Graduation Rate

in3d

Does it bother anyone that the graduation rate for WGU is 22%? I'm just curious.

colemic

in3d wrote: »

Does it bother anyone that the graduation rate for WGU is 22%? I'm just curious.

No. I don't think it's a reflection on the school - they are very upfront that it is the student's responsibility to learn and progress, that it is a somewhat hands-off approach to learning.

Michael.J.Palmer

Doesn't bother me, I think the majority of folks here could graduate from WGU given that all of us are already used to dedicating a lot of time to self-study and that's essentially the key to success at WGU, you have to be self-motivated to learn as everything is self-paced, so naturally their graduation rate wouldn't be incredibly high, and this also gives more power to those that get a WGU degree as well, it feels more of an accomplishment at that rate.

jmasterj206

That is why they changed the enrollment requirements for the IT programs. You also have to consider that also includes the teaching and business schools as well. I would have to guess the IT programs are better off.

erpadmin

The statistics are skewed though.

It is "technically" correct that 22% of students are graduating, but I think that's 22% of first time students. It doesn't take into account that MOST students at WGU are transfer students, and that percentage does not take that into account.

A first-time student would have an extremely difficult time with a program like WGU. As opposed to most of us who have some college in their background, as well as the maturity to finish the program.

As I said when this 22% nonsense came up the first time (here and in the WGU communities)...the only statistic I care about is ME! As long as I graduate and get a regionally accredited degree...that's all that matters.

veritas_libertas

erpadmin wrote: »

The statistics are skewed though.

It is "technically" correct that 22% of students are graduating, but I think that's 22% of first time students. It doesn't take into account that MOST students at WGU are transfer students, and that percentage does not take that into account.

A first-time student would have an extremely difficult time with a program like WGU. As opposed to most of us who have some college in their background, as well as the maturity to finish the program.

As I said when this 22% nonsense came up the first time (here and in the WGU communities)...the only statistic I care about is ME! As long as I graduate and get a regionally accredited degree...that's all that matters.

Interesting. I had not of it this way before. I would agree, it would be very difficult for a person with no college in their background.

tpatt100

A lot of the online schools I think have this problem. Easier admission processes allow people who probably didn't anticipate the work load required or lack the capability to do the work.

erpadmin

veritas_libertas wrote: »

Interesting. I had not of it this way before. I would agree, it would be very difficult for a person with no college in their background.

https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/faces/MoreInfo.faces?schoolCode1=033394


(This is where most folks will get the graduation rate of ANY US school...but that link is WGU's info)

Here is the US Department of Education definition:

Graduation rate is the percentage of a school's first-time, first-year undergraduate students who complete their program within 150% of the published time for the program.

The transfer rate is much, much different and I would bet my salary against anyone's dollar that if the stats existed for incoming transfer students graduating WGU, the percentage would be much higher than 22% (because many of us are not and were not first-time and first year students...)

in3d

erpadmin wrote: »

The statistics are skewed though.
As long as I graduate and get a regionally accredited degree...that's all that matters.

Yeah, I thought that it might be a little off and that there would be other factors. I just thought it to be interesting to discuss as I am attending and happened to see the % doing some research. I agree that even if it were totally accurate the question is whether or not your up to the challenge of taking on such a program.

Hypntick

To hear my mentor talk about it, she's got students that will fall into that other 78%. She does gripe a good deal about trying to motivate students who really don't care. Why would you spend 6k per year to just sit around on your butt and do nothing? I'm paying for it, i'm going to get the most out of it.

Zartanasaurus

Hypntick wrote: »

To hear my mentor talk about it, she's got students that will fall into that other 78%. She does gripe a good deal about trying to motivate students who really don't care. Why would you spend 6k per year to just sit around on your butt and do nothing? I'm paying for it, i'm going to get the most out of it.

First-time students are likely to be getting a bunch of loans, grants, mommy and daddy money. Easy to not care when you don't realize you'll be paying the bill in a few years.

