Graduation Rate Trends

Graduation, Transfer-out, and Students to Faculty Ratio Trends

There are 3,095 active four-years colleges and universities in United States - 869 public and 2,226 private schools. The 2023 average graduation rate of the 4-year colleges is 53%. Compared to the graduation rate of 10 years ago, the rate becomes higher from 50% to 53%. The students to faculty ratio of the schools is 14 to 1 and it decreased by 1 compared to 15 to 1, ratio of 10 years ago.

Trends by State

Graduation Rate Changes

The average graduation rate of the last 11 years is 51.40% where the current academic year rate is 53%. The following table and chart show the changes of graduation rate at over the past 11 years (2013-2023).

Year	Total	Men	Women
2013-14	50%	47%	54%
2014-15	50%	47%	54%
2015-16	50%	47%	54%
2016-17	50%	47%	54%
2017-18	51%	48%	55%
2018-19	52%	49%	56%
2019-20	52%	49%	56%
2020-21	53%	49%	57%
2021-22	53%	50%	57%
2022-23	53%	49%	57%
Average	51.40%	48.20%	55.40%

Transfer-out Rate Changes

The average transfer-out rate of the last 11 years is 23.60% where the current year rate is 23%. The following table and chart illustrate the change of transfer-out rate at from 2013 to 2023.

Year	Transfer-out Rate
2013-14	23%
2014-15	23%
2015-16	23%
2016-17	24%
2017-18	24%
2018-19	24%
2019-20	24%
2020-21	24%
2021-22	24%
2022-23	23%
Average	23.60%

Retention Rate Changes

The average retention rate of the last 11 years is 73.40% for full-time students and 54.00% for part-time students. The following table and chart show the changes of retention rate at from 2013 to 2023.

Year	Full-time	Part-time
2013-14	73%	54%
2014-15	73%	53%
2015-16	73%	54%
2016-17	73%	56%
2017-18	74%	55%
2018-19	74%	54%
2019-20	74%	55%
2020-21	74%	54%
2021-22	73%	53%
2022-23	73%	52%
Average	73.40%	54.00%

Student to Faculty Ratio Changes

The average student to faculty ratio over the last 11 years is 14.20 to 1 where the current academic year ratio is 14 to 1. The following table and chart illustrate the change of student to faculty ratio at since 2023.

Year	Student to Faculty Ratio
2013-14	15:1
2014-15	15:1
2015-16	14:1
2016-17	14:1
2017-18	14:1
2018-19	14:1
2019-20	14:1
2020-21	14:1
2021-22	14:1
2022-23	14:1
Average	14.20:1

Most Searched Colleges (last 30 days)

4-Year Colleges

DeVry University-Illinois Private, four-years | Lisle, IL
Brookline College-Albuquerque Private, four-years | Albuquerque, NM
Carrington College-Tucson Private, 2-4 years | Tucson, AZ
Stevens-Henager College Private, four-years | Orem, UT
Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach Private, four-years | Virginia Beach, VA
Lawson State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Birmingham, AL
Harvard University Private, four-years | Cambridge, MA
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Public, four-years | Chapel Hill, NC
University of Kansas Public, four-years | Lawrence, KS
Stanford University Private, four-years | Stanford, CA

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Graduate

George Washington University Private, four-years | Washington, DC
Capella University Private, four-years | Minneapolis, MN
Saint Cloud State University Public, four-years | Saint Cloud, MN
Walden University Private, four-years | Minneapolis, MN
Bethel University Private, four-years | Saint Paul, MN
University at Buffalo Public, four-years | Buffalo, NY
Bethany Global University Private, four-years | Bloomington, MN
Winona State University Public, four-years | Winona, MN
Northcentral University Private, four-years | San Diego, CA
St Catherine University Private, four-years | Saint Paul, MN

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Online Schools

Colorado Christian University Private, four-years | Lakewood, CO
Minnesota North College Public, 2-4 years | Hibbing, MN
Capella University Private, four-years | Minneapolis, MN
Walden University Private, four-years | Minneapolis, MN
Rasmussen University-Minnesota Private, four-years | St. Cloud, MN
Normandale Community College Public, 2-4 years | Bloomington, MN
Howard University Private, four-years | Washington, DC
Central Lakes College-Brainerd Public, 2-4 years | Brainerd, MN
Bethany Global University Private, four-years | Bloomington, MN
Crown College Private, four-years | Saint Bonifacius, MN

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Trade Schools

Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center Private, Less than 2-years | Minneapolis, MN
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis Private, Less than 2-years | Minneapolis, MN
National American University-Rochester Private, four-years | Rochester, MN
New England Hair Academy Private, Less than 2-years | Malden, MA
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York Private, Less than 2-years | New York, NY
Unitech Training Academy-New Orleans Private, Less than 2-years | New Orleans, LA
Georgia Institute of Cosmetology Private, Less than 2-years | Athens, GA
Apex Technical School Private, Less than 2-years | Long Island City, NY
CBD College Private, four-years | Los Angeles, CA
Southern Westchester BOCES-Practical Nursing Program Public, Less than 2-years | Harrison, NY

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