Thursday, December 10, 2009

Public Agenda Report on Retention

The organization Public Agenda has released a report on college completion.  A New York Times article discusses the report.
Highlights (of article, not report)

20% 2-year college enrollees graduate in 3 years
40% 4-year college enrollees graduate in 6 years
Study correctly compares drop-outs and graduates:


Drop-Outs
Graduates
No Financial Aid
70%
40%
Income under 35K
50%
25%
Parents Help with Tuition
40%
60%
Parents Some College
60%
70%

Article discusses report as aggregate national phenomenon NOT at level of individual schools or types of school. Utility for Mills lies in raising issues we have perhaps not thought of and providing some (to be used carefully) national norms against which to compare our experience.