Why One-Third Of College Students Drop Out Without A Degree

More than one in three students who enroll in college never complete their degree. That figure is not just a statistic - it represents millions of families who invest time, money, and hope into higher education, only to see it fall short of its promise.

Only 62% of students who start college earn a degree within 6 years, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. That number has held relatively steady, and reminds families of a truth: one in three students don't finish.

As college costs continue to rise, this is an important aspect to plan for. With student loan borrowing rising, the students who struggle the most to repay their debt are the ones that never graduated.

Here's why 38% of students never finish college, and ways that you might be able to protect yourself.