| Low graduation takes you out of the top 10. A degree is meaningless if you do nothing to achieve it, and a degree is meaningless if you don't have it. So, a school has to find the mean.
And don't try to tell me that Reed is significantly more difficult that Swat, UChicago, Caltech, MIT, or Harvey Mudd - all of which graduate kids at MUCH higher rates than Reed. That tells you that something does not measure up. Reed only graduates 57% of people in 4 years. That means that there is a very good shot you will have to spend another $45,000(minus fin. aid). Reed is an excellent school. But it is not a top 10 school. It does not measure up anywhere other than PhD productivity(which is due in large part to the people it attracts) to being a top 10 school. Top 20 or 30 - maybe and definitely.
Reed is known for being exceptionally difficult - but so are some other schools. What hurts Reed (in my opinion) is drug use and a generally quirkier student body which is more likely to move in different directions than graduation. However, this is not exclusive to Reed.
My top 10(not really ordered, more grouped by thought process):
Amherst
Williams
Swarthmore
Harvey Mudd
Pomona
Carleton
Bowdoin
Wellesley
USMA
USNA
Just missing the cut: Midd, Davidson, Claremont Mckenna, Haverford, Wesleyan |