I do hope that UMBC can improve their graduation rate. The school has so much going for it including an awesome president.

As UMCP is becoming increasingly selective, UMBC is bound to become the school that more and more quality students will choose when they don't get into UMCP.

Anonymous wrote:UVA 94%
W&M 90%
VA tech 82%
JMU 82%
G. Mason 67%
Radford 58%
ODU 51%

UMD 84%
UofM, Baltimore 92%
Towson 68%
Salisbury 66%
U of Baltimore 64%
UMBC 61%

That's a professional school - law, medical, pharmacy...etc.. Not a 4-year undergrad college like others.

UVA 94%
W&M 90%
VA tech 82%
JMU 82%
G. Mason 67%
Radford 58%
ODU 51%

UMD 84%
UofM, Baltimore 92%
Towson 68%
Salisbury 66%
U of Baltimore 64%
UMBC 61%

I think you folks are trying too hard to defend low 4yr grad rate. Sometimes it is what it is - UMBC’s rate is low. It’s not due to any specific circumstances unique to UMBC. The reasons are “all of the above” including poor performing kids and school quality.

Most students that drop out do do for financial reasons.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

four year graduation rate for UMBC is 39%

Because students work instead of pledge.

Anonymous wrote:New here. What does UMBC stand for?

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AT BALTIMORE COUNTY

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If students can’t graduate, no matter how “good” the school is, in the end, it doesn’t serve students.

The average 4-year graduation rate for public colleges in the US is 33.3%.

Stop giving rational responses to the UMBC bashing lunatic.

Such a stupid response. There are Over 4000 colleges in US. Outside of top 100/200 schools, the quality of schools drop off real fast. If you think comparing your school’s performance to national avg is rational, then your expectation is too low.

New here. What does UMBC stand for?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If students can’t graduate, no matter how “good” the school is, in the end, it doesn’t serve students.

The average 4-year graduation rate for public colleges in the US is 33.3%.

Stop giving rational responses to the UMBC bashing lunatic.

Maybe it would be interesting to see a 7 or 8 year graduation rate then. As long as people finish, somewhere, it doesn't really matter how long it takes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If students can’t graduate, no matter how “good” the school is, in the end, it doesn’t serve students.

The average 4-year graduation rate for public colleges in the US is 33.3%.

Stop giving rational responses to the UMBC bashing lunatic.

Anonymous wrote:If students can’t graduate, no matter how “good” the school is, in the end, it doesn’t serve students.

The average 4-year graduation rate for public colleges in the US is 33.3%.

If students can’t graduate, no matter how “good” the school is, in the end, it doesn’t serve students.

It isn’t broken. The school has a lot of students who work so it will take them longer to graduate. I took some graduate classes and was very impressed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

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.

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.

and precisely how do you suggest they do that?

Because I don’t have that answer they don’t need to bother? It is a college’s job to educate its students. Grad rates this low means something is broken. I’m not saying it’s easy or confined to UMBC. But it’s not working for far too many kids.