Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College at America’s Public Universities (The William G. Bowen Series, 52)

Product Description

Why so many of America’s public university students are not graduating―and what to do about itThe United States has long been a model for accessible, affordable education, as exemplified by the country’s public universities. And yet less than 60 percent of the students entering American universities today are graduating. Why is this happening, and what can be done? Crossing the Finish Line provides the most detailed exploration ever of college completion at America’s public universities. This groundbreaking book sheds light on such serious issues as dropout rates linked to race, gender, and socioeconomic status.Probing graduation rates at twenty-one flagship public universities and four statewide systems of public higher education, the authors focus on the progress of students in the entering class of 1999―from entry to graduation, transfer, or withdrawal. They examine the effects of parental education, family income, race and gender, high school grades, test scores, financial aid, and characteristics of universities attended (especially their selectivity). The conclusions are compelling: minority students and students from poor families have markedly lower graduation rates―and take longer to earn degrees―even when other variables are taken into account. Noting the strong performance of transfer students and the effects of financial constraints on student retention, the authors call for improved transfer and financial aid policies, and suggest ways of improving the sorting processes that match students to institutions.An outstanding combination of evidence and analysis, Crossing the Finish Line should be read by everyone who cares about the nation’s higher education system.

Review

“Among the book’s central themes: Large disparities exist in graduation rates by gender, ethnicity, and family income, even after accounting for differences in standardized test scores and high-school preparation. That is not exactly news, but the book grounds those findings in an unusually rich set of data. . . . Mr. Bowen and his colleagues put forward two arguments that are likely to fuel debate for several years. . . . The first argument is that money matters. . . . The second argument is that admissions offices should downplay the SAT and ACT, and instead lean heavily on students’ high school grades. . . . The tuition and SAT debates are, of course, evergreens of education policy, and they might still be running long after everyone who reads this article is dead. But some of the most provocative sections of
Crossing the Finish Line have to do with a third, less familiar debate: Why, exactly, are graduation rates stronger at selective colleges?”
—David Glenn, Chronicle of Higher Education

“Identifying the causes of the college dropout crisis matters enormously, and [
Crossing the Finish Line] tries to do precisely that. . . . For all the book’s alarming statistics, its message is ultimately uplifting–or at least invigorating. . . .
Crossing the Finish Line makes it clear that we can do better.”
—David Leonhardt, New York Times

“An important and insightful analysis of a major issue for contemporary America. . . . The authors succeed in portraying the problem and its solutions in a dense, evidence-based study, a complex yet well-structured and readable work that is essential for those interested in higher education and public policy.”
—Elizabeth Hayford, Library Journal

“While I most highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in higher education policy issues in general, and college graduation in particular, higher education researchers and analysts will find this book to be particularly useful as a springboard to other relevant studies focusing on issues such as the effect of high-tuition/high-aid policy or in-depth analysis on the issues related to over-matched and under-matched students.”
—Dongbin Kim, Higher Education Journal

“A wealth of fresh insights and research.”
—Mark Harper, Daytona Ne