This “data” would be far more relevant if it told what happened to these kids after four years.
As it is…it has tons of speculation as to why this might be the case.
I’m going to say…yes…graduation rate should be looked at. BUT there are tons of reasons why folks do not graduate in 4, 5, 6 or even 10 years.
My husband would have been one of your “statistics” as he got his bachelors on the 12 year plan…but he was plenty busy pursuing another career type for 7 or 8 of those years.
I say…so what. It’s not a race. Some folks finish in more years. Some folks end up going part time. Some folks have to drop out, and come back later. Some folks enter careers that don’t require that bachelors degree…at all.