Just how long should it take to earn a four-year degree? Through the years, four years has always been the standard - that's why we call it a four-year degree. It's easy to assume that's how long it will take you at the college of your choice. After all, you only spent one year in 11th grade and, no matter how much you enjoy it, you probably don't expect to be a senior for more than a year. Why should college be any different?

How long does a four-year degree take? It's not a trick question, but the answers may surprise you. Among recent public university graduates, the norm is for students to take 5-6 years. Where data is publicly available, it's not unusual to find that approximately one-quarter of all full-time students at public universities finish a degree in four years. In fact, the NCAA and most other official statistics now refer to six-year graduation rates.

What happened to the four-year degree? Here are three commonly cited explanations:

1. Course availability: despite large lecture auditoriums, class sections in the most popular majors are often limited. Students simply can't always get the courses they need when they need them.
2. Faculty-student interaction and academic advisement: with TA's (graduate student teaching assistants) carrying much of the teaching and advising load, it's harder to get the support, advice and mentoring needed to stay on track.
3. Campus community: Institutions with the highest graduation rates have student bodies where most students come with a sense of purpose that says: "I'm here to get an education and prepare for my future." Those common priorities set the agenda for students and faculty alike.

What does all this mean for you? It's not about paying an extra year or two of tuition. Sure, that can add up, but it's really about your time. By completing your degree on time, you start your career sooner. With entry-level salaries in many fields now exceeding $35,000, those extra year(s) of earnings quickly make up for initial differences in tuition. You and your time are valuable. When you consider the cost of your education, it's not just about tuition, it's about how soon you'll be in the career of your choice. For every university you consider, ask about graduation rates and insist on specific information about the percentage of students who graduate in four years.

And, since you're looking at Northland, we're not going to hesitate to give you our answer! Of the students who start as freshmen and go on to graduate from Northland, more than 90 percent do so in four years or less. You won't find TA's here. You will find faculty and staff to help you sort through everything from course selection to career planning. You'll find smaller classes and, more important, we'll get you into those courses in the right sequence so you avoid the frustration of being left on a semester-long waiting list. And you'll find a community of students who know how to have some fun but still expect to graduate in four years. If graduating in four years is one of your expectations, Northland can deliver.

Economists who study higher education generally agree that the length of time you spend getting a degree has more to do with the cost of your education than the tuition you pay. Our advice: gather the facts, consider your preferences, and understand that a private college with a higher tuition may be your least expensive option.

And, if you still think a private college is beyond your reach, learn more about Northland's Access Guarantee which ensures that good students from low and middle income families will pay the same or less for tuition, fees, housing and meals as the stated costs at the U of WI - Madison.