Percent of LD kids going to college

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have LD kids who made it to college —either started or finished? Came across a figure that only 5% of kids with LDs start college—that number seems low.

[Anonymous]

My kid with LDs is in college and doing well. He has dyslexia and ADHD.

I don’t know where that statistic came from, and our anecdotal responses won’t help you understand whether it is accurate or not. And even then, the only thing that can tell you whether your kid is likely to go to college is time.

Start from the fact that less than half of Americans have a college degree. So already most people don’t graduate college. Then add in LDs. That certainly makes people less likely to graduate. Add in poverty, which can overlap with LDs, and make them worse (no money for therapy and tutoring, less resourced schools) and the percentage drops again. One can see how you’d get to a low number.

If you are looking for hope, you can search here for success stories. There are many! I think my son is one of them. He struggled in school, but he has grown and matured and learned and he will graduate and get a job, I am confident.

[Anonymous]

Mine just got in!

[Anonymous]

I have worked in a high school for 30 years. Most who want to go to college apply and get in. That stat is really low.

[Anonymous]

LD kids who have had support from home and involved parents are likely to go to college and be successful. Not everyone believes that, teachers and admin were surprised when I told them I was attending a 4 year college. I was in the top 10% of my class, had many honors and AP classes but for some reason my attending a 4 year college straight out of HS was surprising.

If you have supported your child, helped them understand how they learn and you find a college that is a good fit with good support, your child with LDs will be fine at college. As someone said above, fewer than half of Americans have a college degree. Kids with LDs and ADHD and autism and other learning/emotional issues are less likely to go to college then other kids because learning is more challenging. But LDs do not stop a supported kid at college.