Graduation Rates that Fail Everyone
They hope you won’t ask this question. Most college tour guides don’t know the answer. Even scarier, most parents and students never think about it. Ever. What am I talking about? Here’s the question you should be asking. What is your institutions' graduation rate?
Why is this important? First, it can make a big difference in whether your student gets that degree. Second, you won’t believe the truth behind the numbers.
SCARY STATISTIC #1 The national graduation rate is NOT what you think it is or should be. First, let’s deal with the national percentage of students who graduate in four years. But wait, isn’t that what we are talking about? Actually, no. But, I digress. Let's pause here while you guess the percentage who get a degree in four years. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
If your guess is above 50%, you are dreaming. The national four-year graduation rate is a measly 41%. Barely 4 in 10 matriculating students graduate in four years. Oh but wait, there’s more! IF your school gives you their number, it is calculated on the Federal formula. The Federal methodology for how graduation rates as reported to the government is based on 150% of the standard degree time. Translation? If it is a 2 year school, they report the percentage who graduate in three years. If it is a four year school, they report the numbers for six years.
Is your head spinning? It should be! No parent expects their student to take 6 years to graduate a four-year program. Nor do the parents OR their students think they might have to pay for those extra years.
SCARY STATISTIC #2 So what is the national percentage of students who graduate after those two extra years? It depends on your source of information. Do you believe the schools or an independent study? The national average is said to bearound 61%, but that is suspect. In a separate study, the National Student Clearinghouse followed 200,000 matriculating students individually for seven years. They came up with just 57% who earned their degree at the end of that time. Let’s read that again, slowly. After SEVEN years, only 57% of all students who started college graduated with a degree.
When you think about it, does it matter if the number is 57% or 61%? Not really. Neither is a good grade on any scale. For me, it is a capital F for Failure.
There is a myriad of reasons for these low numbers. A few involve a catastrophic change in family life, or a mistake in selecting the school. Those are completely understandable, but account for only a couple of percentage points. Here are the four top reasons for students not being able to complete college on time.
The student is NOT ready for this next level. College is not Grade 13. It is more demanding AND the student has to dig in and engage. It is also a test of their time management skills and self-management skills. You don’t have to be a brainiac to do college. You DO have to have great time management skills and a solid work ethic.
There is no direction or no plan. Few families can afford to send their student off without probable academic plan Yes, you can change your major in your first year. You just cannot afford to change it every semester for three years. That gets expensive. If your student was awarded ANY scholarship, most are good for ONLY four years, assuming adequate grades and progress towards the degree. If your student is rudderless, have them take career aptitude tests online such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or the Holland Code Career Aptitude Test. These tests can help narrow their focus. It costs a little bit of money, but, it helps your student focus on a likely course of study. Best of all, it could save you or them tens of thousands of dollars in extra costs.
Your student just isn’t interested. That’s a bit harsh, but it can be true. No one does well at something they don’t like. Think of it this way. What if the classic way of doing higher education is just sheer drudgery for them?
I admire those who can take apart mechanical things and make them work again. My dad could figure out how to fix almost anything. I have no clue. What if, for me, college was one long set of lectures about fixing engines, machinery, and labs where I had to do that? I would quit, in tears, and never darken the doors again. For some students, the historical college model of lecture, note-taking & three big tests in 16 weeks is just NOT for them. Close that door, and seek another!
Some schools have better student support systems than others. Does your top school have a system for helping students academically, emotionally, and functionally? If your student needs to get up to speed on a subject,is there a tutoring option? You will want to know this information, just in case.
As you consider colleges for your student, grab the graduation number for your top three schools from this website, www.collegeresults.org. Remember, they are providing the Federal methodology of 150% of the normal time. So those numbers are even worse for your four-year plan. But it could keep you from making a big mistake. Ask the millions of students who are paying back college loans and have no degree. They are in the worst twilight zone possible.
If you need some ideas about how to prepare your student, make a plan, and beat the odds, that is the reason I wrote the book, ENOUGH! The College Cost Crisis . Without a plan or the academic skills required, your student may become a casualty.
Next week- some crystal ball gazing AND stories from the front lines of college. If it were a novel, no one would believe it.
Until next time,
All my best,
Bonnie
