| 32% GSC STUDENTS GET BACHELOR'S AFTER SIX YEARS
By Dianne Weaver
In addition to the state's public school system being near the bottom with student achievement, state colleges and universities have a big hill to climb to improve graduation rates.
State Higher Education Chancellor Brian Noland told a legislative finance committee last year that the numbers don't lie.
Education officials have said that part of the problem is that high school graduates are poorly prepared for college.
Educational outcomes for WV high school students are among the worst in the nation.
Noland said out of every 100 9th graders in West Virginia only 72 graduate from high school.
He says of those, 43 go to college and of those only 17 graduate from college on time.
"Not enough of our students graduate. Not enough of our students who enroll in our institutions receive degrees and unfortunately too many of those students borrow," said Noland.
The latest statistics show 63 percent of college students in the state borrow an average of $4,000 a year to get through, and with the economy it the pits, education costs are pounding graduates who can't find a job.
The Higher Education Policy Commission says Glenville State College's graduation rate is 32.8% over a six year period.
The Onveon Education site says graduation rates at Glenville State College for a Bachelor's degree at a four year rate is 12-16%. At a five year rate of attendance, 24% of students get a degree.
Six Year Graduation Rates (latest 2004 statistic from WV Higher Education Policy Commission):
WVU - 58.9%
Marshall - 48.4%
Shepherd University - 44.5%
West Liberty University - 39.4%
Fairmont University - 38.1%
Concord College - 36.9%
WVU Institute of Technology - 35.2%
Glenville State - 32.8%
West Virginia State University - 22.4%
Bluefield State College - 14.5%
See related stories WV FAILS TO REACH COLLEGE GRADUATION RATES
MOUNTAIN STATE UNIVERSITY DUBBED 'DROP-OUT FACTORY'
STATE COLLEGE ENROLLMENT AT RECORD HIGH - WV At Bottom In Graduation Rates
| 
