PPB June 2021

10 Schools With The Most Giving Grads According to U.S. News & World Report, the average school has an eight-percent alumni giving rate. These 10 schools report significantly higher giving rates from graduates: • Princeton University: 55% • Williams College: 50% • Bowdoin College: 47% • Alice Lloyd College: 46% • Amherst College: 45% • Carleton College: 45% • Thomas Aquinas College: 45% • College of the Holy Cross: 44% • Dartmouth College: 44% • Wellesley College: 44% Students Are The Decision-Makers In most families (56 percent), students have the final say on which college they will attend. In 38 percent of families, students and parents make the decision together, while five percent of families say parents choose where their student enrolls. Source: Sallie Mae’s 2020 “How America Pays for College” report College Students Support Mandatory Vaccinations Most undergraduate students (71 percent) believe colleges and universities have the right to require student vaccinations. Those enrolled in private universities are more likely than students attending public universities to say schools have the right to require vaccinations (78 percent vs. 69 percent). Source: College Pulse More Parents Are Footing The Tuition Bill In the 2018-19 school year, 66 percent of parents paid at least a portion of their child’s education costs out of pocket. In 2019-20, this number jumped to 83 percent. During this academic year, parents spent an average of $30,017 for higher education. Source: Sallie Mae’s 2020 “How America Pays for College” report Staggering Student Loan Debt In 2020, U.S. student loan debt soared to an all-time high of $1.56 trillion, making it the second-highest consumer debt category behind home mortgages. More than 45 million borrowers have outstanding student loans, with the average debt nearing $33,000. Still, half of college alumni feel it was worth taking on student loan debt to earn a degree. Sources: Forbes and Strada Center for Education Consumer Insights Addressing Students’ Mental Well-Being About 85 percent of college students report experiencing moderate to high levels of distress during the pandemic. Those reporting the highest distress levels include women, Asian Americans and students who know someone with COVID-19. Promotional products distributors can work with colleges and universities to bring awareness to mental health resources and highlight ways students can seek help. Source: ScienceNews.org Prospective Students? Send Them Promos For 85 percent of college-bound high school seniors, visiting a college is a critical part of their selection process. However, one in two students have not been able to tour campuses due to COVID-19 restrictions, according to the Simpson Scarborough National Student Survey. When students can’t come to the school, colleges and universities can bring their offerings to prospective enrollees through promotional products. Items such as plush school mascots, custom flags and logoed apparel can reinvigorate students’ enthusiasm for specific schools. Audrey Sellers is a Dallas-Fort Worth-based writer and former associate editor of PPB. | JUNE 2021 | 61 GROW