icon-contact icon-log-in icon-search menu icon Our story Leading research Higher Ambitions: How America Plans for Post-secondary Education 2020 By Sallie Mae® and Ipsos Download the full report 94% of high school students are likely to continue their education after high school What factors do students and families consider when choosing a school? How do they save and plan to pay for higher education? See how you compare to other families and get planning tips to help you reach your goals. Read the research report Read the adjunct research report featuring COVID-19 research View the infographic #HowAmericaPlans Higher education doesn't look the same for everyone Students' higher education plans Top factors families consider when deciding on a school Offers programs related to the student’s desired career or major (58%) Location (52%) Financial aid offer received (48%) Total cost of degree (32%) Creating a plan to pay for higher education is a family decision 78% of students have a role in creating the plan Steps families have taken to plan Planning tip Use our free Scholarship Search tool to access more than 6 million scholarships worth up to $30 billion. Look for scholarships Slightly more than half of families (54%) have a plan for how to pay for higher education average saved by planners average saved by non-planners Planners are 3x as likely to be confident about meeting the cost of higher education of planners confident about meeting costs non-planners confident about meeting costs 90% of families have had a “college talk” but only two-thirds have discussed how they’ll pay Higher education planning topics discussed schools the student is interested in scholarships college prep or SAT/ACT prep who will pay for education total cost of education Planning tip Our College Planning CalculatorSM can help you estimate college costs and build a customized financial plan. Create a plan High school seniors delay completing the FAFSA®, which may result in less federal financial aid Planning tip Get timely information about filing the FAFSA®. Read our FAFSA® guide Families are looking for more financial literacy support Only half of students say their high school teaches basic financial literacy skills, such as budgeting, using credit, and understanding interest 89% of parents want their students high school to teach financial literacy if it currently isn't Additional resources Higher Ambitions: How America Plans for Post-secondary Education 2020 research report Higher Ambitions Adjunct Report featuring COVID-19 research Higher Ambitions 2020 Infographic Join the conversation with #HowAmericaPlans Ipsos conducted the Higher Ambitions: How America Plans for Post-secondary Education survey online, in English between Wednesday, January 8, 2020 and Friday, January 17, 2020. Ipsos interviewed 1,503 parents with a high school student and 1,507 current high school students from the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii. Home Our story Leading research How America plans for college About us Careers For investors Media Blog Leading research Contests Cosigner responsibilities Partner resources Military resources Contact us FAQs Sitemap Terms of use Protect your privacy Avoid online fraud Beware of debt relief offers Social media guidelines Do not sell my personal information © 2021 Sallie Mae Bank. All rights reserved. Sallie Mae, the Sallie Mae logo, and other Sallie Mae names and logos are service marks or registered service marks of Sallie Mae Bank. All other names and logos used are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae Bank are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.