Devilry

I think the main reason is online school is NOT for everyone, a lot of people drop out first semester or fail out because they think online school will be a cake walk. Also I know according to some education forums, a lot of people take advantage of WGU to grab some certs and then transfer out to another university to finish up with a 'name'.

erpadmin

Devilry wrote: »

Also I know according to some education forums, a lot of people take advantage of WGU to grab some certs and then transfer out to another university to finish up with a 'name'.

When one gets a Masters from another university with a "name", no one cares about the Bachelors (though I would still put it on my resume...I'm going to be proud of my BS from WGU.)

From what I have read and still read, it is very difficult to transfer credits out of WGU to another school, even though it shouldn't be, since it is regionally accredited. However, the BS will get honored to get into a Masters program or a second BS/BA if one wanted to. I've read about several people who got into MBA programs from very decent schools with their BS from WGU (you can find those folks on LinkedIn). That's why I can defend their BS programs.

Doing WGU for certs is a total waste of money and time if you're not going to get the other stuff...especially if you had to use loans to do it.

Devilry

erpadmin wrote: »

When one gets a Masters from another university with a "name", no one cares about the Bachelors (though I would still put it on my resume...I'm going to be proud of my BS from WGU.)

From what I have read and still read, it is very difficult to transfer credits out of WGU to another school, even though it shouldn't be, since it is regionally accredited. However, the BS will get honored to get into a Masters program or a second BS/BA if one wanted to. I've read about several people who got into MBA programs from very decent schools with their BS from WGU (you can find those folks on LinkedIn). That's why I can defend their BS programs.

Doing WGU for certs is a total waste of money and time if you're not going to get the other stuff...especially if you had to use loans to do it.

I am 100% with you, I was just pointing out what people do.

I too, I am going with WGU after my A.S. at Excelsior is complete here in a couple months.

Additionally, I have verified with admissions at my local B&M school I plan to attend for my masters that they have no issues with WGU, as they shouldn't.

drew726

I was one of those guys who couldn't make it through my first school. It's not until you hit rock bottom that you realize how lucky you are to have a second chance especially with WGU's generous transfer policy. Not saying a lot of the transfer students are like me but if they are they'll relish the opportunity to finish something you couldn't do when they were younger.

One of the more disappointed feelings I ever had was when I told my parents I dropped out of college. 28 now, I didn't tell them I started attending college again but I should be graduating this November. Going to surprise them with a degree framed and put on the wall in a few months. Can't wait to see the look on their face.

Zartanasaurus

Devilry wrote: »

I am 100% with you, I was just pointing out what people do.

I too, I am going with WGU after my A.S. at Excelsior is complete here in a couple months.

Additionally, I have verified with admissions at my local B&M school I plan to attend for my masters that they have no issues with WGU, as they shouldn't.

For the most part, if your degree is accredited it will work for going into a master's program. I've heard of a school denying entry into a program based on the BS degree including credits for certs.

erpadmin

Devilry wrote: »

I am 100% with you, I was just pointing out what people do.

I too, I am going with WGU after my A.S. at Excelsior is complete here in a couple months.

Additionally, I have verified with admissions at my local B&M school I plan to attend for my masters that they have no issues with WGU, as they shouldn't.

I didn't mean to direct that at YOU, per se. I meant the general "you" and was hoping you'd read it as such.

Devilry

erpadmin wrote: »

I didn't mean to direct that at YOU, per se. I meant the general "you" and was hoping you'd read it as such.

I fully understood. No harm done.

jimilarue

in3d wrote: »

Does it bother anyone that the graduation rate for WGU is 22%? I'm just curious.

Tuition reimbursement at my job requires a class that I receive college credit, people could just be registering to take the cert exams and receive college credit for reimbursement.

xXClockwork

tpatt100 wrote: »

A lot of the online schools I think have this problem. Easier admission processes allow people who probably didn't anticipate the work load required or lack the capability to do the work.

This would be my best assessment of the situation. They must have mistaken it for a diploma mill.