A college education is increasing being viewed an investment in one’s future.
To get the full “return” on this investment, it’s important that you not just attend college but earn a degree. A person with a degree has considerably more earning potential than does a person who simply took some courses.
For this reason, graduation rates are justifiably an important factor in college searches. However, Montgomery Educational Consulting cautions against too quickly dropping a school from consideration simply because it has a somewhat low graduation rate. At many inexpensive schools (e.g., community colleges and public universities), graduation rates are adversely affected by factors outside of the school’s control, such as students’ family responsibilities.
Of course, it’s also possible that the school has real shortcomings that frequently make it difficult for students to graduate. If you find that a reputable college has a somewhat low graduation rate, you should dig deeper. Find serious students at the school and ask them questions. Ask them what advising is like and how difficult it is for them to get into the courses they need to graduate. If they are satisfied with their experiences at the school, chances are you will be too.
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