After six years, it's only a bit more than half

[ironman2012]

Hi,

Just 10 percent of students graduate from this public university in four years. After six years, it's only a bit more than half.

(This comes from npr.org How To Fix A Graduation Rate Of 1 In 10? Ask The Dropouts on May 28, 2016.)

Does the blue part mean: the graduate rate now is 10%. In 2022, the rate will be a bit more than 50%?

Thanks in advance!

 

[JulianStuart]

After six years of attendance, the graduation rate is only a little bit more than 50%.

 

[gazrj01]

After sticking it out for for years, only 10% graduate. But for those who persevere, perhaps repeat subjects and stay for six years, then a bit more than 50% of those students will graduate.

That's the way I interpret it. It's awkwardly written, that's the problem.

 

[Cagey]

After sticking it out for for years, only 10% graduate. But for those who persevere, perhaps repeat subjects and stay for six years, then a bit more than 50% of those students will graduate.

That's the way I interpret it. It's awkwardly written, that's the problem.

No, the regular undergraduate degree is expected to take 4 years. However, for various reasons,* students are taking longer than that to complete their degrees, or they are not completing the degrees at all.

*The article is about an effort being made to identify the problems students face by talking to the students who drop out -- who don't complete their degrees at all. The hope is that once these impediments to graduation are identified, people can takes steps to remove them.

 

[gazrj01]

I think that is more or less what I said, Cagey, only phrased differently. We are both agreeing that for those who stay 4 years (the expected length of the degree) only 10% graduate. For those who stay longer, about 50% graduate after 6 years of study.

"Just 10 percent of students graduate from this public university in four years. After six years, it's only a bit more than half.

Think about that — of 100 students who enrolled four years ago, only 10 will walk across the stage this year."

 

[Cagey]

I understood you to be saying that the people who stayed longer were in programs that required more years of study.
All these students are in the same program, working toward the same 4-year degree.

But perhaps I misunderstood you.

Edit: My apologies. I was responding to the post below without noticing that you had eidted it while I was writing my post:

It means that if the course runs for 4 years (regular undergraduate degree), only 10% graduate. If it is a six-year course , then a bit more than 50% graduate from those courses (probably medicine or law).

 

[gazrj01]

No there is a misunderstanding. What I meant is what you surmise. Same students in same degree. Having taught in a University for 15 years, I understand the problem quite well. However, the failure to complete rate astounds me. In my country a dropout rate of 15% is unacceptable, and the degree coordinator must explain the reasons for losing 1 in 6 students.