CSUSB’s four-year graduation rates have become shockingly low. It is now more common for students to get their bachelor’s degrees in six years.
In 2017, the four-year graduation rate was at 14 percent and the six-year graduation rate was at 54 percent.
Graduating in four years is every student’s goal. Why is it that students are having trouble finishing in four years?
Jasmine Jimenez planned on graduating college in four years when she was admitted to CSUSB, but time management got the best of her.
“I was so bad at handling my time,” said Jimenez. “I spent too much time invested in my social life that I fell behind with my classes.”
Entering her fifth year, Jimenez decided she wouldn’t let this hinder her and forced herself to manage her time better.
“I disciplined myself to put my education before my social life,” said Jimenez. “Now I’m on track to graduating this Spring.”
CSUSB is not the only university in the California State system with low four-year graduation rates. Cal State Long Beach comes in at 16 percent and Cal State Dominguez Hills – which had the lowest graduation rate in 2016—comes in at 11.5 percent.
Not being a be able to afford school is another problem students face.
Ariah Muller has to support herself financially and feels this set her graduation date back. Like her, many students have to worry about their jobs on top of their classes.
“I’m not able to dedicate all my time solely to school because I have to maintain a full-time job,” said Muller. “Because of this, I can’t take as many classes as I need to graduate in four years.”
CSUSB offers advisors that you can meet with to make graduating smoother.
CSUSB alumni Kenny Aguilar, who graduated with a bachelor’s in nursing in 2014, was not aware of on-campus advising resources.
“The major was impacted so trying to get classes was horrible,” said Aguilar. “I wish I had some guidance because trying to figure everything out myself was super stressful.”
Aware of the low four-year graduation rates, the CSU system is implementing the Graduation Initiative 2025.
The goal of the initiative is to “ensure that all students have the opportunity to graduate in a timely manner according to their personal goals, positively impacting their future and producing the graduates needed to power California and the nation,” according to CSU’s official website.
“Academic advising is working hard to help students graduate on time and most importantly understand their program requirements, course offerings and addressing life after graduation,” Ellison said.
As of now, progress is being made in the CSU system as a whole. In 2016 the freshman four-year graduation rate was 19 percent and in 2018 it was 25 percent.
I graduated from High School in 2016 and will graduate this Spring 2019, so this means it only took me 3 years to graduate with my degree. I had recieved AP credit from High School so that helped me get a head start when I entered CSUSB. I joined the 4 year pledge program where you are given priority registration if you commit to taking at least 15 units each quarter. This helped me pick the classes I needed without worrying about them being full. Students looking to graduating faster should look into the program. I also have a job, but I was able to manage all my school work, even if it meant staying up all night many times each quarter. Students should also look to take GE classes at Community Colleges in the summer, where they are much less expensive than summer classes at CSUSB. Students just need to make sure to fill out a Concurrent Enrollmenst form from the Registrar’s office. I took 3 Summer Classes at RCC and was able to get ahead on my units. By taking 15 units each quarter, students should be able to graduate in 4 years or less. My motivation to graduate early in 3 years is that I dislike my fast food job I have right now, so graduating earlier means I can now apply to jobs where having a Bachelor’s degree is a requirement, like being a Substitute Teacher. Students should aim to take 15 units each quarter if they want to graduate in 4 years.
The 4-year graduation rates have not “become” shockingly low, as indicated in this article. These rates are, in fact improving, from 12% a few years ago. There are many, many reasons students can’t finish in four years, but the University is working hard to help students graduate more quickly. Be sure to see your advisor, use your 4 year plan/MyCap, and best wishes for a successful undergraduate career.