Holy Sheepskin!!
I knew N’awlins was laid back, but 8%?
Yes, the no doubt unwanted notoriety of the college with the lowest graduation rate belongs to Southern University at New Orleans. Put another way, 92% of the students paying tuition end up with nothing more than a “y-all come back, now,” as SUNO pockets the proceeds of failed promise.
Don’t be too appalled. It’s not a whole lot better elsewhere.
The Department of Education released its “Diplomas and Dropouts” report on higher education, and has catalogued the results for easy reference by university. A nice wrap up of the report appeared two days ago in USA Today. Is it that bad everywhere? Yes mostly. Though schools at the top of graduation rates, those well into the 90th percentile are familiar names–Harvard, MIT, Yale, Princeton, Georgetown, etc.–the rest of the reporting schools drag the overall graduation rate back down to 53%. The last school I attended for my Master’s degree, Kent State, scored at 49%. Half of all new enrollees left without the sheepskin.
What conclusions are we to draw from this? The Department of Education, steering wide of its own data offers several disclaimers as to sample size (1400 schools), lack of data on transfer students and that “schools should not be unfairly penalized for maintaining high standards.” What?
I, on the other hand, see this study as yet another example of why the idea of “college” over the past twenty years has grown from an aspiration for a portion of high school graduates to a “must” for nearly everyone, regardless of ability, commitment or ambition. Here is what I glean from the report:
- There is a reason that “name” schools score high. Most students at these schools are focused and committed to educational achievement, which might lead to a career or job, but is likely not the main reason for attendance
- Likewise, there is a reason that low-scoring schools fail to graduate–students are less committed to academic rigors, and have been persuaded by overbearing parents and societal “norms” that everyone must go to college
- If you want a four year degree you can surely get one, online even. The failure to complete degree work is telling. Many students would rather be somewhere else and be doing something else.
College, as I have said repeatedly in this blog, is not for everyone, and this study proves up the point. If your kid enjoys hair design, carpentry or tinkering in the garage, there are great jobs and careers waiting. It is an absolute myth that a college degree will earn you more, or that it will account in a million dollars more in increased lifetime earnings. If college and academic life do not appeal to your son or daughter, why force it? There is plenty of opportunity, happiness and fulfillment elsewhere.
Note to the Southern University of New Orleans: Close down.
What do you believe? Is college right for your son or daughter, or is some other pursuit more likely?
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