More ‘nontraditional’ grads complete college, IU study discovers

According to a report by the IU Project on Academic Success and the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, the number of graduating college students is higher than is usually indicated when considering nontraditional paths to graduation.

In fall of 2006, 42 percent of students beginning college earned a degree or certificate from that same college within six years, according to the report. When nontraditional paths are taken into account, however, that number rises to 54 percent.

“In addition, it shows results for students who attended part-time or full-time throughout their studies, and also for the many students who enrolled full-time during some terms and part-time during others,” said Mary Ziskin, senior associate director for the Project on Academic Success, in a press release.

“Using this approach, the report provides a close look at the complexity of student pathways, and this makes a difference in how we understand college completion.”
The researchers received information from more than 3,300 higher-education institutions.

— Sydney Murray