One of the top barriers to student success in college is a student’s mental and emotional wellbeing. A 2025 survey by Trellis Strategies of students with some college credits but no degree found one in five students cited challenges with their emotional and mental health as a significant reason they left college.
National studies have underscored the high rates of poor mental health among college students. According to the Healthy Minds Study, in 2019-20, 40 percent of students screened positive for depression and 36 percent for generalized anxiety disorder. Rates peaked in 2021-22, when 44 percent of students screened positive for depression and 37 percent for anxiety and have since fallen to 37 percent and 33 percent for depression and anxiety, respectively, in fall 2025.
In the most recent Student Financial Wellness Survey by Trellis Strategies, 30 percent of respondents indicated symptoms of major depressive disorder, while 42 percent exhibited signs of generalized anxiety disorder. As one SFWS respondent stated: “It can be difficult on your mental health to balance your personal life and continue furthering your education.”
To accommodate higher demand for services, many institutions have invested in counseling support including partnering with third-party telemental health services, hiring additional counselors or establishing embedded clinicians. Nearly all (92 percent) institutions surveyed in Trellis Strategy’s 2025 Student Financial Wellness Survey offer some form of mental health or counseling services to their students. However, nearly a quarter of student respondents said they were unaware of these resources, and students who indicated symptoms of anxiety or depression were less likely to be aware of resources, compared to their peers.
The disparity between students who could benefit from resources, compared to those who are aware of resources and benefiting from mental health supports could mean the difference between a student’s completion and them leaving higher education. This awareness gap highlights an opportunity for colleges to improve communication and outreach about available services and ensure students can successfully utilize resources.
Other national surveys affirm a lack of utilization of campus counseling, despite demonstrated need from students. One survey found, while 50 percent of students said they were aware of mental health counseling on campus, only 21 percent indicated they had used the service.
Even when students were aware of available resources, some encountered limitations in capacity that prevented them from receiving adequate support. One student wrote, “Campus counseling services [at my institution] are struggling to meet the surge in demand (for anxiety and depression).” A 2025 report from the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors found, on average, 11 percent of students at four-year institutions access counseling services and just under 5 percent of students at community colleges use campus counseling.
When promoting access, colleges should consider the conflicting priorities Modern Learners hold. A majority of SFWS respondents are working for pay while enrolled and 17 percent of respondents are caregivers or legal guardians to children. These students are more likely to experience time poverty, which can make it difficult to allocate time to participating in counseling. Flexible offerings including self-paced online resources, 24/7 telemental health support or counseling appointments outside the traditional 9 to 5 can better accommodate time-crunched students.
Poor mental health can also be tied to other significant challenges a student faces while enrolled, including financial difficulties. SFWS data indicated students with basic needs insecurity were more likely to experience poor mental health, compared to their peers who were secure. To address student mental health holistically, colleges should develop and enhance low- and no-cost counseling services, ensuring that personal finances is not a barrier to support.
Some students may not need clinician attention but could benefit from mental health programming. SFWS data revealed 57 percent of students said they feel lonely sometimes or always, with rates particularly high for students under age 25, LGBTQ+ students and former foster youth. Peer-to-peer programming can help students build relationships and feel connected to the campus community. Similarly, student clubs or organizations centered on mental wellness and wellbeing can destigmatize mental health conversations and encourage utilization of other campus supports, like formal counseling.
Addressing student mental health holistically is key to promoting student thriving and in turn, degree completion.
Ashley Mowreader is a freelance data journalist. Previously, Ashley worked for Inside Higher Ed covering barriers to student success nationally, with a focus on evidence-based solutions. She holds a bachelor’s in journalism from Pepperdine University and is currently pursuing her master’s in journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.