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High School Students Share Perceptions of Higher Education in Focus Group

November 18, 2024
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A focus group of Michigan high school students conducted by The Glengariff Group, Inc. on behalf of the Detroit Regional Chamber and with support from HCM Strategies revealed perception among this group about the feasibility, value, and necessity of a college education. Many expressed interest in higher education, but key concerns like cost and misconceptions about the value of a degree pose challenges to increasing educational attainment.

57% of student respondents said they are definitely going to college; 43% said they are hopefully or probably going to college. 

Analysis

 

Interestingly, student respondents seemed more certain of their college prospects than their parents. This confidence, however, was still confronted with belief from some that they could still get by without a degree. Harnessing real-time evidence of jobs available in the Detroit Region and state, the education requirements to land those jobs, and the respective earning trajectory will uplift the direct parallel between lifetime earnings and a college education, reinforcing its importance to students.

61% of students said college was worth the cost. Of those who said college wasn’t worth the cost, the respondents believed the accumulated debt was not worth it and that there were future paths that did not require a college degree. Only 29% of students said they had done the math to know how much college would cost, and the costs were significantly inflated. 
 

Analysis

 

Almost twice as many students believe college is worth the cost compared to parents. Both groups appeared to be ill-informed about the actual cost of college, including the many financial supports available to them to significantly reduce their financial burden. For students, however, despite not understanding the actual cost, most still believe a good-paying job requires a college degree. Equipping counselors, parents, and students with clear, digestible information about the cost of college could reduce the hesitance of misinformation on the topic causes and encourage more to consider pursuing higher education.

Students have four major worries about the possibility of going to college:

  1. Keeping up with increased workload
  2. Being away from home and not knowing anyone
  3. They will choose the wrong college or major
  4. Taking on and accumulating debt
     

Analysis

 

These concerns are valid, but to help alleviate concerns and perception challenges around such barriers, especially cost, business leaders and educational institutions must increase awareness of all the systems in place to support students on their educational journey.

Only 41% of respondents said their parents have been very involved with their decisions about college. 68% of students said they have talked to their parents about their choices.

By a margin of 75% to 25%, respondents said most of their friends are going to college. However, if their friends do not, the respondents may also be easily influenced to not attend college.

 

Analysis

 

According to students, many parents are not as involved in the decision-making process as the parents may think. Navigating the decision-making process is challenging, and education and support must be provided to parents so they are better equipped to assist their student(s).

 

Near peers’ and friends’ influences on students’ decision-making process around attending college should not be underestimated, and business and education leaders must be mindful of this impact when helping students consider their post-high school plans.  

 Methodology: The Glengariff Group, Inc. conducted four focus groups for the Detroit Regional Chamber. The groups were held virtually on Oct. 16, 2024, at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Oct. 17, 2024, at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. A standardized protocol was used for all four groups. A total of 44 respondents participated in the four groups.

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