One of the key measures of Educations institutional success is its graduation rate—how efficiently and consistently K-12 schools, universities, and college help students achieve their educational goals. In a comprehensive 50-state comparison of four critical metrics: the first-year retention rate, the 4- year graduation rate, the 6-year graduation rate, and the transfer-out rate among public universities. Poor graduation rates signal inefficient use of resources and delayed entry of productive citizens into the economy.
Key Takeaways:
Wide variation in student outcomes exists between states.
The average 4-year graduation rate at public universities is 34 percent. Wyoming 39%
The average 6-year graduation rate at public universities is 50 percent. Wyoming 61%
The average on year retention rate at public universities is 72 percent. Wyoming 40%
The average transfer-out rate at public universities is 22 percent. Wyoming 19%
The cause of these departures can be attributed to many factors. States with the greatest college graduate “brain drain” have the lowest unemployment rates, Wyoming varies between a 2.5 and 3.5% unemployment rate so the job market is traditionally tight. Community colleges have a higher retention rate than high price big name college and universities due to deeper roots and ties to the community. Also, the same states that lose their graduates at the highest rates tend to take in more out-of-state students. Wyoming receives more students from other states than it sends out. Using 2016 numbers as an example 696 came to Wyoming for school. 459 left for other states. Wyoming sends the most college students to South Dakota, with 84 leaving Wyoming for school. Colorado sends the most students to Wyoming, with 360 entering. Diversity solves none of these problems.
My recommended improvements to Wyoming Education K-16. Policy reforms that can boost graduation and retention rates without adding costs for students or institutions.
– Prioritize Course Availability for Required Classes
Bottlenecks in required courses often delay student progress, especially in high-demand majors. States can encourage public universities to use course demand forecasting to ensure that essential classes are available each semester. Additionally, implementing flexible online or hybrid course options can help accommodate more students without the need for additional physical space or faculty.
– Promote Competency-Based Education and Prior Learning Assessments by demonstrating mastery of the material, rather than being tied to a fixed semester schedule. States can encourage public universities to adopt competency-based programs for high-demand fields, enabling motivated students to graduate faster without compromising academic rigor.
– Encourage public universities, community colleges, and technical schools to expand assessments of prior learning that award credits for demonstrated knowledge, allowing students to graduate faster. Accepting credit for Advanced Placement (AP) and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests is one way to do so.
– Adopt a Year-Round Academic Calendar One of the most efficient ways to increase graduation rates is to switch to a year-round academic calendar. Many public universities currently operate on a traditional two-semester system, with a lengthy summer break. By offering three full semesters each year (fall, spring, and summer), students can take advantage of the extra term to complete their degrees faster. A year-round calendar can be implemented using existing resources by optimizing course scheduling and faculty assignments, rather than requiring new facilities or additional taxpayer funding. This reform can be especially beneficial for non-traditional students, such as working adults and veterans, who may prefer more flexible scheduling options.
– Accept Military Transcripts for Academic Credit Military veterans and active-duty service members often possess valuable skills and knowledge acquired through their training and service. However, many public universities do not fully recognize these competencies, resulting in veterans taking redundant courses, which delays graduation. States can require public universities to standardize the acceptance of military transcripts, such as those provided through the Joint Services Transcript (JST), for academic credit.
– Align Financial Aid with Academic Progress Many students drop out because of financial difficulties, even after several years of study. States can mandate that public universities tie institutional financial aid to academic milestones, such as completing 30 credits per year. This policy encourages students to stay on track and reduces the risk of financial barriers derailing their progress.
– Eliminate teaching and public funding offrivolous electives or courses unrelated to skills in degree areas. In college, courses that do not contribute to a degree area are often referred to as electives. Some colleges deliberately cut available classroom seats in required courses. This forces students to take electives unrelated to degree areas in order to maintain full time status and their scholarship. As an example of unneeded electives found In US colleges: Cryptozoology, Getting Dressed, Sociology of Fame, Yeti Hunting, How to Watch Television, The Art of Walking, or The Amazing World of Bubbles. Some institutions use terms like freestanding courses or optional courses to describe these non-degree-related classes. They should be taught off campus, payed for the student or parent as desired but not the taxpayer. This will help bring graduation time from 5 years to 4 years, reduce cost to the tax payer and the student and boost graduation rates.
– Credentialing Teachers
Take a close look at teachers that have high attrition rates. Do they have the ability dedication and commitment to students entrusted to them to teach train and mentor so they will be successful? Evaluating retention of quality teachers is a requirement. The goal is to prepare students for life by imparting knowledge needed for critical thinking and analysis as well as training in practical contemporary skills needed in the community, state, and country.
– Conclusion Improving graduation rates is crucial for the welfare of individual students and for the nation as a whole. These recommendations would shorten time to graduation. Excessive years spent in college benefit no one and hold students back in their careers and needlessly increase students’ financial burden. Extra time-to-degree also wastes taxpayer dollars. Public schools exist to educate. They cannot properly fulfill that duty if students fail to complete their studies in a timely manner.