10 College Myths Debunked Infographic

College Myths Debunked Infographic

The four-year college experience is as American as apple pie. So is the belief that higher education offers the ticket to a better life. But with student loan debt surpassing $1 trillion and unemployment of college grads a historic highs, people are beginning to question that value. Is a college diploma still worth pursuing at any price? 10 College Myths Debunked Infographic is Based on the urgent and controversial new book College (Un)bound by Jeffrey J. Selingo. and debunks the 10 myths that have been reinforcing this belief for the last decade.

10 College Myths Debunked

1. Most students graduate in 4 years
   400,000 dropout each year and 58% take 6 years to graduate
2. Majors determine your future
   If you're into the hard sciences or math.
3. Universities care about your education
   Universities are businesses and are in it to make money. Big $ is spent on advertising, sports programs.
4. The college experience is a rite of passage
   Only 2 out of every 10 students is enrolled in a residential college full-time
5. You get what you pay for.
   In a study comparing the "more prestigious" University of Pennsylvania grads versus Penn State grads research showed that while there were some differences in the average starting salaries and mid-career salaries, there is virtually no significant difference between the lifetime earnings of each group of graduates.
6. Student loans are a temporary fix
   There is nothing temporary about a student loan. It took President Barack Obama 13 years to pay off his law school loans.
7. Community college is for losers
   Generally, the degree is what counts. 45% of four-year college graduates in 2010-11 came through a community college pipeline.
8. American schools are the best in the world.
   Not anymore. The U.S. now ranks 14th in the world in the percentage of 25-34 year-olds with higher education (42%).
9. Grades matter
   A's account for 43% of all grades given in college.
10. Teacher knows best
    Technology is changing the way we learn, as witnessed with Knewton’s adaptive learning software used by remedial math students at Arizona State University. Pass rates for the course rose from 66% to 75% during the first year. As it turns out, a student, who can learn at his/her own pace and save money while doing it is the one who knows best.