A study revealed the startling fact that 70% of Americans will attend college, but fewer than 2/3 will graduate - 30% will drop out in the first year. The Chronicle for Higher Education put together research that may help you improve your chance for college success. In this article we will look at some of the statistics to discover which states are above or below average in completion rates, and which specific colleges have the highest graduation rates. We will find out which states spend the most (and the least) per degree, and which states most support minority students. Knowing these facts may improve your odds. Read on, too, to learn about an alternative that may increase your odds for college success even more.
The Statistics
For the U.S. as a whole, the average graduation rate of those who get their degree in six years is twice that of those getting degrees in four years. The figures below, unless stated otherwise, reflect the six year rates. The national average for the six-year graduation rate is 57.6% for public colleges, 65% for private non-profit schools, and 33% at for-profit institutions.
- States with the Highest Completion Rates – The state with the highest completion rate for public four-year institutions is Delaware, with a 73.6% completion rate. New Hampshire and Virginia are each slightly above 70%. For private four-year colleges, Massachusetts is the highest at 75.5%, with Connecticut, Rhode Island, and California all near 74%. The state with the highest rated for-profit schools is Florida at 58.6%, with South Carolina a close second at 57.5%.
- States with the Lowest Completion Rates – The lowest rated states for public colleges is Alaska at 30.6%. Though not a state, the figures for Washington, D.C. are figured separately and are actually the lowest at 16.4%. The lowest for private non-profit institutions is Delaware at 29.6% - a drastic turnaround from its public school rating. Alaska, Hawaii, and New Mexico are all near 40%. West Virginia, Kansas, and Louisiana had single digit completion rates in the for-profit category. In fact, only seven states were above the national average, with several states not having any for-profit institutions.
- Men vs. Women Completion Rates – The graduation rates for women were nearly 6% higher than those for men in the public and private non-profit sectors, while men graduated more frequently from for-profit institutions 37.3% to 29.5%.
- States that Spend the Most Per Academic Award – This refers to the total estimated spending per certificate or degree, including instruction, student services, operations, and other institutional support. Interestingly, two of the top three highest spenders have the lowest completion rates – D.C. with the highest at $151,215, and Alaska third with $103,823. Delaware ranks second with $122,629 spent per award.
- States that Spend the Least Per Academic Award – Florida has the lowest amount per award at $34,779. The next lowest are Arkansas at $47,347, and Utah at $52,543.
- Public Colleges with the Highest Graduation Rates – Four colleges in particular are impressive with their completion rates – the University of Virginia at 93.1%, the University of California at Berkeley with 91%, and the University of North Carolina and the University of Michigan both at 90%.
- States where Minority Completion Rates Are Below Average – These are for four-year graduation rates: For black students, Arkansas with a 6.5% completion rate and Alaska, Louisiana, and Nevada with 10% rank the lowest. For Hispanics, Alaska and Nevada at 7.9% and 9% rank the lowest. American Indian completion rates are the lowest in Nevada and Arkansas at 6.5% and 15%.
- States where Minority Completion Rates Are Above Average – Washington, Delaware, and Florida have graduation rates above the U.S. average for both four-year and six-year completions. The completion rate for Hispanics and American Indians in Delaware is twice the rate for four-year graduation statistics, and 20% higher for six-year completion than those of Washington and Florida.
- Colleges where Minority Success Rates Are Low – Wayne State University graduates less than one in ten black students, while 43.5% of their white students graduate. The City University of New York is another institution where the difference in graduation rates is significant – 34% of black students vs. 53% for white students.
- Colleges where the Gap in Success Rates Is Small – The University of California at Riverside has a 63% graduation rate for Hispanic students, and a 67% completion rate for black students. White students have a 62% graduation rate there. For the past seven years, the graduation rate for Hispanics at Florida International University has surpassed the rate for white students. Old Dominion’s completion rate for black students is above the national average at 56%.
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