Approximately 56 percent of male and 61 percent of female first-time, full-time students who sought a bachelor's degree at a 4-year institution in fall 2004 completed their degree at that institution within 6 years.
Approximately 58 percent of first-time, full-time students who began seeking a bachelor's degree at a 4-year institution in fall 2004 completed a bachelor's degree at that institution within 6 years or 150 percent of normal completion time to degree (see table A-45-1). In comparison, 55 percent of first-time, full-time students who began seeking a bachelor's degree in fall 1996 earned a bachelor's degree within 6 years at that institution.
Completion rates for bachelor's degree seeking students who enrolled at a 4-year institution in fall 2004 varied by institutional control. Students at private nonprofit institutions had the highest graduation rates, followed by students at public institutions and private for-profit institutions. For example, the 6-year graduation rate at private nonprofit institutions was 65 percent, compared with 56 percent at public institutions and 28 percent at private for-profit institutions.
At both public and private nonprofit 4-year institutions, the 6-year graduation rates of first-time, full-time female students who sought a bachelor's degree in fall 2004 were higher than those of males. At public institutions, about 58 percent of females seeking a bachelor's degree graduated within 6 years, compared with 53 percent of males; at private nonprofit institutions, 67 percent of females graduated within 6 years, compared with 63 percent of males. However, at private for-profit institutions, the 6-year graduation rate was higher for males (30 percent) than for females (27 percent).
Completion rates for first-time, full-time students who sought a bachelor's degree in fall 2004 also varied by race/ ethnicity. Asian/Pacific Islander students had the highest 6-year graduation rate (69 percent), followed by White students (62 percent), Hispanic students (50 percent), and Black and American Indian/Alaska Native students (39 percent each) (see table A-45-2).
At both public and private nonprofit institutions, the 6-year graduation rates for first-time, full-time students who sought a bachelor's degree in fall 2004 varied by the acceptance rate of the institution. Graduation rates were highest at institutions with the lowest admissions acceptance rates. For example, at public 4-year institutions with open admissions policies, 29 percent of students completed a bachelor's degree within 6 years (see table A-45-2). At public 4-year institutions where the acceptance rate was less than 25 percent of applicants, the 6-year graduation rate was 82 percent.
At 2-year institutions, approximately 30 percent of first-time, full-time students who enrolled in fall 2007 completed a certificate or associate's degree within 150 percent of the normal time required to complete such a degree (see table A-45-3). For the cohort that enrolled in fall 2000, the completion rate was about 31 percent.
The certificate or associate's degree completion rate of students who enrolled in 2-year institutions in fall 2007 varied by institutional control. For example, 60 percent of students graduated within 150 percent of the normal time at private for-profit institutions, 51 percent did so at private nonprofit institutions, and 20 percent did so at public institutions.
Technical Notes
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