Why can't we promote our schools % of graduates?
I think we should be able to sell our school by promoting our % of students who graduate!! We could say we are number 1 so come here and learn with the best.
Stephanie,
You are required to disclose your graduation rates, so as long as you aren't comparing your rates to other schools, you will be fine.
Kimberly Stein
What if the student asks about the % of graduated students, that they noticed on their fafsa information with the school they have chosen, how do we go about handling that question when our students bring that up?
I think it's imporatant to educate students on how the graduation percentage statistic is calculated. For example, if a student begins a program and changes majors and graduates from the major they changed to, it counts against the graduation rate for the first program. If a student begins a degree and transfers to another instituion and graduates, it counts against the graduation rate for the first institution. I think knowing this can help us as agents show students it is important to understand what goes into the percentage rates calculated.
I think marketing the % rate is a good idea. If this is to be implemented then there should be a standard across the board that each school must follow including the same factors etc.
I think it would be very beneficial not only as a marketing tool but I think the information should be made public in order help students feel good about their decision on a mass level.
A low drop-out rate doesn’t necessarily mean it's a good school. What is the drop-out rate at Harvard Medical School, or MIT's Electrical Engineering program? A reasonable drop-out rate means the education is worth something. If almost everyone can complete the program, how good can it be, and what is it worth on the outside? A low dropout rate could reflect very strict enrollment requirements and good teachers, but it also means more money for the school.
All schools are required to give students information about the school's placement and graduation rates prior to enrollment. While their is no prohibition against promoting your own school's success, making comparisons with other schools about these rates are difficult and can be misleading due to the number of factors that may effect how the rates are calculated.
You could, but WE are the BEST! Maybe that's why?
