As the month of May continues on, more Northland colleges will be holding graduation ceremonies.

But as Joel Runck reports, for many students, the traditional four-year degree is taking much longer.

Graduation is an exciting time for many Northland college seniors.

But a 2008 report by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education reveals that Minnesota ranks 21st for four-year graduation rates at four-year schools.

"Over the last 20 years or, so most public universities mark the graduation rate continuum over a period of 6 years."

But Minnesota is not the only one seeing students in school longer.

Doctor Jane Birkholz, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management at UWS says six-year grad rates are now the target.

"National benchmarks have actually moved away from measuring four years. They do in selected cases measure in four years, but really the recognized standard is now six years."

26% of UMD students graduate in four years, while 54% graduate in six.

The Minnesota Office of Higher Ed reports that St. Scholastica's four and 6-year grad rates are about 55 and 66 percent, respectively.

At UWS, officials measured the six-year-graduation rate at about 40 percent.

And as for UWS's 4-year grad rate data.

"We don't tend to collect that anymore."

Students say having jobs and course availability play critical factors in having to stay enrolled longer.

"I went post secondary in high school, and came in with 37 credits and I'm still going to be taking over four and a half years to get out of school."

"I think it's just kind of keeping your priorities straight and doing time management and making sure that you're organized and know where you need to be and when you need to be there."

School officials say the opportunity cost of not graduating in four years involves a lot more than extra tuition.

There's also the factor of lost income.

"Research is showing that the cost of a fifth year to be in college, when you take in the opportunity costs of not being out in the workforce is ranging between $50,000 and $70,000."

In the Twin Ports, Joel Runck, the Northlands News Center.

St. Scholastica and UWS officials say their colleges cover the cost of tuition for students that take longer than four years to graduate.