The pursuit of higher education is often hindered by several significant challenges. Life events, family obligations, childcare, and transportation difficulties can disrupt even the best laid plans. Beyond these problems, navigating the complex college enrollment process is a challenge in itself. And of course, the rising cost of tuition remains a major barrier for many.
We’ll explore each of these obstacles in detail and show you how Quincy College can help alleviate these setbacks, turning the pursuit of higher education into an affordable, accessible academic experience.
Obstacle #1: Life Events
Major life events can create significant barriers to pursuing higher education. Physical and mental health issues often disrupt academic progress and make it feel as if academic achievement is out of reach. Take these stats, for example.
Forty-four percent of college students report experiencing symptoms of depression, while
37% struggle with anxiety, which can both negatively impact one’s ability to remain enrolled (
source).
Also, family obligations and childcare are common hurdles, especially for adult learners. Nearly
25% of undergraduate students are parents themselves, making childcare tough to manage alongside academic studies. Additionally, nearly
87% of first-year college students live off campus. And considering the cost for gas, automobile maintenance, and/or public transportation, the commute to and from campus can add another
20% to college expenses.
How Quincy College Can Help
We understand how challenging it is to balance the unpredictability of life events with the pursuit of higher education. Fortunately, Quincy College has a range of support systems to help students overcome those obstacles.
For those dealing with physical or mental health issues, we have a handful of amazing resources to help students succeed. Here’s a small sampling of what’s available:
Student Services
Our
Student Services office provides free counseling and essential resources for those struggling with addiction, domestic abuse, bereavement, food insecurity, housing accessibility, and other family issues, among others. Better yet, we offer updated information on a periodic basis to address our students’ needs in real time.
Take a look at our
Community Resource Guide, which provides contact information for organizations within the area committed to the support of our student body. It’s our goal to ensure all students have the tools they need to manage, overcome, and succeed.
Flexible Learning Options
For students struggling to balance the responsibilities of home and school, Quincy College offers flexible programs of study, including both
online and in-person classes. This allows students to manage their schedules around personal obligations, making it easier to pursue their education without sacrificing family commitments. Also, our online learning courses offer a helpful alternative to those looking to offset commuting costs, making it easy for students to stay on track with their studies without adding any additional expenses.
By providing these comprehensive support services, Quincy College ensures students have every possible opportunity to succeed and turn their academic dreams into reality.
Obstacle #2: Application Complexity
Navigating the college application and enrollment process can be a daunting experience for many students, often due to a lack of clear communication and visibility around key steps. From understanding course curriculum and degree requirements, to keeping track of application deadlines and applying for financial aid, the process can feel overwhelming. In fact, nearly
25% of prospective students have abandoned a college application because they found the process too confusing or complex.
How Quincy College Can Help
Quincy College eases the complexities of the application and enrollment process by offering a range of services and personalized support. This includes hosting
general information sessions for prospective students, which help shed light on common questions related to the college application process and all its requirements. Additionally, these general information sessions cover the holistic Quincy College academic experience, giving prospective students better insight into life on campus.
On top of that, we also host curriculum-specific information sessions, providing students key details on our
Bachelor of Science program, as well as six associate degree programs that target healthcare-related fields of study. These include:
And as always, Quincy College’s dedicated
Academic Advising team is available to give students one-on-one direction through the application process and filing for financial aid. This not only gives students the confidence they need to take ownership of their college education; it also ensures students have the tools they need to succeed right from the very start.
Obstacle #3: Not Feeling Prepared
Many students feel underprepared for success at the college level, often due to gaps in high school education or lack of support. Some students might not have taken the right courses in high school to prepare them for college-level work, while others might not have received the necessary guidance from counselors or teachers. A survey from the National Center for Education Statistics found
75% of high schoolers felt “moderately, slightly, or not at all prepared” following high school graduation, which goes to show how nerve wracking it can be for students to make that college transition.
Also, many students say they lack the necessary skills to succeed academically at the college level. According to a study from York University, only
44% of students felt they possessed the generic skills (i.e., literacy, elementary numeracy, and analysis) needed to thrive in the college classroom, while
41% were deemed at risk of academic failure (
source).
This is all to say without the right preparation, students might feel too overwhelmed or uncertain about their ability to succeed, which can deter them from ever pursuing a college education.
How Quincy College Can Help
Quincy College supports students in overcoming these challenges through a variety of programs, which aim to prepare them for academic success at the college level. These programs include:
This program allows high school students to take college courses while completing their high school education simultaneously. Through ECHS, students have the opportunity to gain essential academic experience and build the confidence they need to succeed academically at the college level.
This program enables students to earn both high school
and college credits at the same time, which gives them a head start on their college journey.
Through this program, Quincy high school students have the unique opportunity to earn a two-year college degree by the time they graduate high school. Through the program’s intensive, structured curriculum, students gain the essential skills and knowledge to succeed at the college level and beyond.
Obstacle #4: College Tuition Cost
For many prospective students, the high cost of college is one of the biggest barriers to pursuing academic and career goals. With tuition rates on the rise, attending college can feel financially out of reach, especially for low-income families. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average tuition cost for a four-year public institution is well over
$10,000 per year, which can often make the goal of higher education unattainable. What’s worse, this financial burden might convince students to delay or even abandon their educational plans entirely, which can limit their future career opportunities and earning potential.
How Quincy College Can Help
Quincy College addresses this financial barrier through its
Free College Program, designed to provide prospective students a more accessible, affordable path to higher education.
If you’re a Massachusetts resident aged 25 and older who’s yet to earn a college degree, this program gives the chance to enroll in one of Quincy College’s associate degree programs, minus the cost of tuition and fees. This not only removes major financial hurdles for prospective students, but it also opens the door to new career opportunities, increased earning potential, and critical professional advancement. In a nutshell, Free College puts the dream of a college education well within your reach.
Earn Your Degree With Free College
Quincy College is committed to breaking down barriers that prevent students from pursuing their educational goals. Whether it’s navigating life events, understanding the enrollment process, building academic confidence, or overcoming financial challenges, Quincy College provides the support and resources needed to succeed. With programs like
Free College, there’s never been a better time to take the first step toward a brighter future.
For more information on the program and eligibility requirements, visit:
https://quincycollege.edu/freecollege/