By Tim Post, Minnesota Public Radio News

Minnesota’s colleges are trying new strategies to convince students to earn their bachelor’s degrees in four years — a schedule that could save them, and their parents, thousands of dollars in tuition and expenses.

Less than half of Minnesota’s college students earn their degrees in that time and many take five of six years — if they don’t drop out.

The University of Minnesota is considering a plan that could mean higher tuition for students who have the credits to graduate, but don’t seem ready leave campus.

For freshman at the U of M’s Twin Cities campus, the expectation to graduate in four years is less than subtle.

University President Robert Bruininks drove the point home recently when he welcomed more than 5,000 freshmen to campus with a speech and a small gift.

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