Graduation Rate Summary (2015-2025)
- Graduation Rate Trends:
- Current Rate : The average graduation rate for four-year colleges is 52%.
- 10-Year Change: The graduation rate has changed by 2%.
- Other Key Indicators:
- Transfer-out Rate: The rate has remained relatively stable over the 10-year period, averaging 23.55%.
- Retention Rate: The rate has been consistently high, with a current rate of 74% and an 10-year average of 73.55%.
- Students to Faculty Ratio: The students to faculty ratio has remained relatively stable over the past decade, averaging 14.09 students for every faculty member.
Graduation Rate Changes
The average graduation rate of the last 12 years is 51.73%, and the current academic year rate is 52%. The following table and chart show the changes of graduation rate at U.S. colleges over the past 12 years (2014-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|
| 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% |
|---|
| 2023-24 |
53% | 49% | 57% |
|---|
| 2024-25 |
52% | 49% | 56% |
|---|
| Average | 51.73% | 48.45% | 55.73% |
|---|
Transfer-out Rate Changes
The average transfer-out rate of the last 12 years is 23.55%, and the current year rate is 23%. The following table and chart illustrate the change of transfer-out rate at U.S. colleges from 2014 to 2025.
| Year | Transfer-out Rate |
|---|
| 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% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | 23% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | 23% |
|---|
| Average | 23.55% |
|---|
Retention Rate Changes
The average retention rate of the last 12 years is 73.55% for full-time students and 53.82% for part-time students.
The following table and chart show the changes of retention rate at U.S. colleges from 2014 to 2025.
| Year | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|
| 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% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | 74% | 53% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | 74% | 53% |
|---|
| Average | 73.55% | 53.82% |
|---|
Students to Faculty Ratio Changes
The average students to faculty ratio over the last 12 years is 14.09 to 1, and the current academic year ratio is 14 to 1. The following table and chart illustrate the change of students to faculty ratio at U.S. colleges since 2015.
| Year | Students to Faculty Ratio |
|---|
| 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 |
|---|
| 2023-24 | 14:1 |
|---|
| 2024-25 | 14:1 |
|---|
| Average | 14.09:1 |
|---|