Why does it have such a low retention rate of 33%?
That sounds pretty bad. And I wanted to apply to this school…
They don’t. The Prescott campus has a [retention rate](College Navigator - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott) of 83% with 37% graduating in four years and 59% graduating in six. Not great, but that’s fairly typical of engineering heavy, less selective schools.
The Daytona Beach campus’ retention rate is [url=<a href=“http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=embry+riddle&s=all&id=133553#retgrad%5D78%%5B/url”>http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=embry+riddle&s=all&id=133553#retgrad]78%[/url] for full time students. About 1/3 of entering freshmen graduate in four years, and 57% do so in six.
As @whenhen pointed out, it is a very engineering intensive school, with rigorous programs. Having attended the Prescott campus myself, I can assure you it is a great school.
I encourage you to check them out. Feel free to message me with any questions you have and I would be happy to answer them.
Schools that have a lot of engineers, and a lot of co-op programs and internships, often have students take longer than 4 years to graduate.
I know a student who just did 3 semesters and is now taking a break. I think his parents needed a break from the tuition. Will he go back? I don’t know.
Also, a specialty school may have a lower retention and graduation rate because students who want to change major are more likely to have to change schools to find the new major.
^^^ All True. In addition, since Florida has such a low in-state tuition rate (and several engineering schools), many in-state students may transfer due to cost. Before grants and discounts, the cost difference is close to $25k/year in tuition.