Graduation rates, degree completion, and time to degree are of utmost importance to academia. Although the bachelor’s degree is traditionally a four-year degree, the time for its completion has increased significantly in the United States over the past two decades. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) only 44 percent of students completed their bachelor’s degree within four years. This translates to more than half undergraduate students failing to complete their degrees on time. Despite these concerning statistics, there is not much research published that addresses why students fail to complete their degree within four years, or even leave their education institution before graduating. The goal of this study is to identify some of the main reasons why undergrad students from Engineering and particularly Construction Management programs take longer to complete their degree, or fail to graduate, and how can education institutions help students graduate on time. To achieve these objectives, this study: (a) identified the main factors contributing to this paramount problem from previous literature; (b) gathered and assessed data regarding students’ graduation rates from one of the largest minority serving institutions in the United States; (c) conducted a survey to students at the minority serving institution, which helped analyze degree completion, the factors contributing to delays in undergraduate program completion, as well as the motivators and resources to finish their degree within four years; and (d) proposed strategies that could be implemented at educational institution to aid students in completing their degree on time. The data collected regarding graduation rates shows that approximately (a) 50 percent of STEM, Engineering and Construction Management students graduate in four years; (b) 60 percent graduate in six years; and (c) 35 percent of students have not graduated after six years. The results of this research show that several academic, financial, and social factors play a significant role in students’ failure to complete their degree within four years. This research proposes several strategies including an inclusive educational experience that embraces peer-to-peer mentoring and tutoring, equitable financial aid mechanism, and establishing a clear educational curriculum path that can be implemented at institutions to enhance learning and motivate students in graduating within four years.
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