Round Rock, TX – Trellis Research is pleased to announce the release of the results of the Fall 2021 Student Financial Wellness Survey (SFWS). The report reflects the responses of more than 63,000 students, the largest number of participants since the survey started in 2018.
The SFWS is a self-reported, online survey that seeks to document the financial well-being and success indicators of postsecondary students across the country. The survey covers topics from mental health to paying for college to addressing the specific challenges student parents face.
“The information contained in the Student Financial Wellness Survey is truly remarkable. Institutions will see the results as an important source of data they can leverage to develop a blueprint to address and mitigate issues related to higher education affordability and more,” said Trellis President and CEO, Debra Chromy, Ed.D.
Among the findings was fifty-six percent of students surveyed admitted they would have trouble getting $500 in case of an emergency. Results also showed student parents are more likely to experience financial insecurity, with eleven percent of respondents reporting they would rely on risky credit such as credit cards and twelve percent would sell their possessions or delay paying their bills during a financial emergency.
“Monitoring student financial wellness is key to addressing the financial obstacles that often lead students to leave school without a degree,” noted Trellis Director of Research, Jeff Webster.
New to the survey was a series of questions regarding mental health disorders, and forty-five percent of respondents reported living with anxiety.
The survey was open from Oct. 25 to Nov. 15, 2021, with one hundred four institutions participating. This included:
- 71 two-year institutions
- 20 public four-year institutions
- 13 private not-for-profit four-year institutions
For more information on participating in future implementations of the SFWS, contact TrellisResearch@TrellisCompany.org.
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About Trellis Company
Trellis Company is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation focused on helping people leverage the power of post-secondary education and learning to improve their quality of life and the communities where they live.