Time is the Enemy?

According to research by Complete College America, the longer it takes to earn a degree, the less likely you are to succeed. The logic is straightforward. As time passes, "life happens" and completing college becomes all the more difficult. Maybe a child is born, or a spouse transfers jobs, or funds dry up, or goals change.

These numbers also bear out at Community College of Denver. Full-time students are twice as likely to persist and complete as part-time students.

Reality is rarely black and white. While part-time students may be less successful due to the passage of time, it may also be that the life circumstances that lead to part-time enrollment (financial instability, working multiple jobs, family commitments, et cetera) are the true culprits of non-completion. For students in these situations, attempting to force full-time enrollment may lead to even quicker stop out from college.

Yet, one fact is absolutely certain. The longer you are in college as a part-time student, the more it costs. There is opportunity cost, which is the extra income you will earn with a degree that is being delayed as your time to degree extends. There is financial aid cost, as extra credits may endanger your eligibility for grants and part-time enrollment may disqualify you from certain scholarships. There is interest cost, which may be accruing on your student loans to be capitalized upon exit from college. There is inflationary cost, as tuition and fees continue to rise year in and year out. There is motivation cost, as students simply burn out as college drags on and on.

The questions become: If you are a part-time student, why? Is there any way to realistically increase your enrollment in order to shorten your time to degree completion?

You may consider scholarships, grants, work-study, and the prudent use of student loans to increase your income and hence decrease your work hours.

You may consider evening, weekend, and online courses to better manage your personal commitments and increase your enrollment.

You may consider utilizing all the academic support resources possible to ensure that you do not need to repeat courses and can manage a heavier course load.

You may consider adjusting your work schedule, delegating household tasks, asking family members for help, and pausing your social life during the semester.

You may consider enrolling year round with inter-term and summer term courses.

You may use online resources such as the Khan Academy, on-campus resources such as the Prep Lab, and accelerated course options in order to hasten your time through remedial courses.

You may boost your motivation and determination to "put in the work" now that you know the cost and danger of moving along at a more leisurely pace.

What else might you do?