Experts say graduation rate data flawed

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While Sinclair has consistently ranked as one of the nation’s top community colleges, it has a graduation rate of 9 percent. Ohio’s four-year schools have a graduation rate of about 60 percent, and for two-year schools it’s 9 percent.

“The national graduation rate data … is flawed. It’s really bad data,” said David Hopkins, president of Wright State University.

WSU’s graduation rate is 45 percent.

“It’s been used so inappropriately. I think it’s been held up as an indicator of quality of an institution. It’s time we come up with a better indicator of student success,” Hopkins said.

College officials say their schools do not receive credit for graduating some students who reflect more of their population, such as laid-off workers returning to gain new skills or military members who attend part-time.

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