SU students look to graduate a year early to cut rising college costs

Eddie McLaughlin plans to graduate from Syracuse University a year early.

"I came in with 18 credits," said McLaughlin, a freshman television, radio and film major. "I stumbled upon graduating early actually, when meeting with my advisor. I realized if I planned it thoroughly, I could make it work."

McLaughlin said his decision was made for financial reasons.

"The school's a little rich for my blood," he said "This is about minimizing my debts."

McLaughlin is one of many SU students looking to reduce college debt by graduating a year early. Education leaders have urged colleges to adopt such a program, but so far it has not caught on among students, The New York Times reported Feb. 24.

International relations and economics major Sujata Ramaiah said her plan to graduate this year is a financial decision.

"My mom is a single parent, so she does what she can," she said. "Graduating early is really helpful financially."

Ramaiah said she has been hampered by her college's academic requirements.

"The CAS core requirements have kind of been holding me back," Ramaiah said. "But my advisor was extremely helpful."

One school that has embraced an early graduation program is Hartwick College, a small liberal arts school in Oneonta, N.Y., about 2 hours away from SU.

Hartwick has started programs directly geared toward students who want to save money by fitting a college education into three years.

"Our three-year degree is really just another option," said Francis Borrego, a representative for the admissions office of the school. "People who are looking at their finances, they can get the same experience at a lower cost."

Hartwick's program differs in that students take 18 credits each spring and fall semester, as well as four over each winter break through a special winter semester, Borrego said.

The early graduation process is largely possible due to college credit students earn from the College Board's Advanced Placement tests in high school. A grade of 3 or 4 an exam typically lands a student three credits toward total credits needed to graduate, but some colleges give up to six.

At SU, requests for an early graduation program are not common, said Susan Donovan, dean of admissions at SU.

"None of my staff has mentioned a student asking for a three-year program," Donovan said.

Donovan said that while graduating in three years may be financially appealing, it does not offer a complete experience.

"Most students want a full four-year college experience that lets them incorporate study abroad, community service, internships, and the full range of extracurricular activities that add so much to college life," said Donovan in an e-mail.

Donovan said students may try to find alternative ways to get an education while still graduating with a degree from SU.

"We may well see more students opting for community colleges for a year or two to save money and then applying to SU to finish their degrees," Donovan said. "As for the 'fast-track' approach, it may happen, but we haven't seen much interest in that so far."

gmillerj@syr.edu