<p>Chris, I am looking for some reasoning behind the numbers. The numbers that I have come from the National Center for Educational Statistics. They show that SBU has a retention rate of 87%, 4 year graduation rate of 38%, and 5 year grad rate is 55%. The graduation rates seem low (I have seen state schools with higher and lower grad rates), and I am wondering why they are so low. It is frightening for me to send my child to a school where the graduation rate after 5 years is just a bit better than half.</p>
<p>Thanks for the question. Graduation rates are tricky, because by definition, the data's old. Part of the reason why our four- and five-year rate is low is that going back six years, more than half of our freshman class was commuting, many of them part-time. Part-time students aren't going to graduate in five years in a lot of cases, which doesn't help that number go up.</p>
<p>In addition, our incoming student average SAT has risen over 120 points in ten years (1093 to 1215); some studies have shown that students with higher SATs have higher persistence and graduation rates; I don't have the grad rate history handy, but I'd bet that's risen over the past several years as well.</p>
<p>In addition, we've become more selective; we've gone from 53-57% admitted to 47% this year. Doesn't seem like much, but when you extrapolate that out over several thousand students, the numbers blow up quickly. Again, the more academically prepared students are, the more likely they are to persist and graduate, and more likely to choose a program and stick with it, as opposed to changing a major and transferring.</p>
<p>I'm not always a huge fan of these stats, but that's why I like to look at retention rates; it's a better picture of what's going on on campus now, as opposed to what the incoming class looked like seven or eight or ten years ago. I know the retention rate has gone up; we were around 75% just two years ago. That's a dramatic increase in a short time; I think that's a lot more reflective of where we are and the direction we're headed.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Chris D'Orso
Assistant Director of Admissions
Stony Brook University</p>
<p>Thank you for quick and thorough response. Now I have a better understanding about what is behind the numbers. For my older son, I just eliminated schools that had low graduation or retention rates, because as a parent I would like my child to have the best opportunity possible to end up with a degree, and I want to know that he is happy and not wanting to transfer out (for any reason-ie: housing, financial issues, etc.). He is in a public college with a 91% retention rate and a 78% 5 year graduation rate. Now I am beginning my college hunt for my younger son. I am comfortable with your explanation. A retention rate from 75 to 87% is a big improvement!</p>
<p>SNES, No we live in NJ, so the SUNYs are OOS for us. My son goes to James Madison University in VA.</p>
<p>Yes, of course. Right now my kid is still 15 years old. He is a high school freshman. He is not interested in investigating for himself yet, because he is still young for this. I am just in the beginning stages of looking at schools to help him. Does that satisfy your curiosity?</p>
<p>I don't appreciate the tone you used in your post to me. You were giving your opinion on what I should do with my child in question form, but it was really a statement. You made a judgement without knowing the facts. I answered in the same sharp tone in which I was addressed. I try to get my opinions across in a polite manner, but then I expect the same courtesy to be extended to me.</p>
<p>LawlzAgain, you are very disrespectful. Lets end this dialogue.</p>