There are about 3600 colleges in the United States, which educate about 12 million students (as of 1995).[1] Many of those students will never graduate, and many will become depressed, addicted, or otherwise lost spiritually and mentally. Many develop health problems as a result of risky behavior.
Only about 57% of the college population, or about 7 million, are aged 18–24 years, representing only about one-fourth of that age group in any given year.[2] A larger percentage, perhaps half, of persons aged 20–24, have attended college without necessarily graduating.[3]
Less than 1% of the nation's colleges—only 20 schools—possess a large percentage of the overall college endowments.[4] Only about 70 colleges—about 2% of the total—hold endowments in excess of $1 billion. Only Grove City College, Hillsdale College and Patrick Henry College are not heavily dependent on funding by the federal government.