Two years, two summer sessions, graduate.

I think it depends on the school. I don't have experience with a small school so cannot speak to that. I have a DS who switched schools within the university after freshman year. New school and major meant 15 credits from freshman year- a full semester-were useless. DS then took 18 credits and a winter session to catch up in the new major. But just as DS is about to start his last year, the advisor tells him he's missing a prereq for a class that this year is only offered in fall. Only option for DS to graduate on time is to change major one more time so he can get out in 4 years. Not kidding. My experience with this school is they have no incentive to push the kids out in 4 years. The advisor seemed unfazed that my DS would have to come back after 4 years. The advisor also seemed to pay no mind when my DS would review his schedule every semester, so no one was double checking. I think when kids have to declare a major before starting college, and then heaven forbid, switch gears, it can be very, very difficult to get out in 4 years. Staying longer is more profitable for the schools.

The average bachelor's degree takes more than 5 years to complete, so I wouldn't be surprised if the STEM average was even longer.

https://nscnews.org/the-new-reality-for-college-students-earning-a-bachelors-degree-takes-5-to-6-years-and-students-attend-multiple-institutions/

I did two majors (a language + econ BS) plus a tack-on masters BS/MS econ program in 4 years plus two study abroads, and that was back in 2001 grad year.

I don't know anyone who needed additional years, just some HS friends who went to Big 10 state schools and wouldn't commit to a major.

Anonymous wrote:My DD is finishing up her junior year. She is a STEM student. We have been saving our whole lives to pay for her college and currently have 210K planning on 60 or 70K a year. Figured we could save most of the 4th year tuition by the time she gets there.

That said I recently discovered that it is common for many STEM students to take 6 years to graduate college.

How did I miss that?

Did you all know that 6 years to graduate college is a thing?

No. 4 years. then work or grad school.
Core AP class credit can get it to 3 or 3.5.
Don't read generic articles and make conclusions. If you want the data, get the raw data and run it yourself. Media is full of BS and select figures.
My kid just did 4 years at XYZ Bio-chem and now is going back in for 1 years masters. At even more money! And have you seen law school at $80-100k a year! We make our kids pay half of grad school in order to have some skin in the game and make sensible decisions with consequences.

Anonymous wrote:"In my experience the kids taking 5-6 years are immature as hell who weren't college ready material and need remedial and retakes after failing courses."

You don't have to be all of those things to take 5-6 years. You can be immature OR not be ready for a non-selective school OR be ready for college but have gained admittance to a top level school from a low level HS and need remedial work. I would add that many students would benefit from some tough love counseling about majors and/or more schools should admit by major.

If they are not ready to complete college in 4 years, then they should start a community college and transfer in a year or two when they are mature enough and ready for a university.

Colleges are too unreasonably overpriced (more than a middle class house in most places) to spend more than 4 years earning your degree

At today's prices, Hell. No.

"In my experience the kids taking 5-6 years are immature as hell who weren't college ready material and need remedial and retakes after failing courses."

You don't have to be all of those things to take 5-6 years. You can be immature OR not be ready for a non-selective school OR be ready for college but have gained admittance to a top level school from a low level HS and need remedial work. I would add that many students would benefit from some tough love counseling about majors and/or more schools should admit by major.

Anonymous wrote:In CA, it's out of control. Students have less control in core courses when they close. Those who do summer sessions can escape 4+ years. But then, that's more than 4 yrs right there. It's not always students' fault. And $chool$ don't mind 4+ year$.

Bingo. Profits, profits, profits! How convenient.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nah. We hire engineers (chemical, petroleum and electrical are what we hire) and I'd say the vast majority graduate in 4 years. I haven't seen one who graduated late in fact.

STEM masters degrees though are frequently 3 year programs though. Too intense and the thesis papers are too large to complete in 2 years.

Nobody hires STEM majors and asks this information.

PP here. I see the resumes so that's where I'm getting my information from.

Nobody puts years to graduate on their resume.

Pp here. I can do basic math. Graduated high school in 2010 and college in 2014 and masters in 2016 for instance.

Anonymous wrote:I think some of the huge state Us might be fine with students taking less than a full load of courses, but I don't think that's the case in Virginia. UVA has you graduate in 4 unless you are adding on a graduate degree.

But of course - UVA is perfect.