<p>I htink both rates merit careful review. Note that it is not unusual for Freshman retention rates at small, rural schools and all women schools to be unimpressive while their 4 year graduation rates are very impressive–the idea of say, 10% of kids on top of the 5% who leave almost every school deciding they want a larger, less isolated or coed environment is hardly shocking.</p>
<p>Bear in mind, too, that schools with less affluent students will lose more and transfer or dropout rates may be higher among internaitonal students as they deal with a new culture.</p>
<p>In short, it is important to both look at and investigate the numbers to see what the causes may be.</p>