It seems like nobody graduates from college in four years. As students prepare to register for yet another semester of college, or fill out their financial aid applications for the fall, they may find themselves wondering if they will ever finish.
“Graduation is a myth. Nobody ever does it,” said Rick Royster with a laugh.
Royster, who finally finished his bachelor’s degree in 2004 after seven years of full-time study, was one of many ETSU students who, for various reasons, just found themselves incapable of receiving their four-year degree in four years.
The phrase “college has been the best seven years of my life” has gone from being an old joke to becoming a reality, not just at ETSU but across the country.
University-wide, the four-year graduation rate has long hovered at roughly 15 percent (contrasted with a national average of 33 percent and falling).
The six-year graduation rate, the standard that most universities pay more attention to, stays in the 35 percent range (compared to 52 percent nationwide). Nationally, the mean time to complete a “four year degree” is now 55 months.
While ETSU’s numbers may seem low at first glance, University Registrar Paul Hayes said they’re on par with other regional institutions, such as Western Carolina and Middle Tennessee state.
Such institutions, Hayes said, are designed to have “moderate” admission standards, and their mission is “to serve a wide range of students” by giving them “a lot of options.” Further, most ETSU students work, and many of them have family obligations that also limit the amount of hours they can take.
In Fall 2004, 17.4 percent of ETSU’s undergraduate students were attending part time, while a sizeable portion of the full-time students were only taking about 12 semester hours of coursework. A total of 120-128 hours are required to graduate.
The schools with the highest four-year graduation rates tend to be the most prestigious, such as those of the Ivy League, Stanford, or the University of California.
This is commonly attributed to the fact that these colleges attract a higher caliber of student, one who comes from a more rigorous academic background, has few family obligations (if any – probably no children), will probably live on campus, and who won’t have to spend as much time working because they’ll be supported by relatives and more generous financial aid packages.
Hayes, however, said that what people often overlook is that ETSU students have a lot of different options for study, while students at many schools with higher graduation rates come in as freshmen with a more set program.
This flexibility can lead them to spend more time at school trying out different majors until they find one they’re happy with.
When it comes to raising graduation rates across the university, Hayes said that this is “a complex issue” without “an easy solution.” Each person and their situation is unique.

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