At colleges, degrees in 4 years or the rest free - Associated Press

If recent history is a guide, less than half of the freshmen arriving on college campuses as part of the class of 2016 this fall will live up to that billing. More likely, they'll need until 2017. Even more likely, 2018. At the University of Buffalo, its Finish in Four initiative begins this fall. Interested incoming freshmen will sign a pledge promising to keep in touch with an adviser, home in on a major early on and put academics over outside work. For its part, the university will promise a four-year course guide, help get students a seat in the classes they need and let them know if they're falling short along the way. The kicker: If a student upholds his or her end of the bargain but still can't graduate in four years, UB will pay the tuition and fees for the work that remains. Tuition runs $5,270 per year for New York residents and about $14,300 for students from elsewhere.