What's holding Tulane back in the rankings?

One last swing to make sure the horse is completely dead.

40 Lehigh has a ranking of 33 on graduation/retention from USNWR.

42 BU has a ranking of 40 on grad/ret.

48 Miami has a ranking of 62 on grad/ret.

54 TU's Katrina affected grad rate is 76% and -6 underperformance to expected performance. That translates into a ranking of 86. That stat is very out of spec.

FC reports above that TU’s 2008 starting class had an 83% 6 year grad rate. If that is a normal sustainable number, here’s where TU would compare on that most important rankings indicator in 3-4 years time:

Lehigh is 86% and -5. BU is 84% and even. Miami is 82% and -4.

Tulane would be 83% and +1.