Getting into college is an achievement. Staying on track to finish can be more complicated.

Among students who started college in fall 2024, nearly one in four did not return to higher education the following fall, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Some may return later, but the numbers show how early a college journey can be interrupted.

The reasons often overlap. A 2024 Sallie Mae/Ipsos study reported by Inside Higher Ed found that surveyed young adults who left without completing cited financial challenges, motivation or life changes, academic difficulties, social challenges, and mental health concerns.

Preparation cannot remove every obstacle. Colleges also have a responsibility to provide accessible support. But building these five college success skills can help you recognize difficulties and respond sooner.

Whether you are applying to college or already enrolled, start where you are. Parents, your encouragement matters throughout the process.

1. Financial Literacy: Know the Cost and Give Your Money a Plan

A financial plan can help you stay on track through graduation. That means understanding both the full cost of your education and how you’ll cover everyday expenses—before money becomes a crisis.

Start with this question: Can you afford this college through graduation—not just the first year?

Look at the cost after grants and scholarships, their renewal requirements, and how much you expect to borrow altogether. Estimate monthly loan payments alongside realistic starting earnings in careers you are exploring. College, career, and financial planning belong together: education costs can shape your choices long after graduation.

Applying to college? Compare what you would pay at each school over the time needed to complete your degree.

Already enrolled and feeling stretched? Talk with your financial aid office before deciding to leave. Ask about scholarships, emergency assistance, campus employment, and work-study opportunities. If your family’s finances have changed, ask whether your aid eligibility can be reviewed.

If costs remain unmanageable, explore alternatives with your adviser, including a less expensive college. Check how any change would affect your credits and graduation timeline.

Then build a budget for housing, food, books, transportation, and personal expenses. Include family responsibilities if you contribute financially at home. Set limits for extras and leave an emergency cushion when possible.

Review subscriptions, too. Do you need Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ simultaneously? Three subscriptions costing $15 each would total $540 a year. Consider rotating services and setting reminders before free trials expire.

Apps to consider:

• Goodbudget: Organizes spending using digital envelopes and offers a free plan.
• YNAB: Helps you plan how to use available money. Eligible college students can currently receive one free year with enrollment verification; continuing afterward requires payment.

Parents: Agree on who pays for what, and help your student practice managing the budget.

Budgeting can help you manage available money, but it cannot close every funding gap. Ask for support early so you can weigh your options with a clearer picture.

2. Career Planning: Connect Who You Are With Where You Are Going

College planning, career exploration, and self-exploration should develop together.

Start with yourself: What interests you? What are your strengths and values? Which activities make you curious enough to keep learning?

Then investigate work that uses those interests. Learn what people actually do, which skills they need, and what education prepares them.

Understanding these connections can inform your course choices, the colleges you consider, and the opportunities you pursue. It also identifies career goals as a source of motivation.

Research has long shown how hands-on career exploration help students connect schoolwork with future goals and make education feel more purposeful. Knowing what you are working toward can give your effort meaning, even while your plans evolve.

You do not need to choose one lifelong occupation today. Explore a few possibilities:

• Strong Interest Inventory®: A paid assessment that connects interests with career possibilities. Ask a qualified career professional about access and interpretation.
• O*NET Interest Profiler: A free interest assessment from the U.S. Department of Labor–sponsored O*NET program.

Treat results as starting points, then test your interests through internships, work, volunteering, or projects. Ask an instructor, professor, or adviser about research or community projects where you could contribute and build skills.

Explore expanding fields such as cybersecurity, data science, and renewable energy. Roles include information security analyst, data scientist, and wind turbine technician, each with different preparation requirements. Investigate the daily work alongside employment prospects.

App to consider: Handshake is a free app for exploring jobs, internships, and career events. Many colleges also use it to help students book career advising appointments and connect with campus career services.

Parents: Ask, “What are you discovering about the work you enjoy?” Leave room for exploration.

>> RELATED: How to Make a Career Plan Without Feeling Overwhelmed

3. Time Management: Plan the Work Behind the Deadline

A college timetable may look surprisingly open compared with high school. But the hours between classes must accommodate studying, employment, commuting, meals, and rest. Managing that flexibility takes practice.

A paper due in four weeks can feel far away—until other assignments, work shifts, and a few evenings of Netflix or TikTok fill the calendar. When studying and projects repeatedly get squeezed into the last minute, stress can build and grades can suffer.

The goal is to give yourself enough time to do the work without sacrificing rest or everything you enjoy.

Use one calendar consistently. Enter deadlines, exams, work shifts, and appointments. Then schedule time to prepare, including a little breathing room for unexpected demands.

Break large assignments into smaller steps. “Write research paper” is easy to postpone. “Choose a topic Tuesday and gather sources Thursday” gives you a starting point.

Review your week before it begins. What needs the most time? Where are the conflicts? What help should you arrange?

App to consider: Google Calendar can help you organize your schedule and track tasks and deadlines.

High school students can practice planning without repeated reminders. College students should build schedules around their actual responsibilities, including employment and caregiving.

Parents: Help your student troubleshoot a system they can maintain independently.

4. Stress Management: Recognize When You Need Support

College can bring excitement, loneliness, pressure, and disappointment—sometimes in the same week.

Protect time for sleep, regular meals, movement, breaks, and people you trust. Notice what helps you recover after a difficult day.

A sense of purpose may help you persist, but it does not eliminate stress, illness, or exhaustion. Feeling overwhelmed deserves attention even when you love your chosen field.

App to consider: Insight Timer offers free guided practices and a meditation timer. Some features require payment. Use it to support a routine alongside other sources of help.

Learn how to contact counseling, health services, accessibility services, and basic needs support. If difficulties persist or interfere with daily life, seek professional help.

Parents: Listen before offering solutions. Ask, “Would you like me to listen, help you think through options, or help you find support?”

5. Build Connections and Practice Self-Advocacy

Find people you can turn to. Introduce yourself to a classmate, visit office hours, or explore a student organization.

If you commute, work, or care for family, choose connections that fit your schedule. A study partner or regular adviser check-in can be a useful beginning.

First-generation students may be learning an unfamiliar system alongside their families. Terms, procedures, and unwritten expectations may need explaining. That unfamiliarity does not diminish your ability or the strengths you bring.

Ask about first-generation programs, mentoring, and peer support. Identify someone who can help you navigate requirements and deadlines.

Practice saying: “This is new to me. Could you explain my options and what I should do next?”

App to consider: Use Microsoft OneNote or your phone’s notes app to organize questions, campus contacts, and meeting follow-ups. Then make the connection.

Parents: You do not need college experience yourself to be a valuable source of encouragement.

Choose One Step This Week

Review a subscription. Book a career appointment. Plan your week. Ask for help.

As you learn more about yourself, revisit your choices. Your interests, education, and career plans can inform one another throughout college.

A note to keep in mind: These tips can help students prepare for college and life afterward, manage money thoughtfully, and reduce the risk of unnecessary debt or academic difficulties, including probation. They are not a cure-all or a guarantee against debt, probation, or leaving college. Financial hardship, health concerns, family responsibilities, and other circumstances may require additional support or a different educational path.