STRONG COLLEGE MATCH LINKED TO HIGHER ON-TIME GRADUATION

ONLY 47% OF FRESHMEN COMPLETELY AGREE THEIR COLLEGE IS A GOOD FIT; NEW COLLEGE BOARD REPORT OFFERS A ROADMAP TO HELP STUDENTS MAKE MORE PERSONALIZED DECISIONS

Choosing the right college makes all the difference. More than half of college freshmen said it was difficult to find helpful information when making their college decision, and nearly half said they needed more help finding the right college for them. According to a new College Board report, students who attend a college that is a strong academic match are 7% more likely to complete their degree within four years than students who undermatch by enrolling somewhere less academically challenging than they’re prepared to attend. Students whose college aligns with several of their interests and personal priorities are 4% more likely to graduate within four years than peers with fewer matching factors. Furthermore, finding a college that fits can be a money-saver.

The report finds that poor-fit college matches carry real, quantifiable costs — and that choosing the right option is one of the most effective ways families can protect their investment in higher education:

Nearly 1.2 million college students transferred schools in fall 2024, often because their first choice wasn't the right match. On average, an unplanned transfer costs students about one semester of lost progress and between $13,000 and $26,000 in additional expenses.
Students who don't complete their degree — often after leaving a program that wasn't the right fit — earn 35% less on average than graduates and are 65% more likely to be unemployed.
Fifty-six percent of teens say they feel pressure to have their future “figured out,” while 70% of college freshmen said they feared that one small mistake could keep them from getting into a good college.

For many students, the challenge is not a lack of college information, but difficulty identifying what is relevant to their own goals and circumstances. More than half of college freshmen said it was difficult to find helpful information when making their college decision, and nearly half said they needed more help finding the right college for them. In this interview, College Board’s Richard Green discusses the ways a student can find the perfect college fit. He shares some findings from the College Board’s recent report, The Fit Imperative, and outlines the three important factors to consider when choosing a college.

For more information, please visit: bigfuture.org

MORE ABOUT RICHARD GREEN:
Richard Green is Executive Director of BigFuture Community at College Board, where he leads national programs that help more than 10 million teens and families using BigFuture.org each year to find the best college fit for them. His team has awarded more than $23 million in scholarships to over 24,000 teens using BigFuture.org since 2019 and develops resources, programs and content that help teens and their families discover opportunities, based on their unique aspirations, needs, and priorities. Richard brings more than 25 years of experience in education, spanning from the classroom to national education organizations. Before joining College Board, he was a Partner at TNTP, working with urban school districts across the country to strengthen teaching and school leadership. He began his education career as a teacher and instructional coach in Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia after making his own career change from public relations to teaching.

Produced for: College Board