"Students are more likely to graduate from colleges that are more expensive and have larger budgets, a new study out of Oregon State University shows.
Researchers examined the demographic and graduation data of more than 400 four-year colleges and universities from both the 2007-08 and 2014-15 academic years, relying on the federal Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.
The focus was on institutions that generally accepted a large majority of their applicants – 80 percent – known as broadly accessible institutions. These colleges tend to enroll a higher number of Latino students in particular, some of whom come from impoverished and inadequate educational backgrounds. Thus, it is unsurprising that their graduation rates would already be lower, the study states.
The average six-year graduation rate at these institutions hovers around 40 percent, compared to 56 percent at more selective colleges." …
So the person that can’t afford the $60 toy doesn’t care about their toys at all? It is all about mindset. A person who simply doesn’t care doesn’t consider the cost. The one who values their education is going to do well even if they go to their local area college. Not everyone can afford the $60,000 price tag.
It’s more likely what @romanigypsyeyes said - students who can pay for more selective/more expensive colleges are less likely to have obstacles that make it hard for them to graduate from college.
It’s also not quite earth-shaking that colleges that have more money to funnel into student services graduate students more often.
I’m actually more surprised that they managed to get this published in a scientific journal.
@julliet my first thought when reading this was something along the lines of “Dang, I should’ve stayed with the social sciences. Seems way easier to get published over here.”
People who can afford more expensive schools can also afford tutors. They can afford to send their adolescents to Science camp and Computer camp and Drama camp and Math Camp. They can afford to attend college without having to work part time at the same time.
The abstract of the paper includes this sentence: “Evidence suggests that graduation rates can be predicted by religious affiliation, proportion of students enrolled full-time, socioeconomic status of the student body, enrollment size and institutional revenue and expenditures.”
Note that the study was focused on four year “broad access institutions” (BAIs) that admit 80% or more of their applicants and which enroll a majority of US college students. I.e. not the highly selective colleges that consume much of the discussion on these forums.
It should not be surprising that students from wealthier families are more likely to graduate, since they are less at risk of running out of money (the biggest reason for dropping out of college).
Even if students at top schools aren’t paying, the schools have the budgets and resources to help them be successful, by providing tutors, early academic warning plans, etc. They can have a whole department, rather than depend on the dean of students to cover everyone.
