Risks Facing College Students

College is not "risky" but college students are often vulnerable in unique ways. These unique risks may disrupt their education goals and also create a financial loss that is difficult to overcome.

We aim to help college students and their families understand the risks while at the same time understanding how these risks can be mitigated through insurance and benefit programs.

American College Health Association

These invaluable reports detail the incidence rate of various health issues and decisions among the college populace, while also reporting the academic impacts of these issues.

Health Problems & Academic Impacts -- Within the last 12 months, students reported the following factors affecting their individual academic performance:

Anxiety: 19.9%
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: 4.9%
Cold/Flu/Sore Throat: 14.8%
Chronic health problem or serious illness: 3.6%
Chronic pain: 2.8%
Death of a friend or family member: 5.5%
Depression: 11.9%
Eating disorder/problem: 1.0%
Homesickness: 3.7%
Injury: 2.1%
Stress: 28.6%

Within the last 12 months, the proportion of students surveyed reported that the following have been traumatic or very difficult to handle:

Personal Health Issue: 17.3%

American College Health Association. American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment II: Reference Group Executive Summary 2011. Hanover, MD: American College Health Association.

College Students report a significant rate of mental illness, depression & anxiety.

30.3% of all students surveyed stated that they felt so depressed that it was difficult to function at some point during the past 12 months.
21.2% of all college students reported being diagnosed with or being treated by a professional for at least one mental health condition (including psychiatric problems, addictions, and eating disorders) within the last 12 months.
12.0% of college students surveyed report having been diagnosed or treated by a professional for anxiety within the last 12 months.
11.1% of college students surveyed report having been diagnosed or treated by a professional for depression within the last 12 months.
7.3% of all students report having both depression and anxiety.

These very real health issues put students at risk of not completing their college degree.

A 2011 Michigan State University study asked about primary shocks that could cause them to withdraw from college.

52.9% indicated ‘becoming ill.’
18.4% indicated ‘death or illness of a family member.’
13.1% indicated ‘family member lost job, family in need of financial help.’
10.6% indicated ‘became clinically depressed.’

Pleskac, T.J., Fandre, J.*, Merritt, S., Schmitt, N., & Oswald, F. (2011). A detection model of college withdrawal. Organizational Behavior & Human Decision Processes, 115, 85-98

Students do withdraw from school due to physical and mental health reasons

In Virginia, 56 students per public college withdraw each year for mental health reasons… a number that the same study warns might be too low/underreported.

Report on the Virginia College Mental Health Survey, Conducted by the Joint Commission on Health Care

When asked 'in the last 2 years I have or have a friend who has...'

12% responded that they had to/knew a close friend who had to withdraw from school in the middle of the semester for a medical emergency or death in the family.

Spring 2012 Student Monitor Financial Services Survey

In addition, some people withdraw due to loss of a family member:

Between 35% and 48% of college students have lost a family member or close friend within the last two years.
Between 22% and 30% of college students have lost a family member or close friend within the last year.

Statistics from Balk, 1997; Wrenn, 1999; Balk, Walker & Baker, 2010, as cited by Students of Ailing Mothers and Fathers http://www.studentsofamf.org/grief-support-resources/college-grief-statistics/

1.7% of college students have lost a parent in the past 12 months.

Balk, Walker & Baker, 2010.

15.5% of students have found a death of a family member or friend "traumatic or very difficult to handle" over the last 12 months.
5.5% say that the death or a family member or friend has had an impact on their individual academic performance over the last 12 months.

American College Health Association. American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment II: Reference Group Executive Summary Fall 2011. Hanover, MD: American College Health Association.

Property loss due to fire affects many college students:

In 2009, the most recent year’s data available, there were 3,740 dormitory fires. That’s about one per U.S. campus.
Structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and barracks are more common during the evening hours between 5-11 p.m., as well as on weekends.

National Fire Prevention Association, Campus and Dorm Fires http://www.nfpa.org/categoryList.asp?categoryID=711&URL=Safety%20Information/For%20consumers/Campus%20and%20dorm%20fires

Students are also affected by burglaries on & around campus:

In 2010, 24,134 burglaries relating to college students were reported, including more than 12,000 residence hall burglaries.

Derived via the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool, Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education.

40% of students leave their apartment or dorm doors unlocked.

Uniball Survey, http://www.accountingweb.com/topic/education-careers/are-college-students-putting-their-parents-risk-identity-theft

Even if a student is a dependent under his or her parent’s insurance, the student’s personal property, in many cases, is not covered if the student lives off campus.

NAIC Consumer Alert, http://www.naic.org/documents/consumer_alert_renters.htm

Identity Theft is a major nuisance for college students:

31% of ID theft victims are under 30. That’s 73,000 complaints of ID theft in 2009!

2010 FTC report, http://www.ftc.gov/sentinel/reports/sentinel-annual-reports/sentinel-cy2009.pdf

Those aged 18 to 24 are the most at risk for identity theft.

Javelin Strategy & Research via Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/16/AR2010031604209.html

40% of students have provided their Social Security numbers online and only 50% of students shred sensitive data.

Uniball Survey, http://www.accountingweb.com/topic/education-careers/are-college-students-putting-their-parents-risk-identity-theft

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