Graduation Rate Trends

Graduation, Transfer-out, and Students to Faculty Ratio Trends

There are 3,089 active four-years colleges and universities in United States - 865 public and 2,224 private schools. The 2023 average graduation rate of the 4-year colleges is 53%. Compared to the graduation rate of 10 years ago, the rate becomes higher from 51% to 53%. The students to faculty ratio of the schools is 14 to 1 and it decreased by 1 compared to 15 to 1, ratio of 10 years ago.

Trends by State

Graduation Rate Changes

The average graduation rate of the last 12 years is 51.36% where the current academic year rate is 53%. The following table and chart show the changes of graduation rate at over the past 12 years (2012-2023).

Year	Total	Men	Women
2012-13	51%	48%	54%
2013-14	50%	47%	54%
2014-15	50%	47%	54%
2015-16	50%	47%	54%
2016-17	50%	47%	54%
2017-18	51%	48%	55%
2018-19	52%	49%	56%
2019-20	52%	49%	56%
2020-21	53%	49%	57%
2021-22	53%	50%	57%
2022-23	53%	49%	57%
Average	51.36%	48.18%	55.27%

Transfer-out Rate Changes

The average transfer-out rate of the last 12 years is 23.55% where the current year rate is 23%. The following table and chart illustrate the change of transfer-out rate at from 2012 to 2023.

Year	Transfer-out Rate
2012-13	23%
2013-14	23%
2014-15	23%
2015-16	23%
2016-17	24%
2017-18	24%
2018-19	24%
2019-20	24%
2020-21	24%
2021-22	24%
2022-23	23%
Average	23.55%

Retention Rate Changes

The average retention rate of the last 12 years is 73.27% for full-time students and 54.00% for part-time students. The following table and chart show the changes of retention rate at from 2012 to 2023.

Year	Full-time	Part-time
2012-13	72%	54%
2013-14	73%	54%
2014-15	73%	53%
2015-16	73%	54%
2016-17	73%	56%
2017-18	74%	55%
2018-19	74%	54%
2019-20	74%	55%
2020-21	74%	54%
2021-22	73%	53%
2022-23	73%	52%
Average	73.27%	54.00%

Student to Faculty Ratio Changes

The average student to faculty ratio over the last 12 years is 14.27 to 1 where the current academic year ratio is 14 to 1. The following table and chart illustrate the change of student to faculty ratio at since 2023.

Year	Student to Faculty Ratio
2012-13	15:1
2013-14	15:1
2014-15	15:1
2015-16	14:1
2016-17	14:1
2017-18	14:1
2018-19	14:1
2019-20	14:1
2020-21	14:1
2021-22	14:1
2022-23	14:1
Average	14.27:1

Most Searched Colleges (last 30 days)

Undergraduate

Alabama A & M University Public, four-years | Normal, AL
University of Alabama at Birmingham Public, four-years | Birmingham, AL
Amridge University Private, four-years | Montgomery, AL
University of Alabama in Huntsville Public, four-years | Huntsville, AL
Alabama State University Public, four-years | Montgomery, AL
University of Alabama System Office Public, four-years | Tuscaloosa, AL
The University of Alabama Public, four-years | Tuscaloosa, AL
Central Alabama Community College Public, 2-4 years | Alexander City, AL
Athens State University Public, four-years | Athens, AL
Auburn University at Montgomery Public, four-years | Montgomery, AL

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Graduate

Alabama A & M University Public, four-years | Normal, AL
University of Alabama at Birmingham Public, four-years | Birmingham, AL
Amridge University Private, four-years | Montgomery, AL
University of Alabama in Huntsville Public, four-years | Huntsville, AL
Alabama State University Public, four-years | Montgomery, AL
University of Alabama System Office Public, four-years | Tuscaloosa, AL
The University of Alabama Public, four-years | Tuscaloosa, AL
Central Alabama Community College Public, 2-4 years | Alexander City, AL
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Auburn University at Montgomery Public, four-years | Montgomery, AL

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Online Schools

Alabama A & M University Public, four-years | Normal, AL
University of Alabama at Birmingham Public, four-years | Birmingham, AL
Amridge University Private, four-years | Montgomery, AL
University of Alabama in Huntsville Public, four-years | Huntsville, AL
Alabama State University Public, four-years | Montgomery, AL
University of Alabama System Office Public, four-years | Tuscaloosa, AL
The University of Alabama Public, four-years | Tuscaloosa, AL
Central Alabama Community College Public, 2-4 years | Alexander City, AL
Athens State University Public, four-years | Athens, AL
Auburn University at Montgomery Public, four-years | Montgomery, AL

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Technical Colleges

Alabama A & M University Public, four-years | Normal, AL
University of Alabama at Birmingham Public, four-years | Birmingham, AL
Amridge University Private, four-years | Montgomery, AL
University of Alabama in Huntsville Public, four-years | Huntsville, AL
Alabama State University Public, four-years | Montgomery, AL
University of Alabama System Office Public, four-years | Tuscaloosa, AL
The University of Alabama Public, four-years | Tuscaloosa, AL
Central Alabama Community College Public, 2-4 years | Alexander City, AL
Athens State University Public, four-years | Athens, AL
Auburn University at Montgomery Public, four-years | Montgomery, AL

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