How do SWFL schools rate on the White House College Scorecard?

By Kathleen Jones

CREATED Feb. 13, 2013

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  • How do SWFL schools rate on the White House College Scorecard? Video by fox4now.com

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NAPLES, Fla.-
 
Some Southwest Florida colleges aren't making the grade according to President Obama's new White House Scorecard.

On Wednesday the Obama Administration released the Scorecard to help parents and students decide which college is the best fit. 

 
 "Parents and students can use to compare schools based on a simple criteria: where you can get the most bang for your educational buck." President Obama said.
 
But how do those educational bucks add up for schools in Southwest Florida? According to the Scorecard, Edison State College has a lower than average graduation rate at just 26 percent.
English professor Ellie Bunting said an open admission policy could be to blame.
 
" We admit a lot of students that don't have the skills to succeed in college courses." Professor Bunting said.
 
But nearly half the student population at Ave Maria and Florida Gulf Coast University got their diplomas. The Scorecard also shows Edison with a high loan default rate, with nearly one in every five students not able to pay back their student loans.
 "They dropped out and couldn't get a job and they didn't have the job or money to pay for the loans that would be my only guess." Professor Bunting said.
 
Some students we talked to say they don't want to be part of the statistics.
"How they're teaching kids is very poorly. I am wanting to go to a better school where they have a better program." One student said.
While others give Edison State College an "A" plus.
 
" I've been going here for almost 4 years now and I should be graduating this summer, everything has been going great so far I have great teachers." Student Olga Jeanjacques said.
 
But professors want to raise the bar and make sure all students are on the same page.
 
"We've been spending the past two years creating a course for first year students to take and help them get acclimated to college like and teach them study skills to help improve this." Professor Bunting said.