For a college-ready student who doesn’t change their major too many times, I would expect the graduation rate at PASSHE to be much higher than average, especially if finances are not a contributing factor.
Yes…graduation rates are tricky to shift through…if it is a commuter school full of many part-time students of course the rate will be low. If the average income is low then typically the graduation rate is low. Public schools are to take as many “qualified” tax payers hence the rate naturally will be lower.
@Gatormama you are correct in that test prep can pay off by opening more opportunities. I will say that it is a pretty big jump to go from an ACT of 22 (where most PASSHE averages are) to 32. It is doable, but not that common I don’t think. My D is a senior and we are not going back to testing. I will probably push this option for my younger kids.
@mommdc, while I agree that Edinboro students likely have more financial issues, their admissions rates and freshmen profile stats are lower than WC. So, I would also argue that more of their students are not college ready.
@Portercat, yes, that is another contributor. Not being college-ready.
.Edinboro charts new course
http://www.goerie.com/opinion/20170227/our-view-eup-charts-new-course-in-hard-times
Pennsylvania places a dismal 50th in the higher education category in US News’ new state rankings.
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/education/higher-education
@Gatormama …good find. 48th most expensive and 47th most debt upon graduation. If you are a resident you need to speak with your elected officials. It is substandard and unacceptable.
My guess is that elected officials would say that they are trying to address the PASSHE issues to improve those metrics.
Then they should fund it accordingly, not the same amount that was funded in the 1990’s.
Why some PA Universities are in danger of closing…http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-pa-state-university-possible-closings-reasons-20170228-story.html
Although the enrollment has declined…it has only declined to levels of 2007. At that time, there was never a consideration/conversation of closing any of the 14 PASSHE schools yet now it is the solution. Speaking from experience, the government almost never asks a question(or begins a study) that they do not already know(or will dictate) the answer to.
Not that I’m any fan of the state’s thinking, but to say that they weren’t considering closing schools in 2007 with those enrollment levels misses the higher costs of everything these days. I doubt you can do a true comparison.
ETA - it also misses the added PSU branch campii. I assume those have increased since 2007…
Good point. Perhaps a bit of an apples to oranges but I think there is still a point there. I am not saying that some consolidation isn’t needed but the real issue is funding. When PASSHE was formed in the early 1980’s, 70% of the revenue came from the state to insure that Higher Public Education was affordable(isn’t that the point of public higher education in the 1st place?). In 2017, 70% of PASSHE revenue is from tuition/fees while the PSU/Pitt Branch School funding has increased significantly over the years. It does not add up.
PA spends more on prison than public colleges…something is not right!!! Cutting affordable public higher education, taking away opportunities for a professional/skilled workforce seems like it will only contribute to the need for more spending on prisons.
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/07/pa_prison_budget_tops_higher_e.html
Response from Mansfield…http://www.sungazette.com/news/top-news/2017/03/mu-head-school-will-meet-challenges/
Bloomsburg University response/thoughts…http://www.pahomepage.com/news/state-system-of-higher-education-dealing-with-low-enrollment-numbers/664223919
Is Mansfield really a “public liberal arts school”? I know little about it. I wonder if it positions itself this way only because of the fact that is is small by necessity.
it’s listed as a member of COPLAC
so regarding PASSHE, with every school saying the will meet the challenge, no significant increase in funding…what do you think will change with the study?
A President of a University may say that they won’t close, but won’t that be up to the discretion of the PASSHE system management?
Closing a state college/university requires legislative action.
The sad thing is,the possibility of a school closing or cuts to athletics will only eliminate those schools from possible options when making a selection. Thus, lowering the enrollment even further. Very few parents would help direct their kid to a school that is on the chopping block.