There are probably as many different reasons for cheating as there are students; however, a few common themes emerge. Students who entered college on the basis of good high school grades, only to find their abilities matched or exceeded by many of their fellow college students, may be under social pressure to still look good back home. Students who struggle academically, students who have to work, and students who would rather spend their time partying than studying may find ways to shortcut their academic work.
Most colleges and universities have a plagiarism clause written into a signed agreement between school and student. This clause extends not only to copying answers from a friend, or downloading a completed paper from the Internet, but also includes downloading music, videos or other material that is offered illegally over the Internet. If cheating behavior continues into the workplace, the cheater may suffer serious legal consequences.
The quality of graduates from any institution speaks loudly of the education they have received. Students who cheat their way through school may eventually perform poorly or dishonestly in the workplace, thus undermining the reputation of their alma mater.
Students who graduate from college, especially at the higher academic levels, frequently become supervisors, doctors, lawyers or pharmacists, or fill other responsible positions in their communities. Cheating their way through school can result in a graduate who looks good on paper, but actually has a hard time fulfilling job requirements. In the workplace, this can create problems ranging from embarrassing moments to lawsuits over prescriptions that are incorrectly filled or buildings that fall down.
Cheating deprives the student of the accurate academic assessment necessary for learning. It can cause problems for the school the student attends, and for future employers. Cheating behavior in adult life, such as copying or receiving intellectual property without permission or payment, causes loss of revenue to creative workers and can have serious legal repercussions. Most colleges and universities, because of their awareness of these potential consequences, have a clause in their student agreement that allows them to expel students caught cheating.