Why is UMBC’s graduation rate so low?
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Anonymous
| Only about 60% of incoming students graduate. Of the 40% who leave, 12% transferred. Does anyone know why this rate is so high? I want to like my in-state options, but this is disappointing! |
Anonymous
| A significant number of first-gen, low-income, students with multiple obligations. |
Anonymous
| Isn't mostly a commuter college? |
Anonymous
| Because it’s UMBC no matter what some people say here. It’s a school far below UMDCP and about 1/2 step above comm colleges. |
Anonymous
four year graduation rate for UMBC is 39% |
Anonymous
| It's basically a glorified community college. It serves an important role, but it's not the same as College Park. |
Anonymous
|
UMBC serves a couple of different populations - commuter school (with perhaps longer than 4 year plans), placeholder before transfer to another school (often UMD-CP), and intended 4 year, residential program.
35% Full-time, on campus residential 50% Full-time, commuter 15% part-time, commuter https://umbc.app.box.com/s/xxavs61krzfcyx15yt25uhhnlwyxs8on For the fall 2013 New Freshman cohort, 1 yr retention is 89%, but after 2 yrs drops to 79%. I think a lot of that drop is transferring out. 4 yr graduation is 41.9%, but 5 yr graduation is 63.4%. Perhaps to be expected with a lot of commuters? https://umbc.app.box.com/s/05wn8kwrjswfesxtfdv3pn1zmk5snno3 For the fall 2013 Transfer cohort, 1 yr retention is 85%, but after 2 yrs drops to 59%. That says to me that a lot of students are either transferring out or graduating. But the 4 year graduation rate is 64.8%, which seems to say that almost everyone who stays, graduates. (And some must be returning for the number to go back up.) https://umbc.app.box.com/s/wkuj1yp5uk9p2l6qc9jkx84w82eogbax If you look at the degree program enrollments, UMBC clearly has some specific degrees that are in high demand, and I know that they have been growing some of their Science and Engineering programs. A lot of that growth has been due to UMD-CP overflow. There are far more interested students than UMD-CP can take, and a lot of them get into UMBC but not UMD-CP. (And some students actually prefer UMBC over UMD-CP because of the smaller campus and focused programs.) https://umbc.app.box.com/s/ajjivgcjkdmp8vjsubbhap38rm07wta4 I wouldn't write off UMBC based on overall statistics. There are absolutely some great programs with great student outcomes. However, when you do look and consider UMBC, it is absolutely worth asking some specific questions about the program you are interested in and those outcomes. |
Anonymous
| Many are poor. They are trying their best. |
Anonymous
UMBC is a school that has a very large contingent of lower income, first-gen, commuters, and/or underrepresented minorities. They often have to work many hours, commute to school from a far distance, and face barriers to success that higher income students do not. |
Anonymous
True but the school needs to figure it out. It serves no one when a kid doesn’t graduate and walks away in debt and having lost years of earnings potential. |
Anonymous
That is why the kids do not graduate in 4 years. They are working AND going to school. Some take semesters off. People on DCUM are clueless. |
Anonymous
and precisely how do you suggest they do that? |
Anonymous
Well DCUM wants better stats! 
And by poor, many of them are legit working class. Not in pell grant status. It is just something the rich snobs around here can not grasp. Not to mention UMBC is MORE expensive than UMCP. |
Anonymous
I did two semesters there as a young single mom. I wanted to finish my degree near family. To my amazement, a large out of state university offered a lot more options in my situation. |
Anonymous
I agree that people here don't understand. I am there a lot and most of the students work, some work on campus, some at Safeway, many commute and work. It is a good school that welcomes all students from all strata, a solid, good college, not a snob college. |