Norfolk State Graduation Rates - Should This Influence My Decision?

Hey all, I just saw Norfolk State's graduation rate and now I'm a bit confused. Is a school's graduation rate a major factor that I should consider in my college decision? What does the graduation rate really tell us about a school? Any insights would be really helpful and appreciated.

Graduation rate definitely carries weight when evaluating a potential college, but it's helpful to understand what it does and doesn't measure.

At its most basic level, a school's graduation rate is the percentage of a school's first-time, first-year undergraduate students who graduate within six years. Colleges are required to provide this information under the federal Student Right-to-Know Act. A high or increasing graduation rate generally indicates that the university provides the necessary resources, academic support, and opportunities to aid the majority of its students to successful completion of their degree.

However, a lower graduation rate does not automatically mean that a university provides a poor education. For instance, Norfolk State is a Historically Black University, and these types of schools often serve non-traditional students or those who may be the first in their families to attend college. These demographics are typically associated with lower graduation rates due to factors like full-time work, family considerations, financial constraints, etc., not necessarily because of the quality of education provided.

In other statistical contexts, a lower graduation rate could be due to larger numbers of part-time students, who often take longer to graduate, or high transfer rates, which affect graduation rates as the metric does not track students who start at one college and graduate from another.

Balance the graduation rate with other factors such as your desired major, the campus culture, academic rigor, affordability, and location that may be more directly tied to your personal college success. Ultimately, the best college for you is one that aligns with your personal and academic goals.