Taking 5 Years to Graduate College

Taking five years to graduate college is common and is not a failure on its own. Students take longer because of major changes, transfers, failed or dropped courses, part-time terms, co-ops or demanding programs. The real issue is cost: an extra year means more tuition and living expenses, a later start to earning, and possible limits on financial aid. With a clear plan, a fifth year can still be a strong one.

Why do many students take more than four years?

A typical bachelor’s degree is around 120 credits, which works out to about 15 credits a semester for four years. Many students fall behind that pace for ordinary reasons:

Changing majors, especially after a year or more of courses that do not count toward the new one. See changing majors.
Transferring and losing credits that do not apply. See how transfer credits work.
Failing, withdrawing from or repeating courses. See failed a class in college.
Taking 12 credits instead of 15. Full time at many colleges, but not an on-time pace.
Working many hours or attending part time for family or financial reasons.
Program design. Some co-op, engineering, architecture or combined programs are built to take longer.
Waiting to enter a capped major, taking a leave of absence, or adding a second major.

What does an extra year cost in time and money?

The cost is more than tuition. Families should count:

Another year of tuition, fees, housing and food.
A year of full-time earnings delayed, and a later start on saving and retirement.
More borrowing, if loans cover part of the gap.
Aid limits. Many college scholarships cover a set number of semesters. Federal grants have lifetime limits, federal loans have overall caps, and many state aid programs limit the number of terms. See financial aid basics and state merit scholarships.
Progress rules. Federal aid requires satisfactory academic progress, including finishing within a maximum timeframe. See SAP appeals.

Limits and policies vary by college, state and program, so ask the financial aid office exactly what will and will not be covered in a fifth year, and check studentaid.gov for federal rules.

Ways to finish sooner, if that is the goal

Run a degree audit and list every remaining requirement.
Map the remaining semesters with an adviser, paying attention to courses offered only once a year. See the college advising office.
Consider summer or winter terms, and confirm in writing that credits from another school will transfer.
Take 15 credits when it is realistic. See how many credits to take per semester.
Look for courses that count twice, such as a general education course that also fits the major or minor.
Trim extras. A minor or second major might be the thing adding the year. See double major vs minor.

Rushing is not always smart, though. Overloading a student who is already struggling can lead to failed courses and an even longer path.

How can a student make a fifth year count?

Get real experience. An internship, co-op, research role or part-time job in the field. See college internships.
Use a lighter load well. If only a few courses remain, pair them with work that builds a resume.
Ask about combined programs that let some students start graduate courses while finishing a bachelor’s, where offered.
Start the job search early. See the college senior job search.
Explain it simply. Employers rarely ask, and a short, honest answer (changed majors, worked through school, did a co-op) is enough.

Where a mentor helps

A fifth year often grows out of drift: a semester that slipped, a plan nobody checked. A mentor helps a student keep a semester-by-semester graduation plan current, follow through on registration and adviser meetings, and use any extra time to build experience rather than wait it out. Mentors do not replace academic advisers or the financial aid office. Learn more about mentoring for college students.

Common questions

Is it bad to take five years to graduate?

Not in itself. Many students do, and employers rarely focus on it. The bigger concerns are cost, aid limits and whether the extra time was used well.

Does financial aid cover a fifth year?

Sometimes, partly. Federal aid has lifetime and timeframe limits, and many scholarships cover a set number of semesters. Ask the financial aid office what applies to you.

Will a fifth year hurt graduate school chances?

Usually not, if grades and experience are strong. Admissions readers look more at the overall record than the number of years.

How can a student tell if they are on track?

Run a degree audit each semester and compare remaining credits to remaining terms. Meeting with an adviser once a semester catches problems early.

Get started

Want help building a realistic plan to finish college? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.

Graduating College in Five Years: Is It a Problem?