What’s Magical About Four Years? Assessing the Effects of Timely Graduation on Learning Outcomes

• In Event: Factors Influencing Retention in Postsecondary Education

Abstract

The higher education accountability agenda places great emphasis on time to degree, however no previous research has analyzed whether students that graduate in four years display greater gains in cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes of college than their peers who take longer to graduate. This study addresses this gap using data from the Wabash National Study of Liberal Arts Education.

Authors

• Dustin D. Weeden, University of Iowa

• Benjamin Gillig, University of Iowa

• Teniell L. Trolian, University of Iowa

• Ernest T. Pascarella, University of Iowa