Bridge Magazine published the following recently:
“While Michigan is about average at getting students into two- and four-year colleges, the state does a lousy job keeping them there long enough to earn a degree. In fact, almost one-in-four Michigan adults 25 or older have some college credits but no degree, according to a Bridge Magazine analysis of U.S. Census data. That’s the highest college dropout rate in the Midwest.
Nationally, Michigan ranks 15th in the percent of high school grads entering two- or four-year college (61 percent), but drops to 32nd in graduation rates for bachelor’s degrees after six years (51 percent).
Michigan ranks 47th in the nation in three-year completion rates for Associate’s degrees (15 percent).”
More time needs to be spend trying to get better at keeping students enrolled once we get them to a community college or university and helping them with unexpected personal expenses that might force them to delay or not complete their degrees. Michigan is shockingly ranked 47th in the nation in three year completion rates. That is not good. We also need to get “above average” in getting more high school students enrolled in two year and 4 year programs and then making sure they get all the resources they need to complete their degree. Getting a handle on assuring that students can get their first two years of college completed at a community college with no tuition (based on economic need) would be huge step for the above problems and concerns.