The percentage of students in the United States who successfully finish their college degrees within six years has shown remarkable stability, according to a new report. Data reveals that for the group which began their higher education journey in the fall of 2019, the completion rate has remained above the 61% mark, demonstrating the resilience of the education system even during challenging times.
Steady Outcomes Amidst Pandemic Challenges
The latest figures from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC) indicate a six-year completion rate of 61.1% for the fall 2019 student cohort. This marks a very slight dip of just 0.3 percentage points compared to the previous year's group. This consistency highlights a trend of stable graduation outcomes in recent years. Notably, this is the fourth consecutive student group to cross the 61% completion threshold.
Doug Shapiro, the Executive Director of the research centre, emphasized the significance of this steadiness. He pointed out that these students encountered the unprecedented disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic very early in their academic careers, starting in their second semester. The fact that their completion rates have held firm near recent highs is a testament to the strength and adaptability of students and institutions alike.
Key Factors Influencing Graduation Success
The report sheds light on several critical factors that significantly influence a student's likelihood of earning a degree. The data reveals stark contrasts based on enrolment patterns, demographics, and economic background.
Full-time vs. Part-time: The commitment level plays a major role. Among the fall 2019 entrants, 67.1% of full-time students graduated within six years. This figure is nearly double the 34.1% completion rate for part-time students.
The Dual Enrolment Advantage: One of the most powerful predictors of success is early exposure to college-level work. Students who earned college credits while still in high school, through dual enrolment programs, graduated at a much higher rate. Their six-year completion rate reached 71.1%, compared to only 57.2% for those who began their postsecondary courses after formally enrolling in college.
Demographic and Socioeconomic Divides: Completion rates also varied considerably by gender, age, and economic means. Women in the 2019 cohort graduated at a rate of 64.3%, outperforming men who had a 58.1% rate. Age at enrolment was another major factor, with students aged 20 or younger achieving a 63.8% completion rate, while those aged 21-24 lagged at 35.6%.
Perhaps the most pronounced gap was linked to economic background. Students hailing from the wealthiest 25% of neighbourhoods graduated at an impressive rate of 75.9%. In stark contrast, students from the bottom 25% of neighbourhoods by wealth had a completion rate of just 50.1%—a gap of nearly 26 percentage points.
Implications for the Future of Higher Education
The stability in completion rates, as Shapiro noted, reflects the daily efforts across the higher education ecosystem to help students persist and earn their credentials in a constantly changing environment. The findings underscore the importance of supportive structures and early college preparation programs like dual enrolment, which provide a clear head start.
For policymakers and educational institutions, the persistent gaps related to economic background and enrolment type present clear areas for focused intervention. The data suggests that increasing access to full-time study and providing robust support for students from less affluent backgrounds could be key to boosting overall national graduation rates and creating a more equitable higher education landscape.
