Students Say Challenging Curriculum Is a Top Barrier to On-Time Graduation

More than a third (38 percent) of college students in a recent survey reported they are somewhat worried or very worried that they won't graduate on time, and half (52 percent) are concerned that they won't be able to find a job. The "2017 Student Life and Technology Survey," conducted by OnePoll and sponsored by DubLabs, a company that helps academic institutions develop mobile apps, polled more than 500 United States college students currently enrolled in higher education programs of two or more years, in order to identify "potential barriers to graduation and [learn] how students are leveraging campus resources to stay on track," according to a press release.

The top barriers cited by students were:

  • Challenging curriculum (35 percent);
  • Financial issues (27 percent);
  • Additional responsibilities including work and family (18 percent); and
  • Lack of support/guidance from administration/faculty (8 percent).

When asked about their job prospects after college, 42 percent of respondents said they are concerned about not finding a job that's satisfying, while 39 percent worry about finding a job that pays well. Other fears include having to be financially responsible and not being able to pay off student debts (cited by 31 percent of respondents); living back home with parents (13 percent); and starting a family (11 percent).

The study also examined students' attitudes toward using their campus mobile app to help stay on track. Among the findings: 

  • 75 percent of respondents said their campus mobile app helps them stay on top of course assignments;
  • 71 percent said that their campus app saves them time;
  • 69 percent use their campus mobile app to stay connected to campus life;
  • 67 percent said their campus app helps them better manage their day-to-day life as a student; and
  • 59 percent said their campus app helps them communicate better with teachers.

Students were asked to rate the importance of various campus mobile app features. Academics, including assignments, course discussion and grades, were considered "extremely important" by 79 percent of respondents, followed by:

  • Mobile alerts about grades and assignments (72 percent);
  • E-mail access (63 percent); and
  • Communication with professors, staff and classmates (60 percent).

For more information, visit the DubLabs site.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Stylized illustration showing cybersecurity elements like shields, padlocks, and secure cloud icons on a neutral, minimalist digital background

    Microsoft Announces Security Advancements

    Microsoft has announced major security advancements across its product portfolio and practices. The work is part of its Secure Future Initiative (SFI), a multiyear cybersecurity transformation the company calls the largest engineering project in company history.

  • glowing futuristic laptop with a holographic screen displaying digital text

    New Turnitin Product Brings AI-Powered Tools to Students with Instructor Guardrails

    Academic integrity solution provider Turnitin has introduced Turnitin Clarity, a paid add-on for Turnitin Feedback Studio that provides a composition workspace for students with educator-guided AI assistance, AI-generated writing feedback, visibility into integrity insights, and more.

  • illustration of a football stadium with helmet on the left and laptop with ed tech icons on the right

    The 2025 NFL Draft and Ed Tech Selection: A Strategic Parallel

    In the fast-evolving landscape of collegiate football, the NFL, and higher education, one might not immediately draw connections between the 2025 NFL Draft and the selection of proper educational technology for a college campus. However, upon closer examination, both processes share striking similarities: a rigorous assessment of needs, long-term strategic impact, talent or tool evaluation, financial considerations, and adaptability to a dynamic future.

  • futuristic AI interface with glowing data streams and abstract neural network patterns

    OpenAI Launches Its Largest AI Model Yet in Research Preview

    OpenAI has announced the launch of GPT-4.5, its largest AI model to date, code-named Orion. The model, trained with more computing power and data than any previous OpenAI release, is available as a research preview to select users.