More high school graduates are pursuing a two-year degree over a four-year college path, recent studies show.
Ballooning college costs and the student loan debt that accompanies a degree are partly to blame. New borrowing limits for 2026 under President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” are another factor. Plus, students are increasingly seeking job training and career-driven pathways to secure a foothold in today’s challenging labor market.
Students aged 18 to 20 represented the largest share of first-time associate degree earners in the 2024-25 academic year—accounting for nearly one-third, according to a new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. For the first time, this age group surpassed those aged 21 to 24, the report found.
Read more at CNBC.
