What % of people finish?

[Johmford]

Obviously, I don't think anyone will know the exact number. 

But I know a lot of people come to this forum saying "I want to do this." But words and actions are two different things. I was wondering if anyone has an estimate of what percentage of people who joined this forum with the intent of earning a degree from the big 3/wgu actually go on to do so.

I think a poll would definitely help! 
 
So far I have finished 4 associates and 1 bachelors since joining... But I also have several people I have helped to get on track with a plan who are still spinning their wheels.

[davewill]

The problem with a poll is that people who dropped out of their degree are likely to have dropped off the board, too.

[MNomadic]

The problem with a poll is that people who dropped out of their degree are likely to have dropped of the board, too.

So based on data we collect.... We may have close to a 100% success rate!

[jsd]

I completed 2 bachelors, so my success rate is 200%. Sorry for skewing the books.

[ThatBankDude]

I am new here but I have completed 1 Bachelors, will finish my MBA in 2019, and will begin a 2nd Masters shortly after that.


___________________________________________
Masters of Business Administration
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
AACSB-Accredited
Expected 2019

Bachelors of Science - Biology
East Central University
Conferred 2015

[cookderosa]

The problem with a poll is that people who dropped out of their degree are likely to have dropped of the board, too.

So based on data we collect.... We may have close to a 100% success rate!

LOL right!?

I agree, we can't do a poll - people who lurk won't do a poll and people who aren't here can't do a poll. But, we do have data to play with.....

We currently have 86,940 members registered.

Go to "Member List" in the header. That username list is everyone since Day 1.

You can click on any column title to view in ascending or descending order- you can see when people join and their last post date.
It is safe to assume that members who have posted at least X times are here to earn credit for a degree - they are asking questions and seeking deeper information to achieve a goal- they aren't making small talk. And to be a post, it can be a thread creation, but EVERYTHING is counted, so even replies! I would suggest that participation increases the likelihood of degree success.

What is X? I don't know - figure 50 or so. If that's true (and it's an assumption, of course) I count only 780 members who have made that many posts.

Now, 2400 members have made 10 or more posts, so that's a strong number.

BUT, 84,550 members that have posted LESS than 10 times.

And the kicker: 74,190 members have registered and NEVER posted. That number can't be ignored. It is highly unlikely that the majority of them are building their degree plan here and progressing without ever saying a single word or asking a single question. (Maybe a few, but not many).

85% of registered members have never posted

If you accept that participation increases your likelihood of earning a degree even a little, I don't think we can beat the national average- I think we are lower. If you spot check members with >500 posts, they almost all have at least 1 degree. (and there are only 77 of us with more than 500 posts)

[dfrecore]

What is X? I don't know - figure 50 or so.  If that's true (and it's an assumption, of course) I count only 780 members who have made that many posts.  

Now, 2400 members have made 10 or more posts, so that's a strong number.

BUT,  84,550 members that have posted LESS than 10 times.

And the kicker:  74,190 members have registered and NEVER posted.  That number can't be ignored.  It is highly unlikely that the majority of them are building their degree plan here and progressing without ever saying a single word or asking a single question.  (Maybe a few, but not many).

85% of registered members have never posted

If you accept that participation increases your likelihood of earning a degree even a little, I don't think we can beat the national average- I think we are lower.  If you spot check members with >500 posts, they almost all have at least 1 degree.  (and there are only 77 of us with more than 500 posts)

I'm one of the 77 with greater than 500 posts (I think I'm past 8,300 at this point), and while I joined in 2011 and have created countless degree plans, I only just graduated in June!  Yeah, I had more fun helping people get their degrees than I ever cared about getting my own.

I think I'm probably a weird outlier out of that 77, but I'll bet I'm not the only one!

[jsd]

And the kicker:  74,190 members have registered and NEVER posted.  That number can't be ignored.

Your analysis is great!

But to this point, as someone who has run a few high-volume message boards over the years, a good (non-insignificant) chunk of these 74k+ non-active users are spambots.

[Merlin]

Another factor that isn't reflected in the numbers are those "guests" who visit the forum but never bother to register. I recall I did research on this forum and others for at least 3 months before I signed up, and I only signed up because I wanted to post something. I also read a ton of threads on the "other" degree forum, but I can't recall if I ever created an account over there.

[MNomadic]

Another factor that isn't reflected in the numbers are those "guests" who visit the forum but never bother to register. I recall I did research on this forum and others for at least 3 months before I signed up, and I only signed up because I wanted to post something. I also read a ton of threads on the "other" degree forum, but I can't recall if I ever created an account over there.

Yep. I first discovered this forum, the other, and alternative education/moocs in general in 2012. Didn't make an account until last year when I started getting serious, had questions and started knocking out credits.