The numbers of male college students has been on a steady decline for more than a decade. Liberal arts schools noticed the change a while ago. Now, big state schools are starting to experience the trend.

“Colleges and universities throughout the country are grappling with the case of the mysteriously vanishing male. Where men once dominated, they now make up no more than 43 percent of students at American institutions of higher learning, according to 2003 statistics, and this downward trend shows every sign of continuing unabated.” (Taken from “Colleges, universities seek a few good men,” by Michael Gurian, Special to the Washington Post.)

To address the shortage of male students in college, high school administrators must address the high levels of unsuccessful male students in high school. High school guidance counselors can help address this problem by helping male students focus on what kind of quality of life awaits them without some form of education beyond high school.

“Statistics show that a young man who doesn’t finish school or go to college in 2005 will likely earn less than half what a college graduate earns. He’ll be three times more likely to be unemployed and more likely to be homeless. He’ll be more likely to get divorced, more likely to engage in violence against women and more likely to engage in crime. He’ll be more likely to develop substance-abuse problems and to be a greater burden on the economy, statistically, because men who don’t attend college pay less in Social Security and other taxes, depend more on government welfare, are more likely to father children out of wedlock and are more likely not to pay child support.”

A college education is not required to find success in life, but it can certainly help male students get a solid footing in life.