Just to pick a nit or two on graduation rates: Harvard 97%,MIT 93%, CalTech 86%. That's not really indicative of a high drop out rate because they feel the school is too hard. Gates dropped out to become an entrepreneur, hurting the graduation rate. From personal experience at Harvard, they are really dedicated at keeping you there. If you are having trouble with a class they arrange help, tutoring, whatever is needed to get you through. If you need a year off, you can come back. If you need to take a makeup class, you can without extra tuition or extra semesters.