Most students at U.S. colleges take more than four years to graduate, resulting in higher education costs, more student debt and lost wages, a new report shows.
Among public universities, only 19% of full-students earn a bachelor’s degree in four years, according to a report from Complete College America, a nonprofit that works with states to increase college completion rates. Even at flagship research schools, just 36% of students complete their bachelor’s degree on time.
Community colleges are taking even longer, with only 5% of full-time students earning an associate degree in two years and 15.9% receiving a one- or two-year certificate on time.
“Current on-time graduation rates suggest that the ‘four-year’ degree and the ‘two-year’ degree have become little more than modern myths for far too many of our students,’’ said the report, titled Four-Year Myth.
In the past 20 years, more than 31 million students have gone to college but never earned a degree, according to a study by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, cited in the Four-Year Myth report.
Reasons vary widely, from not enough college advisers to unpredictable class schedules for students juggling school, family and work. In many cases, students accumulate more credits than they need because of overwhelming course choices or transfer colleges and lose credits.
In other cases, they don’t take enough credits per semester needed to graduate in two or four years. The report also said some colleges have excessive requirements for degrees or don’t have classes available for students trying to graduate.
The results can be costly. Attending an additional year of a two-year public college costs $15,933 compared with $22,826 for a four-year public college, the report said. And that doesn’t take into account lost wages.
In 2013, the average starting salary for someone with a bachelor’s degree was more than $45,000, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Among associate degree holders, it was about $35,000, the American Institute for Research found.
The Four-Year Myth report was based on data provided by the 35-member Complete College America Alliance of States. It recommended that to reduce graduation times, schools could provide programs for students who want a more focused curriculum and timely completion.
Colleges could also emphasize monitoring students’ progress and teach career-relevant skills, from attendance and dress code to time management and teamwork.
Please Leave A Comment
Related posts:
Students Seeking Online Degrees Now More Like Traditional On Campus Students, New Study Reports
College Graduation Rates Remain Flat, New Study Finds
Study: Majority of Adults Who Re-Enroll in College Never Graduate
Business School Graduate Students Face Unique Challenges
Stanford University MBA Offers Students Best Return on Investment, Study Finds