Data Summary:
- A major report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows that college completion rates in America are better than previously reported, showing that 22% of students earn a degree from a school other than the one they first enrolled at and 25% of transfer students cross state lines.
- According to the new statistics, 54% of first-time students nationwide graduate within six years (with 12% of those students being transfer students) and 75% of full-time students complete their degree in the same time period--both higher rates than other published college completion data.
- The center says the data is based on "near-census national coverage," which tracks 94% of students at all types of institutions with the exception of those that aren't participants in federal aid programs.
From the article:
New and improved data show that America is doing better on college completion than had previously been revealed, according to a major report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. But plenty of work remains on degree production, and it's unclear how the more reliable numbers will affect the "completion agenda" and a related push for more accountability in higher education. The statistics released today shift some of the focus to students from colleges when it comes to tracking graduation rates. That's a welcome change, experts said, because students move around so much th...