Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

A Silicon Valley University Achieves High Graduation Rate

  • 07/16/14

PALO ALTO, CA ― When it comes to offering Bachelor degree programs that provide unique advantages to their students, Palo Alto University is way ahead of the rest.

Palo Alto University (PAU), a not-for-profit institution, offers two-year bachelor degree programs to students who have completed their General Education requirements at their local community colleges. An impressive 78 percent of these transferred students have completed bachelor’s degrees at PAU, with 92 percent of the students finishing in less than two years. In contrast, the national graduation rate data are:

  • Six years after starting at a four-year college, 58 percent of students graduated with bachelor’s degrees.
  • Students who started at community colleges were much less likely to graduate. After starting at a two-year community college, only 11 percent of students graduated with bachelor’s degrees.

As students study with PAU, they can take advantage of the Tuition Stabilization Program in addition to established federal student aid programs.

How Does It Work?

  • Over the last 30 years, the average university tuition rate has risen by more than 250 percent.
  • The California State University and the University of California continue to increase their tuition costs on an annual basis.

The Tuition Stabilization Program automatically freezes students’ tuition rate for the duration of their bachelor’s degree programs, which means that fees are guaranteed not to rise during the length of their study.

Everything on Schedule
At PAU, classes run like clockwork. Students working towards a two-year degree will find that all their classes are pre-scheduled for the duration of their studies. This means they can have effective forward-planning, scheduling conflicts are avoided and there are no waiting lists or late graduations because a student was unable to get into a class.

Size Matters
Across the United States, students are being packed into large classrooms with other students. PAU is committed to small class sizes (20 to 35 students is the norm). PAU firmly believes that the smaller the group, the more interaction and quality time students can have with their professors and fellow students. This leads to a great educational benefit.

To find out more about this, please visit the Palo Alto University website.

Featured

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part I

    We asked, you answered, and the results are in! Last year, we put out a call for submissions to collect our readership’s opinion on trends and predictions for K–12 and higher education facilities in 2026.

  • Houston K–12 District Opens New Elementary School

    The Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (Lamar CISD) recently announced the completion of a new elementary school in a western suburb of Houston, Texas, according to a news release. Haygood Elementary School measures in at 110,000 square feet, has the capacity for 854 students, and is the first of three new schools scheduled to be built in the Cross Creek West community.

  • University of Arizona Approves New Residence Hall

    The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved plans for a new residence hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., according to a news release. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2028 and have the capacity for more than 1,200 students, enforcing a new university expectation that all first-year students live on campus.

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.