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Shocking statistics about Nathan: MN College/University graduation rates |
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By Joe Nathan
A recent, little noticed report provides some stunning, even shocking information about Minnesota’s colleges and universities. While a great deal of attention rightly has focused on our k-12 system, “Minnesota Measures: 2008 Report on Higher Education Performance,” by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education shows that improvements also are needed – urgently – in higher education. (It is on-line, at www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=1733)
The surprising news comes in looking at graduation rates, whether at Minnesota’s two or four year institutions. Let’s start with two-year programs. As of 2005, 65.7 percent of South Dakota’s students who entered a two-year institution graduated within three years. Alaska, which ranked second, had a three-year graduation rate of 57.4, and Wyoming (third) had 56.7.
Minnesota ranked 24th, with a three-year graduation rate in our community and technical colleges of 34 percent. That’s 30 percent below South Dakota. Yikes!
According to Minnesota Measures, Pine County Technical’s 2006, three year 2006 graduation rate was 45.1 percent, above the state average but still well below 50 percent of those who entered three years earlier. Another 13.5 percent transferred from Pine County to another school. Other three-year graduation rates include Alexandria Technical (58.9 percent), Anoka Technical (42.2 percent), Anoka Ramsey (14.4 percent), Central Lakes (40.3 percent) and Hennepin Tech (44.2 percent).
The picture is not a lot better with many of our four-year institutions. As of 2005, Rhode Island, (52. percent), Delaware (51.8 percent) and Massachusetts (51.2 percent) were the top three in four-year graduation. Minnesota ranks 21st – with a four year graduation rate of 35 percent!
Even extending graduation out six years, Minnesota, with a 58.0 graduation rate, ranks 18th. Massachusetts tops the nation, with 68.6 percent.
Here are a few examples of four and six year graduation rates for public and private four year colleges/universities: 2006: Augsburg College, 31.8 percent & 51.8 percent, Bemidji State 28.2 & 45.5 percent, Carleton, 88.1 percent & 92.8 percent College of St. Catherine, 39.7 & 56.9 percent, St. Cloud State, 19.3 percent & 46.0 percent, St. Olaf, 54.9 percent & 65.7 percent, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 32.5 percent & 60.7 percent, Winona State, 26.5 percent & 54.3 percent.
The report shows that Minnesota ranks 5th in the nation in percentage of 2004 high school graduates who enrolled in a two- or four-year higher education institution. That figure is 65.3 percent. About 50 percent enter a Minnesota college, with the rest going to a college or university outside Minnesota.
Comparable figures for North Dakota were (67.6 percent) and South Dakota (68.8 percent). Guess I would not have predicted that a higher percentage of high school graduates in those two states would go on to a college or university.
Overall we are doing pretty well in helping students enter higher education. But graduation rates are far too low.
While there is an achievement gap among students of different races, only 36 percent of white students who entered two-year colleges graduated in 2006, after three years (comparable figure for African Americans is 16 percent).
These are stunning, shocking statistics. We need much more discussion and action on higher education graduation rates.
Joe Nathan, a former public school teacher and administrator, directs the Center for School Change, Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota
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