Why so many of America's public university students are not
graduating--and what to do about it
The United States has long been a model for accessible, affordable
education, as exemplified by the country's public universities. And yet
less than 60 percent of the students entering American universities
today are graduating. Why is this happening, and what can be done?
Crossing the Finish Line provides the most detailed exploration ever
of college completion at America's public universities. This
groundbreaking book sheds light on such serious issues as dropout rates
linked to race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
Probing graduation rates at twenty-one flagship public universities and
four statewide systems of public higher education, the authors focus on
the progress of students in the entering class of 1999--from entry to
graduation, transfer, or withdrawal. They examine the effects of
parental education, family income, race and gender, high school grades,
test scores, financial aid, and characteristics of universities attended
(especially their selectivity). The conclusions are compelling: minority
students and students from poor families have markedly lower graduation
rates--and take longer to earn degrees--even when other variables are
taken into account. Noting the strong performance of transfer students
and the effects of financial constraints on student retention, the
authors call for improved transfer and financial aid policies, and
suggest ways of improving the sorting processes that match students to
institutions.
An outstanding combination of evidence and analysis, Crossing the
Finish Line should be read by everyone who cares about the nation's
higher education system.
