Us Student Graduation Rates: University Data Analysis

The United States' college graduation rate is influenced by several factors, including the type of institution, program length, race, gender, and age of the student. In 2023, the overall college graduation rate in the US was 62.2%, with women graduating at a higher rate (66%) than men (58%). The graduation rate also varies across states, with Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont having the highest rates, while New Mexico and Montana have rates below 40%. The US ranks 10th globally in college graduation rates, with Australia having the most educated population and Luxembourg the least.

Graduation rates by gender

Women are more likely to graduate from US universities than men. In 2021, the graduation rate for the 30 states that provided data disaggregated by gender was 89.1% for girls and 82.9% for boys. In 16 states, women had a college graduation rate of 70% or higher, while men achieved this rate in only two states. Women are 11 percentage points more likely to graduate from a four-year university in four years and seven points more likely to graduate within six years.

The gender gap in university graduation rates is not a new phenomenon, but the continued growth of these disparities has raised significant questions for administrators and policymakers. While completion rates for both genders have increased substantially over the last 20 years, the gap between male and female completion rates has remained relatively steady.

Several factors have been identified as contributors to the gender gap in university graduation rates. Girls significantly outperform boys in reading tests in the early grades. Girls also complete more college-preparatory courses than boys in high school. A 2019 report from the US Department of Education shows that 46.4% of high school girls took either an AP or IB course, compared to only 37.8% of boys. While 12% of high school girls participated in dual enrollment programs, only 9.7% of boys did so. When these numbers are broken down by race, girls in all racial and ethnic groups were more likely than boys to earn credits in these pre-college courses.

Among adults, men are more likely than women to cite factors that reflect personal choices for not attending university or completing their degrees. About four in ten white men who didn't finish college (39%) say a major reason for this is that they just didn't want to, compared to 27% of white women without a degree. Three in ten white men without a college degree say a major reason they didn't complete college is that they didn't need more education for the job or career they wanted, while only 24% of white women say the same.

Graduation rates by race and ethnicity

The United States of America ranks 10th in the world when it comes to college graduation rates. The total number of graduates has increased annually by 1.0% over the last decade. In 2022, 4.11 million, or 22.1% of all college students, graduated. Of these, 1,008,290 earned associate's degrees, 2,015,040 earned bachelor's degrees, 880,250 earned master's degrees, and 203,880 earned doctorates or professional degrees.

Graduation rates differ by race and ethnicity. Asian and Pacific Islander students had the largest high school graduation rates of any racial or ethnic group in 2014, with 89% graduating. This was followed by White students. Black students had the lowest high school graduation rates, with less than three-quarters of students graduating by 2014.

Asian and Pacific Islander students were also the most likely group to graduate from high school, enroll in college, and graduate from a four-year college within six years. In 2014, 14% of Black students and 13% of Hispanic students enrolled in four-year colleges graduated by 2020. The graduation rates of Asian and Pacific Islander students for two-year and four-year colleges are higher than the averages of all students.

Among first-time, full-time undergraduate students who began pursuing a bachelor's degree at a four-year degree-granting institution in fall 2010, the six-year graduation rate was highest for Asian students (74%), followed by White students (64%), students of two or more races (60%), Hispanic students (54%), Pacific Islander students (51%), Black students (40%), and American Indian/Alaska Native students (39%). The four-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time undergraduate students was 50% or less for each racial/ethnic group.

American Indian/Alaska Native males are the least likely to graduate with a degree of any kind. White females are the most likely to graduate with a degree of any kind.

Graduation rates by state

The graduation rate for US students varies across states and has been on the rise over the past decade. The average graduation rate across 49 US states and Washington, D.C., was 79% for the 2021-2022 academic year, up two percentage points from the year prior. Graduation rates ranged from an average of nearly 73% in Washington, D.C., to 92% in Virginia, the highest in the country.

West Virginia has also been cited as having the highest graduation rate, with 91% of its students graduating. This is a significant improvement from its 2011 graduation rate of 72%. Alabama, an early adopter of West Virginia's data-driven early warning system, has also seen a steep improvement over the past decade and a half.

