the cost of an education is to minimize the number of semesters required to obtain the degree.
The cost of having to repeat classes due to poor performance is only part of the problem. For some students with performance-based scholarships, the loss of that assistance can be a real issue. The burden of paying for college increases dramatically when any financial aid is lost. A large percentage of students receive some form of grant or scholarship to assist in funding their education. Statistics confirm that on average the amount of assistance received decreases each year and that is due in part to the failure to maintain required grade point averages.
Beyond the cost of paying for school, there is an impact that can follow after school. Some may pass classes in spite of skipping, but the result can be lower grades. The resulting lower grade point average may affect their ability to compete for better job opportunities after graduation or to continue pursuing advanced degrees required for some careers. These long-term effects are not ones students consider when they decide not to attend a class, but they are real and need to be reduced.
