Six-Year Completion Rates
This section analyzes the completion rates of students who first enrolled in postsecondary education institutions in fall 2011. Completion rates were calculated within six years of first enrollment and followed students through spring 2017. Six years represented 300 percent of the normal time at two-year institutions and 150 percent of the normal time at four-year institutions. Completion rates included both full-time and part-time students.
Undergraduate completion rates within six years varied greatly across types of institutions. Across all racial and ethnic groups, students who started at R1 doctoral institutions had the highest six-year completion rate (86.6 percent), followed by students who started at other doctoral (67.6 percent), master’s (66.3 percent), and bachelor’s (64.8 percent) institutions. Completion rates for students who started at special focus (42.8 percent) and associate (41.1 percent) institutions were much lower. R1 doctoral institutions had lower shares of students who did not complete or were not enrolled at any institution six years after initial enrollment, compared with shares of students at master’s institutions and other doctoral institutions.
Across all Carnegie Classifications[1], Black or African American students consistently had the lowest completion rates of any racial and ethnic group, while White and Asian students tended to have the highest completion rates.
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Chapter Four: Undergraduate Completion
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Source
U.S. Department of Education, Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, BPS: 12/17
Notes:
Six-year outcomes data for students who began at Tribal Colleges and Universities were suppressed due to the small sample size.
Six-Year Outcomes for Students Who Started at R1 Doctoral Institutions, by Race and Ethnicity: Fall 2011 Cohort
Data for for the following should be interpreted with caution. Ratio of standard error to estimate is >30 percent but <50 percent.
- Asian, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- Asian, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- Black or African American, Attained an Associate Degree
- Black or African American, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- Black or African American, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- Hispanic or Latino, Attained a Certificate
- Hispanic or Latino, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- White, Attained an Associate Degree
- White, Attained a Certificate
- White, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- More than one race, No Degree; Not Enrolled
Data for the following should be interpreted with caution. Ratio of standard error is >50 percent.
- Black or African American, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Hispanic or Latino, Attained an Associate Degree
- Hispanic or Latino, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- International students, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
Reporting standards not met:
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained an Associate Degree
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained a Certificate
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- Asian, Attained an Associate Degree
- Asian, Attained a Certificate
- Asian, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Black or African American, Attained a Certificate
- Hispanic or Latino, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained an Associate Degree
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained a Certificate
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- More than one race, Attained an Associate Degree
- More than one race, Attained a Certificate
- More than one race, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- More than one race, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- International students, Attained an Associate Degree
- International students, Attained a Certificate
- International students, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- International students, No Degree; Not Enrolled
Six-Year Outcomes for Students Who Started at Other Doctoral Institutions, by Race and Ethnicity: Fall 2011 Cohort
Data for for the following should be interpreted with caution. Ratio of standard error to estimate is >30 percent but <50 percent.
- Asian, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- Asian, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- Black or African American, Attained a Certificate
- Black or African American, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Hispanic or Latino, Attained a Certificate
- Hispanic or Latino, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- Hispanic or Latino, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- White, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- More than one race, Attained an Associate Degree
- More than one race, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
Data for the following should be interpreted with caution. Ratio of standard error is >50 percent.
- Asian, Attained an Associate Degree
Reporting standards not met:
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained an Associate Degree
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained a Certificate
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- Asian, Attained a Certificate
- Asian, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained an Associate Degree
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained a Certificate
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- More than one race, Attained a Certificate
- More than one race, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- International students, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- International students, Attained an Associate Degree
- International students, Attained a Certificate
- International students, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- International students, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- International students, No Degree; Not Enrolled
Six-Year Outcomes for Students Who Started at Master’s Institutions, by Race and Ethnicity: Fall 2011 Cohort
Data for for the following should be interpreted with caution. Ratio of standard error to estimate is >30 percent but <50 percent.
- Asian, Attained an Associate Degree
- Asian, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- Black or African American, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Hispanic or Latino, Attained a Certificate
- More than one race, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
Data for the following should be interpreted with caution. Ratio of standard error is >50 percent.
- Asian, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Black or African American, Attained a Certificate
- More than one race, Attained an Associate Degree
- More than one race, Attained a Certificate
- More than one race, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
Reporting standards not met:
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained an Associate Degree
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained a Certificate
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- Asian, Attained a Certificate
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained an Associate Degree
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained a Certificate
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- International students, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- International students, Attained an Associate Degree
- International students, Attained a Certificate
- International students, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- International students, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- International students, No Degree; Not Enrolled
Six-Year Outcomes for Students Who Started at Bachelor’s Institutions, by Race and Ethnicity: Fall 2011 Cohort
Data for for the following should be interpreted with caution. Ratio of standard error to estimate is >30 percent but <50 percent.
- Black or African American, Attained an Associate Degree
- Hispanic or Latino, Attained an Associate Degree
- Hispanic or Latino, Attained a Certificate
- Hispanic or Latino, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- Hispanic or Latino, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- White, Attained a Certificate
- More than one race, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
Data for the following should be interpreted with caution. Ratio of standard error is >50 percent.
- Asian, Attained an Associate Degree
- Asian, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- Asian, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- Black or African American, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- More than one race, Attained a Certificate
Reporting standards not met:
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained an Associate Degree
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained a Certificate
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- Asian, Attained a Certificate
- Asian, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained an Associate Degree
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained a Certificate
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- More than one race, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- International students, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- International students, Attained an Associate Degree
- International students, Attained a Certificate
- International students, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- International students, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- International students, No Degree; Not Enrolled
Six-Year Outcomes for Students Who Started at Associate Institutions, by Race and Ethnicity: Fall 2011 Cohort
Data for for the following should be interpreted with caution. Ratio of standard error to estimate is >30 percent but <50 percent.
- Asian, Attained a Certificate
- Asian, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- Asian, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- More than one race, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- More than one race, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- International students, Attained an Associate Degree
- International students, No Degree; Not Enrolled
Data for the following should be interpreted with caution. Ratio of standard error is >50 percent.
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained an Associate Degree
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained a Certificate
- International students, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- International students, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
Reporting standards not met:
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- International students, Attained a Certificate
Six-Year Outcomes for Students Who Started at Special Focus Institutions, by Race and Ethnicity: Fall 2011 Cohort
Data for for the following should be interpreted with caution. Ratio of standard error to estimate is >30 percent but <50 percent.
- All racial and ethnic groups, Attained a Certificate
- Asian, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- Black or African American, Attained an Associate Degree
- Black or African American, Attained a Certificate
- Black or African American, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Hispanic or Latino, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- White, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- More than one race, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- More than one race, Attained an Associate Degree
- More than one race, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- More than one race, No Degree; Not Enrolled
Data for the following should be interpreted with caution. Ratio of standard error is >50 percent.
- Asian, Attained an Associate Degree
- Asian, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- Asian, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- More than one race, Attained a Certificate
Reporting standards not met:
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained an Associate Degree
- American Indian or Alaska Native, Attained a Certificate
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- American Indian or Alaska Native, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- Asian, Attained a Certificate
- Asian, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained an Associate Degree
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Attained a Certificate
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, No Degree; Not Enrolled
- More than one race, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- International students, Attained a Bachelor’s Degree
- International students, Attained an Associate Degree
- International students, Attained a Certificate
- International students, No Degree; Enrolled at Four-Year Institution
- International students, No Degree; Enrolled at Less-than-Four-Year Institution
- International students, No Degree; Not Enrolled
[1] This report utilized the 2018 Basic Classification, as that was the most recent classification at the time of data analysis.
