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Colleges With the Best 4-Year Graduation Rates

By U.S. News & World Report

While many students stress about getting into college, the real challenge for some is finishing their education.

The six-year graduation rate was 59 percent for first-time, full-time undergraduate students who started working toward a bachelor’s degree in 2009, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Financial troubles, a failed class or two, or a change in major, among other reasons, can prevent students from graduating in four or even six years. Students at some schools, however, are especially keen on sticking to the traditional four-year plan.

[Avoid an extra year of college.]

Pomona College in California had a 92 percent four-year graduation rate among first-time, full-time bachelor’s-degree-seeking students who started school in 2010. It had the highest four-year graduation rate among 1,242 ranked schools that submitted these data to U.S. News in an annual survey.

At 89 percent, Princeton University in New Jersey is the highest-ranked school and only Ivy League institution on the list of 11 schools, including ties, with the highest graduation rates. Six other schools — including Bowdoin College in Maine and Hamilton College in New York — also had this graduation rate.

[Know the risk factors for delaying graduation and accumulating debt.]

The average four-year graduation rate among all schools that submitted these data is 42 percent. For the top 11 schools, the average is 90 percent.

Below are the 11 colleges and universities with the highest four-year graduation rates among first-time, full-time students who started school in fall 2010. Unranked schools, which did not meet certain criteria required by U.S. News to be numerically ranked, were not considered for this report.

School name (state) 4-year graduation rate U.S. News rank and category
Pomona College (CA) 92% 6 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges
Davidson College (NC) 90% 10 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges
Georgetown University (DC) 90% 20, National Universities
University of Notre Dame (IN) 90% 18 (tie), National Universities
Boston College 89% 32 (tie), National Universities
Bowdoin College (ME) 89% 3 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges
College of the Holy Cross (MA) 89% 33 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges
Hamilton College (NY) 89% 18 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges
Kenyon College (OH) 89% 26 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges
Princeton University (NJ) 89% 1, National Universities
University of Chicago 89% 3 (tie), National Universities

Don’t see your school in the top 10? Access the U.S. News College Compass to find graduation rate data, complete rankings and much more. Sign up for the U.S. News Extra Help: College Admissions free email newsletter to receive expert advice twice a month.

U.S. News surveyed more than 1,800 colleges and universities for our 2017 survey of undergraduate programs. Schools self-reported myriad data regarding their academic programs and the makeup of their student body, among other areas, making U.S. News’ data the most accurate and detailed collection of college facts and figures of its kind. While U.S. News uses much of this survey data to rank schools for our annual Best Colleges rankings, the data can also be useful when examined on a smaller scale. U.S. News will now produce lists of data, separate from the overall rankings, meant to provide students and parents a means to find which schools excel, or have room to grow, in specific areas that are important to them. While the data come from the schools themselves, these lists are not related to, and have no influence over, U.S. News’ rankings of Best Colleges, Best Graduate Schools or Best Online Programs. The graduation rate data above are correct as of Dec. 12, 2017.

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Colleges With the Best 4-Year Graduation Rates originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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