The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price

Graduation Rates

When evaluating schools, any high school student should examine graduation rates at individual institutions. Nobody relishes paying tuition for more than four years, but some schools do a better job of timely graduation than others. What’s even worse is when students abandon college with no diploma, but plenty of student loans.

Studies have shown that the graduation issue is even more crucial for minority students. At public flagship universities across the country, for instance, 68% of white students graduate in six years, but only 58% of minorities cross the finish line.

Money explains one possible reason for the disparity. Flagship universities are using more of their money to persuade affluent students with impressive academic ...