<p>what does each mean and how are they different , if at all?</p>
<p>Retention rate = how many come back after the first year
4-5 grad rate = how many actually graduate in less than 5 yrs</p>
<p>be careful in interpreting grad rate, however, since grad rate is also related to the wealth of the student body and wealth of the school. Publics have lower grad rates than top private bcos they have more low-low income kids who must work part-time to pay the bills. And, publics generally have worse finaid than top privates, so kids will take a minimum load while working ~20+ hours/wk.</p>
<p>also, some of the heavy engineering schools have 5 year programs that are needed get the degree due to the heavy workload, therefore lowering the 4 year graduation rates.</p>
<p>Take a look at Georgia Tech’s 4 year v. 6 year graduation rates, the biggest difference that I have found:</p>
<p>Georgia Tech Graduation Rate
4-year - 31%
6-year - 77%</p>
<p>How about this one:</p>
<p>Northeastern University Graduation Rate
4-year - not reported
6-year - 70%</p>
<p>This is of course due to the college’s co-op program, but I personally prefer schools that TRY to graduate their students in four years. It seems that even Northeastern is moving in that direction by having shorter or summer co-ops.</p>
<p>The official graduation rate used by the US Department of Education is a 6-year graduation rate. This is also the rate that colleges themselves report in their catalog and on websites.</p>
<p>Graduation rates and retention rates are closely associated with the school’s selectivity, such as SAT scores.</p>
<p>^^grad rates are also closely associated with wealth, which, not coincidentally, is also associated with test scores.</p>
<p>^^Smarter people do better in school, get higher SAT scores, graduate from college, do better in their career, and make more money. They pass on their genes to their children, provide stimulating environments for their children, and the children do better in school and get higher SAT scores like their parents did. This is not surprising.</p>
<p>Grad rates can be misleading because many kids change their majors, etc. It’s not always a reflection on the school.</p>
<p>Also, for schools that have more lower-income kids… I would imagine, that lower income kids have less “at home advising” going on, so they’re more likely to make some mistakes that might cause them to take longer to graduate.</p>
<p>“at home advising” = helicoptering. ;)</p>
<p>^^ Nice “spin” on that concept!</p>
<p>
True, but graduation rates can be indicative of problems nevertheless.</p>
<p>Wealth as an issue, for example. If students are taking breaks from college to earn money, it reflects poorly on that college’s financial aid.</p>
<p>Course availability and curriculum requirements can be another issue. Sometimes students find it difficult to get into the courses they need, or the graduation requirements can make it difficult to graduate on time. My sister’s college, for example, has curriculum requirements that could easily give Chicago a run for its money, and any student picking up a second major or even a minor is virtually guaranteed to need a 5th year; only about 1/3 graduate in four years.</p>
<p>does anyone know if universities keep track of the grad rates, whether 4, 5, or 6 yr of the colleges that comprise the universities - For example, college of engineering?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Most students at northeastern choose the 5 year co-op program, but in the 5 year program you only pay for 4 years. We only take 8 semesters of classes, and I know very few people who needed to do an extra semester of class. I’m really suspicious about the 6 year thing… I don’t know anyone who has needed 6 years. NU does have a 6 year pharmacy program and 6 year PT program, but these are for a BS + higher degree. Either way, seems skewed.</p>
<p>emily, it is just how many graduated within six years or less</p>
<p>if 70% graduated within 5 years </p>
<p>and</p>
<p>if no others graduate during the 6th year</p>
<p>then</p>
<p>it would still be:</p>
<p>6-year - 70%</p>