Other states with lower graduation rates—under 78%—include New Mexico, Arizona, and Alaska. California saw the biggest decline in graduation rates from the prior year, dropping by 2.8 percentage points.

At the county level, St. Louis, Missouri, has a 93% graduation rate, while Allegheny County in Pennsylvania has a 95% graduation rate. The large county with the highest graduation rate is Douglas County, Colorado, at 98%. The small county with the best rate is Falls Church City, Virginia, at 99%. On the other hand, the Bronx in New York City has the lowest graduation rate of large counties, at 73%.

The graduation rate is calculated using the adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), which measures the percentage of students who graduate within four years of starting 9th grade. The ACGR is considered the most accurate measure of on-time graduation rates and is used by the US Department of Education.

Graduation rates by college type

The graduation rates of US students vary depending on the type of college and the demographic characteristics of the students.

Public Colleges and Universities

The official four-year graduation rate for students attending public colleges and universities is 33.3%. The six-year graduation rate increases to 57.6%.

Private Colleges and Universities

Private colleges and universities have a higher four-year graduation rate of 52.8%. At these institutions, 65.4% of students earn a degree in six years.

Two-Year Degree-Granting Institutions

Among first-time, full-time undergraduate students who began a two-year program at a two-year degree-granting institution in 2017, about 34% attained their credential within the standard time frame. An additional 14% transferred to another institution within the standard time, and 10% remained enrolled in their first institution beyond the standard time.

Factors Influencing Graduation Rates

Graduation rates are influenced by various factors, including income, parental education level, work during studies, high school performance, and enrolment status. High-income students with a family AGI of $100,000 or more are 50% more likely to graduate than low-income students. Three-quarters of college dropouts are first-generation college students, meaning neither of their parents has earned a bachelor's degree. Students who work full-time during the school year are half as likely to graduate with a bachelor's degree as those who work 12 hours or less per week. Enrolling in a community college may also reduce bachelor's degree attainment rates. Students who enrol in college immediately after high school are 50% more likely to graduate with a bachelor's degree within six years than those who take a gap year. Additionally, students who enrol full-time are five times more likely to graduate with a bachelor's degree within six years compared to those who enrol part-time.

Demographic Differences

Graduation rates also vary across demographic groups. White females are the most likely to graduate with a degree of any kind, while American Indian/Alaska Native males are the least likely. Asian and Pacific Islander students in bachelor's programs have a five-year graduation rate of 74.8%, while American Indian/Alaska Native students have a five-year graduation rate of 43.4%.

Graduation rates by degree type

The graduation rate of US students depends on several factors, including the type of degree, the institution, and the student's background. Let's take a closer look at the graduation rates by degree type.

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rates

Bachelor's degree programs typically take four years to complete, but many students take longer. In 2022, about 49% of bachelor's degree students finished their degree in four years. The six-year graduation rate for bachelor's degree programs is higher, at approximately 65%. The graduation rate also varies by student demographic. For example, American Indian/Alaska Native students in bachelor's degree programs have a five-year graduation rate of 43.4%. In contrast, Asian and Pacific Islander students have a higher five-year graduation rate of 74.8%. Additionally, white females are the most likely demographic to graduate with a bachelor's degree, while male students are the least likely.

Associate's Degree Graduation Rates

Associate's degree programs are typically designed to be completed in two years. The graduation rate for students at two-year colleges is about 35% within three years. In 2022, there was a slight decline in the number of associate's degrees awarded, with 1,008,290 students graduating, a decrease of 2.72% from the previous year.

Master's and Doctorate Degrees

Master's and doctorate degrees typically take longer to complete, and the graduation rates are relatively lower compared to bachelor's degrees. In 2022, 880,250 students, or 21.4% of all graduates, earned a master's degree. Regarding doctorates or professional degrees, 203,880 graduates, or 5.0% of all graduates, attained these advanced degrees in 2022.

It's worth noting that graduation rates have generally increased at four-year public and nonprofit colleges. Additionally, the total number of college graduates has been rising, indicating an upward trend in the US education system.

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