<p>I read yesterday in this Kaplan/US News magazine about college admissions, that listed various universities' information, that UNC-Chapel Hill only has a 24% grad rate. This seemed low compared to Duke's 88% and even UVa's 85%. I couldn't believe my eyes.
Is UNC really lacking in this part?</p>
<p>leetx: The current 6-year graduation rate is at 84%. The current 4-year graduation rate is at 71%, I believe. </p>
<p>This article, written in 2006, you might find interesting:
<a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/664/story/421379.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.newsobserver.com/664/story/421379.html</a></p>
<p>In part, it says:</p>
<p>
[quote]
UNC-CH's graduation rate is the highest in the UNC system and higher than the average among 62 prominent research universities nationally. Yet, the Chapel Hill campus lags behind its main competitors among elite U.S. public campuses that sit higher in the influential U.S. News & World Report rankings.</p>
<p>One reason might be that UNC-CH's minimum threshold for academic eligibility, a 1.5 GPA, is too low, said Bernadette Gray-Little, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The minimum should be raised to 2.0, or a "C" average, she said. The Faculty Council will debate that today.</p>
<p>Of the UNC-CH students who do not graduate, about 6 percent transfer to another college and about 10 percent drop out primarily because of academic trouble.</p>
<p>Trustees said students tend to focus on getting into UNC, not getting out. Most finish in four years, but many take lighter course loads and drag out their educations. Seth Dearmin, the student body president, joked that students who are smart enough to be accepted at UNC-CH are smart enough to figure out how to stay on campus for five years.</p>
<p>But that attitude shuts out younger students who are clamoring for coveted seats at UNC-CH, said Jean Kitchin, a trustee from Scotland Neck. "They're taking slots other students could get if they would go ahead and get out," she said.</p>
<p>The university should take a harder line toward students, said Tim Burnett, a trustee from Greensboro. "They'll generally hurdle over any bar we set," Burnett said. "They can do a lot more than they do now if we expect it of them."</p>
<p>But Jerry Lucido, vice provost for enrollment policy and management, pointed out that the situation is more complicated. Students might be working part time, which slows their progress, or taking on internships or study-abroad programs that can add time to the equation.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Also, here is a link to some 4-year graduation rates at other schools, for comparison:<br>
<a href="http://oira.unc.edu/four-year-graduation-rates.html%5B/url%5D">http://oira.unc.edu/four-year-graduation-rates.html</a></p>
<p>The number to look at, realistically, is the 6-year rate, though. There are just too many reasons why students might not be able to graduate in 4 years, and it's not always about academics.</p>
<p>Sorry-- and one more-- a bit more detailed:
<a href="http://oira.unc.edu/facts-and-figures/retention-and-graduation/retention-and-graduation.html%5B/url%5D">http://oira.unc.edu/facts-and-figures/retention-and-graduation/retention-and-graduation.html</a></p>
<p>Jack, this brings up a question I have. UNC's information states that a student must graduate within 9 semesters. My son transferred in as a junior and would like to double major and perhaps add a minor--I don't see how he would finish in 9 semesters (they count from first semester of college work anywhere). When son questioned this with his advisor he really didn't get an answer as to what happens if they need more than the 9 semesters. Do you have any knowledge about this?</p>
<p>mkm56: I remember when you posted that initially a while back. I was surprised to read that as I'd never seen or heard that 9 semester requirement before. So I really don't know anything about it, though I'm sure they want to work on improving those graduation rates, so this might be something new they've instituted. I'm sorry I don't know much about it. I don't even know if this is specific to UNC-CH, or to all the UNC campuses.</p>
<p>mkm56: Okay, I just found this information, though you may have already seen this. Looks like this 9 semester requirement was instituted beginning Fall 2006. </p>
<p>Also, that 9 semesters, according to information on this link, does exclude summer school sessions. </p>
<p>so does low graduation rate detract from UNC's quality?</p>
<p>leetx: Look at the links I posted above. You need to compare to other top public universities. Of those, UVA is the only one that manages to do a really superior job at the 4-year mark. Public universities will always have lower graduation rates than privates, for many reasons. But the 6-year rate at Berkeley (the #1 public university in the nation), for instance, is at 87%. UNC's is at 84%. The 4-year rate for Berkeley is at 61%, while UNC's is at 71%. So, UNC actually does a better job than Berkeley at the 4-year graduation rate.</p>
<p>I'm sure UNC would like to see improvement (why they've instituted that 9 semester rule, I suspect), and they've recently changed the minimum GPA from 1.5 to 2.0, I believe, which will help as well. But read those articles I linked to get a better perspective on this; they also help to explain why some people don't graduate in 4 years.</p>
<p>Thanks Jack. I do imagine that is why policy was instituted.</p>
<p>per US News</p>
<p>William & Mary 92%
UVirginia 92
Cal 89
UCLA 89
Michigan 87
UNC 84</p>
<p>I dont know if these are 4 or 6 yr numbers. Either way they are very competitive</p>
<p>Other peers would be:</p>
<p>Chicago 90%
WUSTL 91
Cornell 92
Emory 87
Vanderbilt 89
Wake Forest 88</p>
<p>swish: Thanks; those are 6 year numbers (at least the public ones on the top list are; don't know about the bottom private ones you listed). These must be newer than what I posted, because Berkeley was at 87% in the 2006 article I linked. Yes, UNC is competitive with these, and actually doing a much better job at the 4-year graduation rate, among these publics (with the exception of UVA and W&M)-- better than Berkeley, Michigan, or UCLA-- (based on the link in my other post). You may have more recent information that that, though. If so, do post it. Thanks.</p>
<p>2007 edition of US News. I cant find a footnote for whether it is the 4 or 6 yr number. As I scan the list I think it is the 4 year graduation rate but that is just a guess.</p>
<p>It is the four year number. Just found it several pages in the back.</p>
<p>I think it detracts from the quality of its students, not the school per se.</p>
<p>There are many reasons i believe for the lower rate...one might be the general college system which i like but they tell you everyone goes into it and then you apply to your major at the end of your sophomore year...so some people may not get into the college of their choice such as journalism/business/public health etc. due to low grades or change their major ....and have prerequisites they did not know of. </p>
<p>THEREFORE, they may have taken classes that are not as relevant to their new major.. There are so many majors available at UNC to choose from many students double major That is very common. The kids that I know of go at least one summer. That makes up for any lag. Also, they instituted the rule (I asked) because some students just don't want to leave. They are not hard nose on it and do not institute the 25% penalty (which hurst os much more than is) very often at all.</p>
<p>Thanks for that info Atlmom. Good to know they are not rigid on the 9 semester rule. That will relieve some stress for my son who is trying to catch up now on "perspectives".</p>