4 year grad rate looks significantly different than the other SA's to me.......Hmmm
There's only three SAs listed USMMA, USCGA, and USAFA and the way I understand the data the four year graduation rates are:
United States Air Force Academy: 78.6%
United States Coast Guard Academy: 74.6%
United States Merchant Marine Academy: 63.6%.
Given that as noted the Class Size is very different at USAFA; and that at both USAFA and USCGA there are far fewer as a percentage of the class engineering and/or engineering and science majors the 11% difference between USMMA and USCGA doesn't seem that unreasonable to me - at least not to a degree that I'd draw any conclusions or feel the institutions are significantly different relative to their Academic rigor based on these data points. The four year number basically equates to an average of ~ 25 less USMMA Midshipmen graduating in each class in four years than at USCGA. However, the data also seems to imply that at USCGA there are basically no setbacks so the ~4% fewer that graduate in 5 years at USMMA are so called "setbacks" and mean that of those 25-30 who don't graduate USMMA in 4 years, an average of 17-19 of them have been given an extra year recently and have then graduated in five years. Not sure what that all means with regards to setbacks and the data on whether that giving a midshipmen an extra year is a "good investment" for the taxpayers on not. All I'm saying is that looking at the data and realizing that anyone who doesn't graduate in four years automatically turns into a five year graduate if say they need to delay graduation, etc. to get their required sea days for License, etc. needs to be considered when looking at the data, etc.
As far as 2013Parent's other comment about delaying attending/entry into USMMA, or any SA for that matter, vice going directly from High School, I don't think you can make any broad conclusions or statements. I think the answer is it depends on the individual young man or woman as to wether they need more preparation, etc. I'd also say that if they want to go and they get in directly from HS, I would never suggest a kid delay entering and pursuing their dream. From an economic standpoint, if they get in and they get through and start their career at 22 vice doing so at 24 or 26 the numbers are pretty straight forward in favor of going right from high school.
Getting a few A's, mainly B's and a few C's from my perspective doesn't sound too bad or "out of the norm" for most midshipmen at USMMA. Of course it means that you have to work to make sure you don't "fumble the ball" but from what I've seen that's basically the same for all these kids and not a bad lifeskill to learn early.