Public Colleges Where More Students Leave Before Graduation

The University of Arizona Global Campus has the lowest graduation rate, which is the percentage of graduate candidates who complete their degree or certificate within 150 percent of normal time (for example, within 6 years for 4-years BS degree). Its graduatation rate was 11% last year.

Northeastern Illinois University with 22% and Texas Southern University with 22% of graduation rates followed it in the ranking of Public Colleges with the Lowest Graduation Rate.

For the ranking, we exclude schools with fewer than 5,000 students.

The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $18,559 and graduate tuition & fees is $16,857 for the academic year 2024-2025.

At these Low Graduation Rate Public Colleges, the average acceptance rate is 77.26%, and the average SAT score is 1,005, making them not only cost-effective but also accessible options for a wide range of students.

Comparison between Public Colleges With The Lowest Graduation Rate

Table. Public Colleges With The Lowest Graduation Rate Comparison
School NameGraduation RateUndergraduate Tuition & FeesYieldAcceptance RateSAT ScoreTotal PopulationStudents to Faculty Ratio
1
-
The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZPublic, 4-year 11.00%
3.00%
$11,960
($14,278)
---28,00413 to 1
2
-
Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, ILPublic, 4-year 22.00%
6.00%
$22,726
($12,383)
8.49%74.60%-5,7349 to 1
2
1
Texas Southern University Houston, TXPublic, 4-year 22.00%
3.00%
$21,473
($8,637)
17.89%96.91%9008,70419 to 1
4
3
Alabama A & M University Normal, ALPublic, 4-year 24.00%
4.00%
$18,634
($10,024)
14.51%57.95%9107,29519 to 1
5
1
Middle Georgia State University Macon, GAPublic, 4-year 25.00%
-
$16,390
($5,038)
30.45%99.68%1,0808,36318 to 1
6
1
Southern University and A & M College Baton Rouge, LAPublic, 4-year 27.00%
1.00%
$17,272
($9,922)
20.07%35.12%9008,27921 to 1
7
-
University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AKPublic, 4-year 30.00%
2.00%
$21,322
($7,738)
---10,49311 to 1
8
4
Albany State University Albany, GAPublic, 4-year 31.00%
9.00%
$17,008
($5,656)
---6,76821 to 1
9
1
Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, COPublic, 4-year 32.00%
3.00%
$30,684
($11,124)
19.12%98.80%1,01018,45314 to 1
9
5
CUNY York College Jamaica, NYPublic, 4-year 32.00%
2.00%
$15,308
($7,358)
7.68%64.10%8806,17413 to 1
9
12
Southeastern Oklahoma State University Durant, OKPublic, 4-year 32.00%
1.00%
$16,410
($7,200)
51.24%76.43%1,0605,85125 to 1
12
15
Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery, ALPublic, 4-year 33.00%
2.00%
$20,668
($9,700)
14.75%91.57%1,1305,21713 to 1
12
2
University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MDPublic, 4-year 33.00%
4.00%
$12,336
($8,136)
---63,01221 to 1
12
18
SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, NYPublic, 4-year 33.00%
3.00%
$19,653
($8,533)
9.22%72.95%1,0706,18814 to 1
12
9
University of Houston-Downtown Houston, TXPublic, 4-year 33.00%
-
$17,434
($7,582)
20.04%89.96%1,03013,73018 to 1
16
20
New Jersey City University Jersey City, NJPublic, 4-year 34.00%
4.00%
$14,460
($14,460)
9.83%98.38%-5,42913 to 1
16
-
College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, NYPublic, 4-year 34.00%
2.00%
$15,440
($7,490)
16.98%92.34%1,04011,03317 to 1
16
5
Tennessee State University Nashville, TNPublic, 4-year 34.00%
1.00%
$22,416
($8,616)
12.99%70.11%9606,31013 to 1
19
17
University of West Alabama Livingston, ALPublic, 4-year 35.00%
3.00%
$20,090
($10,990)
33.42%42.65%9306,82019 to 1
19
13
Northeastern State University Tahlequah, OKPublic, 4-year 35.00%
2.00%
$17,290
($7,810)
39.01%99.59%1,0306,75116 to 1
21
5
Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, INPublic, 4-year 36.00%
4.00%
$22,887
($9,532)
21.42%83.89%1,0907,20613 to 1
21
5
Grambling State University Grambling, LAPublic, 4-year 36.00%
4.00%
$16,706
($7,683)
17.99%44.86%9205,15025 to 1
23
9
University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OKPublic, 4-year 37.00%
-
$19,704
($8,818)
42.94%78.12%-12,55418 to 1
23
9
Lamar University Beaumont, TXPublic, 4-year 37.00%
-
$18,745
($8,905)
21.92%86.41%1,05017,77220 to 1
23
7
University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GAPublic, 4-year 37.00%
1.00%
$16,956
($5,444)
47.94%67.94%1,10019,29119 to 1
Average31.00%$18,559
($8,922)
22.76%77.26%1,00512,02317 to 1