Five year graduation rate becoming the norm

Cassie Tritt, Staff Reporter

There has been a growing trend among students attending the UW-La Crosse who take five years to complete their Bachelor’s degree, than the typical four. With the pressure to graduate on time and higher tuition than ever, it has become more common for students to stay beyond four years to finish their program. “We know that students are probably working more while they are in school and in some cases, students are taking less credits to accommodate to their work load,” said Interim Director, Tim Tritch, in the Academic Advising Center. He also pointed out that a survey was done in the past, and students had listed employment as the number one contributing factor in graduating on time. Many students are furthering their education and paying additional money to attend college when, sometimes, it is unnecessary. “Coming in as a freshman is challenging enough, and then they expect you to know what classes to take so you can plan out the rest of your life,” freshman Katheryn Horne added. With the help of advisors in choosing the right classes to take, some can avoid the extra stress and money that comes along with returning for a fifth or sixth year. In 2007, 36 percent of fourth-year students graduated, 64 percent of fifth-year students graduated and 69 percent of sixth-year students graduated. Six year graduation rates over the past decade have fluctuated from around 60 to 70 percent of students taking longer to earn their degrees. Not just UW-L, but the entire UW system has taken a closer look at the increasing trend among students who study longer. For new freshmen entering full-time in 2004, it was reported that 60.4 percent of students in the UW System graduated in six years, compared to other national, public four-year institutions who reported 56.1 percent. Deciding to transfer, changing majors or even not knowing what to do after college, all contribute to the time it takes to finish a four-year program in four years. Transfer student Logan Gueths stated, “Transferring schools was the best decision I’ve made so far, so going to school an extra year doesn’t faze me.” Most of the concern about going to school longer isn’t among current students, but within faculty and future students planning to attend UW-L. The problem with students staying longer is that campus becomes more crowded, and classes tend to fill up quicker. Students applying to colleges may not necessarily want to come to a large campus or have to wait to get into courses because they’ve already met capacity. With the concern about graduating in four years growing more and more, is graduating in four years really realistic anymore? As statistics are higher than ever, and college debt is piling up, there is no doubt why this topic has become such a target issue across the UW System.