Cal state grad rate and impaction

I am a in a CCC right now and I am looking at what courses I need to transfer to a few CSUs for accounting or information systems. One thing I notice is that most CSUs have a very low grad rate for 4 years or 2 years for transfers. I was wondering why this rate is so low. I’ve read that it is because CSU students work while they enroll there, but still it is worrying me and I ask myself if I should apply to CSUs because I have to graduate 2 years after I transfer to a university.Plus does impaction also mean that I won’t be able to get my classes on time to graduate? I look at UCR’s 2 yr grad rate for transfer biz students and its around 90% so I was comparing it to CSUs, specifically CSUF, CPP, SDSU, CSUN, CSULB and CPSlo. It would be great if you guys can explain why the grade rate is low and how impaction affects getting classes especially for accounting or information systems.

Impaction means that the major is made more selective to keep enrollment within the capacity of the department. But it means that the major is right at capacity, so that classes will be completely full. This means that you cannot be picky about what time of day and such when the class is offered.

Some CSUs do have graduation pledge programs (4 year for frosh, 2 year for transfer):
http://www.calstate.edu/sas/california-promise.shtml

Accounting is a lillte different now that the CPA requires 150 units. For most majors at most CSUs, you can get through in 4/2 if you are motivated, focused and flexible. My son is a set to graduate with a Biz degree in May (after 4 years) from Chico - about half of the kids he dormed with are also on-track for graduation at the same time. Those that aren’t either planned a s slower pace (and took 12 units a semester) because of the difficulty of their major (CS and engineering) or because they had to work. A few others made a couple of big major changes - (like music to CS to ME) fairly late in the game. His HS peers are basically the same story, those that focused on their education as their primary goal are getting through in 4 years… those that didn’t are talking longer. (btw, the same was true 30 years ago for me)

Priority registration - through Honors, a 4 year Grad pledge or whatever also helps keep your schedule from being too chaotic.

What’s this grad pledge? I’ve only first heard it mentioned here and now I’m seeing it pop up in the portals.

The 2/4 year grad pledge is a neat idea. Essentially, you enroll and get priority reg as long as you follow the program. Pass your classes and the guarantee you will graduate on-time. (kind of funny because, if you take the courses in the order they prescribe, of course you’ll graduate on-time ) It has been done at private schools like UOP for many years. I think CPP was the first CSU 4-5 years ago. several years - I guess it worked and is being adopted more broadly.

Yes I looked into the pledge programs and met with a counsleor to talk about it thanks @ucbalumnus and thanks @NCalRent as always with a great and helpful repsonse

You might be able to get out in two years if you are flexible with your electives. When I transferred to SSU many years ago, I had just 57 units. However, I was able to graduate in two years by focusing on required classes and then taking ANYTHING that was open. I also overloaded my units each term (16 or 17 instead of 15). It’ wasn’t much more work, but it added up. By doing that and taking one summer school class, I was set. I took some unusual classes that I wasn’t really interested in and I did not bother with a minor. Some of them (Environmental Toxicology and 19th Century Art History) turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable. All in all, it was worth it.

Which College is SSU?

Sonoma State. It’s a small, suburban CSU in Northern California. Definitely not one of the larger and more known universities in the system. However, because it’s so small, lots of the majors are impacted. It wasn’t always easy to get first choice classes. The fact that it was small helped when you had to go across campus really quick to try to sign up for another class.

I walked into an Introduction to Shakespeare class once that had 30 people standing in line trying to convince the professor to add an overload of students. Not happening. I turned around real quick and headed a building over and easily added an anthropology class. There are advantages and disadvantages to every situation.

Many of the CSUs were over-crowded and under-funded for several years. That is no longer the case. I know some current students at SSU and none of them report long wait lists. The reg process there and at the rest of the CSUs has come a long way in the last 10 years. They generally will create new sections for classes that are over subscribed. This is one of several questions to ask current students when you visit campus.

@NCalRent, that’s good to hear. My son will be a freshman at Cal Poly next year and my daughter is looking at CSUMB in a few years when she graduates high school. I’m a big fan of the CSU system, but I’m also a big fan of paying for college for four years, not five

http://www.calstate.edu/sas/california-promise.shtml
then you will love seeing that…

Greta idea for a program. Too bad the schools I mentioned don’t have them for a four year tract yet. Still, the fact that the system is so consciously addressing the issue means that it will spread.