Only half of students who enrolled at Charles Sturt University in 2009 completed their degree by 2014, new figures show.
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A report from the Education Department revealed CSU ranks among the worst in NSW for student retention rates, with a paltry 53 per cent of students graduating within six years of enrolling.
But vice-chancellor Professor Andrew Vann put this down to its large number of online students, regional campus locations and because it encouraged those from a diverse range of social backgrounds to apply.
“It is important to note that in 2015, CSU had the highest number of Indigenous student completions in Australia and the second highest Indigenous student enrollments,” he said.
Professor Vann said online students could take up to eight years to complete a degree as many were adults with family and work commitments.
On-campus students had a completion rate nearing 70 per cent, Professor Vann said.
La Trobe University fared slightly better, with 69 per cent of all students graduating within six years.
Its Albury-Wodonga head of campus Dr Guinever Threlkeld said she was pleased with this rate as it was higher than the national average.
“At this campus we’ve got a high proportion of students who are the first in their family to go to uni, and regional unis have a higher proportion of students from low socio-economic backgrounds,” she said.
“There’s some evidence more students are studying part-time, and that places some challenges for course completion within those time frames.”
In response to the alarming figures, Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham called on Border students to carefully consider their courses prior to enrolling.
“To the thousands of students checking emails, text messages, newspapers and mail boxes this week to learn what your future study options might be, I urge you to take your time to understand those options,” he said.
“We’ve heard too many stories about students who have changed courses.”