« How Long Does It Take Students to Graduate? »

Graduation and retention rates are important factors to consider when evaluating the price tag of a bachelor's degree. U.S. Department of Education statistics reveal that almost half of all undergraduate students enroll at more than one institution. In the process of transferring, many lose credit for courses taken and therefore take longer to finish a degree.

But even those who stay at one institution often take more than four years to graduate. According to our survey, Lutheran college alumni were far more likely to have graduated in four years than those who attended flagship public universities. Adding a fifth or sixth year of tuition onto what looked like an affordable education significantly raises the price tag – especially when you factor in the "opportunity cost" of two years of lost earning power.

Graduated in four years or less:

Lutheran College Alumni » 78% Public University Alumni » 53%

We hope that we have helped you think about the concept of value in higher education, the first step toward getting the best mileage out of your college investment. As consumers, we should always ask questions and then "test drive" the answers.