The rate at private colleges remains 75.1 percent, one full point above the low percentage reached in 1996. Unless they're offered and take advantage of course-placement recommendations and participate in developmental courses and other support services, they can quickly find themselves in over their heads. The improved return rates of the last few years may be due to these efforts. Although more students are remaining where they first enroll, the percentage earning a bachelor's degree within five years continues to slip and is now at 51.2, four-tenths of a percent below the figure reported last year. The rate at which public-college students graduate within five years has dropped to 41.9 percent, while the private rate has slipped to 55.5 percent.
All figures are record lows.
In addition, students may take additional time identifying a college major which lengthens the sequences of courses they must take. Finally, economic factors can play a significant part in the length of time it takes students to complete a bachelor's degree. Part-time enrollment tends to lengthen the average time students take to complete their degrees. During the tight labor market of the past few years, some have postponed their studies to take advantage of jobs offering good salaries, particularly in high-tech fields. The return rate at public two-year colleges has also reached a new low of 52 percent.