Nearly four in 10 students say they have trouble finding the information they need for learning about college and higher ed.

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Nearly four in 10 students say they have trouble finding the information they need for learning about colleges

Key points:

Thirty-nine percent of students agreed they had trouble finding the information they were seeking when gathering information to learn about postsecondary education options, according to a new study by ACT.

The study surveyed students in Grades 11 and 12 about resources they use for college information gathering, including whether they had difficulty finding information about colleges, the sources they used to learn about college, and the sources they found most helpful.

A troubling finding from the study is that there are disparities in access to information. The study examined how college information gathering differs based on the family incomes of students, parental education level, and a student’s race/ethnicity. While about one-third (34 percent) of white students indicated they had difficulties finding the college information they wanted, a higher percentage (44 percent) of Asian and Black students reported difficulties with finding college information.

“Deciding what college or postsecondary option is best for you can be overwhelming, yet there has been little examination of what sources students consider helpful for learning about college,” said Research Scientist Dr. Joyce Z. Schnieders, who authored the report along with Principal Research Scientist Dr. Becky L. Bobek.

“We found 78 percent of students agreed that the more information they used, the more confident they felt in making a college or major decision. Yet these findings also show there is a staggering information gap for today’s students that requires immediate attention from postsecondary institutions and high school staff who aid students in making the momentous decision about whether to pursue postsecondary education–and, if so, at what institution they want to pursue it.”

Amid continued speculation that a four-year college or university is becoming a less attractive option for many high school students and young adults, this latest installment in ACT’s Student Voice research shows that high school students are indeed actively seeking information about postsecondary education. Students have complex questions about college opportunities, and a lack of accessible, trustworthy information about universities can be a barrier.

The study examined the sources students found most helpful and used most often across two categories: material sources (websites, social media, and search engines) and people sources (teachers and current college students). On average, students used a combination of eight material and people sources to gather information about postsecondary opportunities. 

College websites were reported as the most used and most helpful resource, as well as other online resources, such as search engine and the FAFSA website. Additionally, students reported having conversations with trusted individuals as part of their information gathering, such as a high school counselor or family member.

“It is extremely important that we are identifying gaps in information–particularly across income and racial/ethnic lines–so we can help ensure all students are able to make the most responsible and informed decisions possible for their futures,” ACT CEO Janet Godwin said. “As college admissions continues to change and students are required to navigate an ever-evolving landscape where different postsecondary institutions have different requirements for applying, we need to be aware of the resources that students find most useful and most accessible–and where information deficiencies exist so those deficiencies can be rectified.”

Based on their findings, ACT researchers provided the following recommendations to better support students with college decision making:

  • Colleges and universities can provide instruction pages on their websites to help prospective students learn how to find information and navigate their websites.
  • High schools can provide workshops to help students learn how to find different types of information.
  • High schools can support all students by ensuring they have equal access to information. For example, if students lack tech devices or reliable internet at home, schools can arrange for these students to use school-owned devices to learn about college.
  • High schools can invite students and their parents or guardians to be partners in learning more about college and what is needed to successfully apply, enroll, and attain a certificate or degree.
  • High schools and colleges can coordinate to connect high school students with current college students.

The report is based on the responses to an April 2023 ACT survey from 2,421 students in Grades 11 and 12.

Additionally, high school counselors, parents, and other trusted advisers can help connect students with college prep resources available to them, including:

  • ACT’s American College Application Campaign (ACAC), which works with designated coordinators in nearly every state to host college application events and reach students in their schools and communities, assisting them in applying to college.
  • Encourage, a free planning app for college and career success, empowers students to find colleges and scholarships matching their interests, abilities, budgets. Students define their goals, outline personal journeys, achieve milestones, and identify scholarships through the app’s matching tool, which also guides students through their personal financial aid journey.

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