<p>
I believe that the 4-year graduation stats start by subtracting out the students who don’t stay at the college. E.g., if six percent don’t come back for the second year, the best you can get is 94 percent. Realistically, there is “melt” every year at every college for one reason or another. Iirc, even Harvard has a 3-4 percent melt over four years. So Vanderbilt’s 85 percent is quite respectable.</p>
<p>Going from memory, I think D’s LAC lost 6-8 percent of their first-year class. However, as a whole, if you stay, you <em>will</em> graduate in four years. The advising staff is on the students like white on rice, checking major and degree progress every term.</p>