Lower Four Year Graduation Rates?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>I got into SCEA, and I am most likely going to attend, but I have a small concern which has always bothered me a little. Why does Stanford have lower 4 year graduation rate, compared to other top schools?</p>

<p>Ex: Duke 90%
Princeton 89%
Yale 88%
Harvard 87%
UPenn 87%
Columbia 86%
MIT 82%
Cal Tech 80%</p>

<pre><code> Stanford 76% ????
</code></pre>

<p>I know it is not that much lower than the other top schools, but I was still wondering what factor there is to account for this decreased percentage. If I had to guess, I would say most people change their major. Cause when I went on the tour, a few people I had met, changed their major at one point. </p>

<p>Thanks for the information.</p>

2

<p>Could be possibly due to its proximity to Silicon Valley... just a guess though</p>

3

<p>Do you know where I can find the statistics for ALL or most universities/colleges? good info to have!</p>

4

<p>Because maybe students stay a 5th year?</p>

5

<p>Guitars101:), clicking on the
retention graduation rate will give you info on Stanford -
this site though gives you information on every college here
in the U.S.</p>

<p>:)</p>

6

<p>so many people i know are doing 5th year coterm. that might be it. for ex. 3 out of 5 ra's in my dorm are doing it</p>

7

<p>^^ exactly what I was about to point out. Stanford offers 5-year programs, like the coterminal program in CS, and that changes their four-year grad rate. Really, if you want to graduate in four years, you can. It's not difficult.</p>

8

<p>Going to Stanford is so great that people fail their classes just to stay on another year. Fact.</p>

9

<p>That is sooo tight! LOL</p>

<p>Hey, but doesn't the co-terminal program give you your bachelor's and masters degree at the same time?</p>

10

<p>I'm not sure, but a few things I know about that might affect the rate at Stanford and make it different/lower than other schools:
1. A lot of kids "stop out" for a quarter or two or three, and Stanford is very liberal about allowing that. You might need to look more at a 6 year grad rate.
2. Some athletes leave for professional sports or are redshirted their freshman year (and hence stay for 5 years total.
3. Not sure how the coterminal degree affects the graduation rate. I would have thought that the first degree is still obtained and counted at the end of the 4 years but maybe not.</p>

<p>Don't worry: if you want to graduate in 4 years you definitely can.</p>