How Many Students are Completing Their Degree?

1. National Statistics

According to numbers recorded by the Department of Education, only 50% of students graduate with their undergraduate degree after six years.

1.1 Key Metrics

• Average time to degree completion: 4.45 years
• Drop-out rate: 20.5%
• Transfer rate: 12%
• First-year retention issues: 30% don’t return for second year

1.2 Student Outcomes After 6 Years

Based on Department of Education data:

• Graduated from original institution: 50%
• Transferred to another school: 12%
• Dropped out: 20.5%
• Still enrolled: 17.5%

2. On-Time Graduation Analysis

2.1 The Four-Year Expectation

Most students and parents assume that they will complete their degree in four years. Why wouldn’t they? Colleges and universities tell them their undergraduate degree should be completed in four years.

2.2 Reporting Practices

• Schools typically report six-year graduation rates
• Six-year rates are higher than four-year rates
• Marketing focuses on “four-year degrees”
• Actual completion times often differ

2.3 Top Performing Schools

• Analysis limited to schools with 1000+ students
• Rankings based on four-year completion rates
• Focus on student support and timely graduation

3. Find Your Match

Want to find a school with strong graduation rates that matches your needs? Try our College Match → tool:

• Compare graduation rates
• Analyze student success metrics
• Find schools that support timely completion
• Get personalized college recommendations