Is it really taking 6 yrs to get a 4 yr degree now?

shoboemom · 07-04-2012, 11:59 PM

I've seen in rankings for colleges note the percentage of students who graduate in 6 yrs. I am pretty sure they are just talking about the 4 yr degrees, so why would they rate for finishing in 6 yrs instead of 4? I thought, if anything, it would take less time to graduate now if you go to a college that accepts your AP or other credits earned in High School. This could have a big impact of planning for the cost of college!

fluteloop · 07-05-2012, 12:14 AM

I'm currently at a CSU and I think more people (at least what I see) are switching majors or slacking off. Last semester my roommate took three classes, one being a physical education class. She isn't paying for college and doesn't care about the cost.
I'm in 13 classes for the fall and if I wasn't in a high unit major, I would be graduating in 3 years.

MD Mom · 07-05-2012, 12:20 AM

That figure for earning a degree in six years does not mean it takes six years for most. However, I am not sure why they use six rather than five. It must have been some magic formula someone thought of some years back. If you think about it, it makes sense to figure in slightly more than four years, because so many take an extra semester.

My daughter will graduate in four years with 150 credits. She could have easily graduated in three as well had she been in the humanities or social sciences.

Erin's Dad · 07-05-2012, 12:26 AM

The six year graduation rate has been reported for years. You can get details of the percentage that finish in four, five and six years for each school by looking at the Common Data Set, section B

mom2collegekids · 07-05-2012, 08:08 AM

I don't think it takes 6 (or even 5) for most serious students attending school full time to graduate. I think that those who take longer do so because:

1) At first, they're just biding time in college and finally settle down with a major.

2) They change majors

3) Drop classes

4) Won't take classes at inconvenient times

5) Aren't taking a full load (I don't consider 12 credits a full load since that amount won't graduate on time).

6) Are working their way thru college, so they are attending part time.

7) Nearly every school has some commuters. I think those kids often take longer because they don't have R&B to consider.

My older son graduated in 4 years. He could have graduated in 3. My younger son is graduating in 4 years. He has a couple of friends who aren't, but it really was their choice...changed majors and parents allowing the time extension.

cptofthehouse · 07-05-2012, 08:20 AM

It's not always the students' faults. Some colleges have internal limitations on who can take certain classes, and if you get shut out of a course you need, then you can easily have to take an extra semester. Changing your major can result in needing more time too.

My son has decided to pursue a specific major after freshman year and has to take a course this summer if he is to be on track for graduating in 4. It annoys me greatly, as I thing that is a bit much to be in such a situation after just one year of college when so many kids do not know what they want their first year, and should not be so expected.

ordinarylives · 07-05-2012, 09:33 AM

The 6 year figure doesn't stipulate 6 years of full time study. Students stop and start their educations for any number of reasons - family issues, health issues, financial issues - that may be outside of the student's control. Then, as you've seen above,mthere are issues within the student's control - major changes, light loads, etc.

The 6 year figure gives you a pretty good idea of how many students will finish a degree at a particular institution, even when taking individual circumstances into account.

mom2collegekids · 07-05-2012, 10:52 AM

Kids who want to graduate in 4 years need to carefully go over their schedule (and maybe have another set of educated eyes look it over) to make sure that they don't miss a sequence class or don't miss a class that is only offered in fall or spring.

They should try to have all their semesters planned out...at least for the req'd classes and check to see if those classes will be offered for those semesters. The course catalog will usually say...Usually offered in spring (or fall) if there is such a limitation.

shoboemom · 07-06-2012, 07:50 AM

Thank you for the responses. You have helped to clarify...and a lot of good advice!

GLOBALTRAVELER · 07-06-2012, 09:28 AM

Whether it takes them 4, 5 or 6 years doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. When I interview someone for a position (software engineering), I (and others in the hiring process) will ask...

know Java?
know Linux?
know Oracle?
Build an data warehouse?

I will look at the education area of the resume to verify it I see B.A., B.S., M.S., or M.Eng but I am not looking to calculate graduation dates to see how long it took them.

fluteloop · 07-06-2012, 10:40 AM

Whether it takes them 4, 5 or 6 years doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

I think it does. Every year I'm in school, I'm paying about 25,000 for tuition/housing. Every year I'm working, I will be making a starting salary of about 38,000.

kela10 · 07-06-2012, 11:40 AM

Agree ^^^^ I think the OP was asking the question in regards to the thousands of $$$ more it costs to go more then 4 years.

prefect · 07-06-2012, 11:56 AM

fluteloop,
how are you taking 13 classes?

cptofthehouse · 07-06-2012, 01:11 PM

If you have the money to pay for the extra years, it doesn't matter. But for those on a slim budget, it can mean the difference of getting a degree or not.

Fluteloop, you'll be paying for the housing regardless, but you are loosing out on income if you could find a job and you have to come up with the tuition. But you'll find that you can live a lot better on less as a student in many cases.

emeraldkity4 · 07-06-2012, 01:27 PM

The private school my daughter attended met 100% of need.
With a caveat. This was for four years only.
When she failed a course spring qtr jr year that she needed for graduation ( ochem), we had a dilemma. There was no way she could retake the course and write a senior thesis at the same time. If we paid for her to only take that course at Reed, and she didn't recieve financial aid, that year would have counted as her 4th year of attendance and she wouldn't have been eligible for financial aid when she returned to full time.
So we decided she would come home, retake the whole year of ochem, then return to Reed for her senior year, which she did. ( Reed BTW was very helpful in working with her so that the classes she took at the community college applied toward her degree)
It didn't seem to be a red flag on her CV. She just finished grad school last month!