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Students working on executive functioning in college

The Hidden Crisis on Campus Isn’t Grades: It’s Executive Functioning

by F. Tony Di Giacomo, Ph.D.
Executive Functioning, Student Success

Key Takeaways

  • Despite significant resources spent, traditional college support services often fall short, with only 60% of undergraduates completing degrees within six years.
  • True academic success hinges on strong executive function skills (like working memory, flexibility, and inhibitory control), not just academic content. These cognitive skills are often overlooked.
  • Targeted executive function coaching is a high-impact, cost-effective solution, shown in pilot programs to boost student retention by 12%.

The Hidden Crisis on Campus Isn’t Grades: It’s Executive Functioning

American colleges spend significant resources on student support services, yet academic outcomes remain unchanged. Data shows only 60% of undergraduates complete their degrees within six years, with notable gaps across racial, socioeconomic, and first-generation status (National Center for Education Statistics, 2024). Traditional strategies such as tutoring, advising, and information systems have fallen short. 

Why College Students Struggle Beyond Grades

Institutions need to recognize a key oversight: success depends not only on academic content but also on underlying cognitive skills. Executive function – including working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control – is key for learning and goal achievement (Diamond, 2013). Developing these skills must be central in student support programs.

Research from Bain & Company found that high-performing institutions succeed through coordinated support systems, real-time data, and accountability (Bain & Company, 2023). However, when students do not possess strong executive function skills, these systems are less effective. Students must recognize their needs, seek help, and apply strategies.

The Overlooked Skill Gap: Executive Function in College

At Novella Prep, we observe that academic failures often stem from deficits in executive function. Students struggle with time management, information retention, and adaptability. These challenges affect students across achievement levels, even those with strong GPAs and test scores.

Pilot programs at public universities show that targeted executive function coaching boosts retention by 12%, at lower costs than traditional tutoring. These results underscore that supporting cognitive skills is an essential investment.

Bridging the Executive Function Deficit

While neuroscience confirms executive function can be measured and improved, higher education has been slow to adopt these practices. A misconception exists that college students arrive with fully developed self-regulation, despite evidence that these skills mature into the early thirties (Arain et al., 2013). Improving executive function enhances students’ ability to learn, adapt, and succeed in a changing workforce.

Helping students perform begins from within – before investing heavily in academic or test prep.

Prioritizing cognitive development alongside external support is crucial. Institutions must focus on strengthening the internal capabilities that enable students to fully benefit from educational opportunities.

 

Originally posted on Dr. Tony Di Giacomo’s LinkedIn page on July 15, 2025.

References
Arain, M., Haque, M., Johal, L., Mathur, P., Nel, W., Rais, A., Sandhu, R., & Sharma, S. (2013). Maturation of the adolescent brain. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 9, 449-461.
Bain & Company. (2023). Beating the odds: How institutions improve student outcomes. 
Diamond, A. (2013). Executive functions. Annual Review of Psychology, 64, 135-168.
National Center for Education Statistics. (2024). Undergraduate retention and graduation rates. U.S. Department of Education.