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Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ No. 1 in U.S. for Improved Grad Rates

The university tops The Chronicle of Higher Education’s “Fast Gainers� list.

Friday, December 17, 2010
Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­s six-year graduation rates improved from 44 percent in 2003 to 61 percent in 2008.
Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­s six-year graduation rates improved from 44 percent in 2003 to 61 percent in 2008.

Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ is among the fastest gainers in graduation rates according to a new analysis by The Chronicle of Higher Education. shows Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ atop the list of all public research universities in the nation for increased graduation rates with an increase of 17 percentage points over six years. 

Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s six-year graduation rates (the national reporting standard) improved from 44 percent in 2003 to 61 percent in 2008. 

Longer-term look shows even more impressive gains

A longer look at Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s graduation rates reveals an even more impressive 28 percentage point increase:  from 38 percent in 2002 to 66 percent in 2010, well exceeding the national average of 55 percent. This occurred while approximately one-third of all four-year universities saw their graduation rates decrease, according to the Chronicle.

Graduation Rates Chart
Graduation Rates Chart

Even more impressive is the percentage increase in graduation rates by Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s ethnically diverse students, up from 33 percent in 2002 to 65 percent in 2010 — exceeding the rate of increase by students as a whole. 

“This accomplishment speaks volumes about Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s outstanding students,â€� said Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ President Stephen Weber.  â€�Every aspect of our university is in some way focused on this outcome — making sure our students succeed and earn their degrees.â€�

Policy changes only part of effort

A watershed moment was a campus-wide decision shortly after President Weber’s arrival in 1996 to make significant changes to its admissions process. Beginning in 1999, the university applied more selective criteria — applicants meeting California State University minimum qualifications were no longer assured a spot in Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s freshman class.  

But policy changes like enrollment management was only a part of the effort. Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ also re-engineered its network of student support, including:

  • Making freshmen orientation mandatory
  • Introducing a “bounce-backâ€� program for struggling students
  • Offering more counseling
  • Expanding its Honors Program
  • Creating international opportunities
  • Increasing financial aid 

Campus culture shift

“There isn’t just one program that affected this change, but an entire culture shift university-wide that makes student achievement an imperative,â€� said Geoff Chase, dean of Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s who heads the university’s committee to improve graduation rates. 

And it’s not just students or the university who benefit from increased graduation rates. All citizens of California have a vested interest in student success. Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­'s 28-percentage-point increase means an additional 1,018 students graduated this year than would have at the previous rate.

“These graduates go on to produce an average $1.5 million additional income during their lifetimes, contributing to the local and state economy,� Weber said.

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