Formerly University of Phoenix Research Institute
| Americans Flunk Quiz About Today’s College Students |
Americans share outdated perceptions of “typical” college students when quizzed about the characteristics of 21st-century undergraduates, according to a national survey by Apollo Research Institute. Rising numbers of students are older working learners with one or more nontraditional traits and unique educational priorities. By assuming all college students are young adults with similar backgrounds, U.S. employers and policymakers risk leaving these working learners behind.
Apollo Research Institute polled 568 members of the general public, including college students and faculty members, to identify perceptions about 21st-century undergraduates, then analyzed the results in comparison to published demographic data. The findings, released in the report Americans Flunk Quiz About Today’s College Students, are significant: Many Americans hold one or more inaccurate views of 21st-century undergraduates. According to Dr. Tracey Wilen-Daugenti, Vice President and Managing Director of Apollo Research Institute, “Although respondents accurately matched 5 of 10 collegiate characteristics, they earned ‘failing grades’ overall by identifying the correct trait an average of 59% of the time.”
Participants expressed their level of agreement with statements regarding 10 characteristics of today’s college students. This chart depicts characteristics for which participants’ perceptions diverged the most from published data. These scores contributed to an overall “failing grade” of 59%, indicating many Americans hold one or more inaccurate views of 21st-century undergraduates.
“Nearly three-fourths of undergraduate college students possess at least one nontraditional characteristic such as being financially self-supporting, raising children, or being older than 23,” Wilen-Daugenti notes. “Yet Americans still think of college students as ‘kids,’ and the majority of our nation’s educational policies and practices reflect those misperceptions.”
The research findings have implications for educators, industry leaders, and legislators. To meet the needs of the majority of 21st-century college students, Wilen-Daugenti says, “higher education institutions, businesses, and policymakers must recognize that attending college is less frequently a pre-career luxury and increasingly a mid-career necessity.” Stakeholders can maximize older students’ odds of completing a degree by understanding the unique challenges that this population faces.
“Organizations should align job recruitment and workforce development strategies to target nontraditional learners,” advises Wilen-Daugenti. Educational institutions must now develop curriculum and support services tailored to the increasingly diverse backgrounds of America’s college students. Nontraditional working learners can use their growing numbers to advocate for greater recognition of their needs.
“Young college students are a shrinking minority, and if stakeholders continue to focus on them exclusively, we risk compromising the nation’s ability to prepare citizens with the degrees they’ll need to obtain and sustain employment and ensure national competitiveness,” says Wilen-Daugenti.
Access a PDF copy of the full report or find out more about Americans Flunk Quiz About Today’s College Students. For additional information about Apollo Research Institute, visit our About Us page or contact us at info@apolloresearchinstitute.com
Apollo Research Institute conducts research that demonstrates the value of education. Through corporate and academic partnerships, the Institute provides research-based recommendations to help leaders ensure today's workforce is employable tomorrow.
