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- Nearly all (95%) of high schoolers plan to pursue additional education after they graduate, according to Sallie Mae’s 2026 “How America Plans for College” report. Most (62%) are thinking about two- or four-year college, and 14% plan to do career training, while 19% are undecided about what kind of education they will seek.
- Students and families are talking about how to pay for higher education. On average, 64% of families have a plan in place and 78% of high school students are involved in the conversations about how to pay for school.
- The majority of families (60%) have savings earmarked for higher education. The average savings amount is $42,307.
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