CIC Institutions Receive Lion's Share of Pennsylvania Grants
Independent colleges and universities in Pennsylvania were awarded all of the grants available in the state's new Higher Education Graduation Incentive Program. Former Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Ridge instituted the program this year—despite strong opposition from the public university sector—as a way of rewarding institutions for graduating students within four years. The program requires that an institution graduate at least 40 percent of its students in four years in order to receive a grant.
    Nearly $6 million in grants, ranging from $2,070 to $307,050, were awarded to 65 institutions, based on each Pennsylvania student who graduated. Forty-five (69 percent) of the schools receiving grants were CIC member institutions. The total appropriation for the program is expected to increase to $8 million next year.

Private College Graduates Report High Satisfaction with Education
Graduates of small independent colleges and universities in Appalachia reported an "unusually high degree of satisfaction with their undergraduate education," according to a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Iowa and Pennsylvania State University.
     The survey of more than 47,000 alumni of private and public institutions in Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia found major differences between the views of graduates of public and private institutions. Commissioned by the Appalachian College Association, the report states that "Private college graduates showed clear (up to 9 percent) advantages in 24 of the 28 questions asked about the retrospectively perceived contribution of the undergraduate college.... The overall satisfaction with the undergraduate education received was 10.7 percent higher for the graduates of private colleges." For example, private college students showed strong advantages (10 percent to 34 percent) in the areas of appreciating literature and fine arts, developing ethical standards and values, and interacting well with people from different cultures or ethnic backgrounds.
    The survey showed that public college graduates, on the other hand, used technology more than private college graduates (a 4.1 percent difference), read newspapers and watched television news more (2.9 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively), and enjoyed a 3.2 percent salary advantage.
     The study was funded by grants from The Spencer Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Recent Statistics Make the Case for Private College Retention Rates
The Council for Aid to Education reports that the retention rate for independent higher education is 13.2 percent higher than that of public institutions. In 2000, the five-year degree completion rate at public universities was 41.9 percent. At private colleges and universities, it was 55.1 percent. These figures compare with 1983 figures of 52.2 percent for public institutions and 59.5 percent for private institutions.

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Last updated: November 26, 2001
Copyright © 2001 The Council of Independent Colleges