Only 61% of 2019 college students earned a degree in six years—here's why
New data reveals significant differences in college completion rates among students who began their studies in autumn 2019. Within six years, just over 61% earned a credential, but success varied widely depending on enrollment status, income level, and prior academic experience. The figures also highlight disparities between institution types and geographic regions.
Of the students who started college full-time in 2019, 67.1% completed a credential within six years. In contrast, only 34.1% of part-time students achieved the same outcome. Meanwhile, 29.8% of the cohort had left college entirely by that point, while 9.0% remained enrolled.
Income played a major role in completion rates. Students from the lowest-income neighbourhoods had a 50.1% success rate, compared to 75.9% for those from the highest-income areas. Prior academic experience also mattered: 71.1% of students with dual enrollment experience earned a credential, versus 57.2% of those without.
The type of institution made a clear difference. Private, nonprofit four-year colleges saw the highest completion rate at 74.6%, while public two-year schools and private for-profit institutions lagged behind at 43.9% and 35.9%, respectively. The District of Columbia recorded the highest regional rate at 80.6%. Additionally, 84.6% of graduates earned their first credential from the same institution where they began their studies.
The data underscores how factors like enrollment status, income, and institution type shape college outcomes. While over six in ten students overall completed a credential, gaps remain between full-time and part-time learners, as well as between different income groups and educational settings. These figures provide a snapshot of long-term trends in higher education attainment.
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