Graduation rates at public, private, and for-profit schools after 4, 6, or 8 years

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Bachelor‘s or equivalent degree-seekers attending 4-year institutions and completing bachelor‘s or equivalent degree (cohort year 2001), from USDOE</p>

<p>based on all colleges and universities in the US</p>

<p>Graduation rates are surprisingly low, especially at for-profits.
Many students take 5 or 6 years to graduate.</p>

<p>total %, public %, private non-profit %, private for-profit % </p>

<p>Graduation rate in 100% normal program completion time 36.4 29.5 51.0 19.1
Graduation rate in 150% normal program completion time 57.4 55.0 64.5 27.0
Graduation rate in 200% normal program completion time 60.2 58.4 66.1 29.1</p>

2

<p>For Profits = Lowest Graduation rates and Highest levels of debt</p>

3

<p>Graduation rates likely have a lot to do with admissions selectivity.</p>

<p>More selective schools have fewer students who need remedial courses, take light course loads because they cannot handle full course loads, have to repeat courses because they fail them the first time, or do poorly enough to be dismissed or get discouraged and drop out.</p>

4

<p>40% - 50% of students who graduate require more than 4 years to do it. The delay is more pronounced at private schools; you’d think the expense of the private school would create a sense of urgency.</p>