What is a good four-year graduation rate?

A good four-year graduation rate varies, but generally, over 70-80% is excellent, with top universities exceeding 90%, while national averages for all four-year schools hover around 50-60%, often showing private non-profits (around 76%) outperforming public (around 71%) and for-profit schools (under 36%). A rate above 60-65% for a specific school is considered decent, but look for higher if you're at a selective institution.

What is the average 4-year graduation rate?

College Graduation Rates

Among students at 4-year institutions, the graduation rate is 53.5%. College graduation rates at 4-year institutions increased 1.89% between 2019 and 2022. 2-year institutions average a 30.8% graduation rate.

What's considered a good graduation rate?

What is a good graduation rate for college? Top colleges often maintain graduation rates above 90%. For example, Harvard holds a graduation rate of 98%, while Yale holds a graduation rate of 97%.

Why is the 4 year graduation rate so low?

College graduation rates are low because multiple interacting academic, financial, institutional, and social factors prevent students from completing degrees on time or at all.

Is an 85 graduation rate good?

The California state graduation average is 85%. The local Los Angeles Unified School District graduation rate is 87%.

Why More Students Are Forgoing Four-Year College

How rare is graduating with a 4.0 in college?

A 4.0 GPA in college is considered rare and highly impressive, placing a student in the top 2-10% nationally, as it signifies straight A's, which becomes increasingly difficult to maintain with challenging courses, differing grading scales (A vs. A-), and real-world responsibilities like jobs or extracurriculars. While grade inflation means more students achieve high GPAs, a perfect 4.0 remains a significant accomplishment, often requiring immense dedication.
 

Is it bad if a university has a low graduation rate?

There is one fact that stands, even among the debate, for a school to be considered a quality college, it needs to have at least a decent graduation rate. No one wants to attend a college that has an extremely low percent that goes on to graduate.

Why is Gen Z not going to college?

Gen Z is questioning college due to skyrocketing costs, overwhelming student debt, and a perceived poor return on investment (ROI), especially with AI changing jobs and stronger alternatives like skilled trades emerging, leading many to seek faster, cheaper paths to financial stability and job security. They've seen Millennials' debt struggles, witness online success stories, and value hands-on training over traditional degrees, making college less of a guaranteed ticket to success.
 

Is it rare to graduate in 4 years?

Data shows the majority of college students in the US take between four and five years to earn a bachelor degree. But, it is becoming more common for undergraduates to take six years to graduate. Fewer than half of students at four-year colleges graduate within four years.

Is $20 okay for graduation?

Yes, $20 can be a perfectly good graduation gift, especially from acquaintances, coworkers, or distant family, often accompanied by a thoughtful card; for closer relationships or college graduations, $20 might be on the lower end, with $25-$50 or more being common, but always prioritize your budget and relationship with the graduate.
 

Is graduating with a 2.7 GPA good?

Is a 2.7 GPA good? This GPA means that you've earned an average grade of a B- across all of your classes. Since a 2.7 GPA is lower than the national average of 3.0 for high school students, it will limit your options for college. 3.48% of schools have an average GPA below a 2.7.

What percentage of the US population has a 4 year degree?

Over one in three adults (35 percent) had attained at least a bachelor's degree. Both of these measures are all time highs.

What is graduating with a 3.5 called?

To be eligible for undergraduate honors at graduation, a minimum overall grade point average of 3.5 for cum laude, 3.7 for magna cum laude and 3.9 for summa cum laude is required.

What is a normal 4-year college degree?

"A bachelor's degree is a 4-year undergraduate degree and is the second level degree that can be obtained," Talbot said. "You do not need an associate degree to qualify to start a bachelor's degree."

What is the 4-year graduation rate at Harvard?

Harvard's completion rates over standard time frames further underline its academic excellence. The four-year graduation rate stands at 66%, a figure that is considerably high and situates the university in the top 15% for prompt degree completion.

What percent of people don't finish college?

The Reality We Can't Ignore

Nearly 4 in 10 students who start college never graduate. About 39% of first-time, full-time bachelor's degree seekers leave without earning a degree within eight years (National Center for Education Statistics, 2023). The most dangerous year for persistence is the first one.

What is the #1 easiest major?

There's no single #1 easiest major, as it depends on your strengths, but Psychology, Education, English, and Criminal Justice frequently rank as the easiest due to higher average GPAs and less demanding technical skills compared to STEM fields, often focusing on human behavior, societal structures, and communication. Majors like Sociology, Social Work, and Communications are also commonly cited as easier liberal arts options. 

Why are 4 year graduation rates so low?

Factors that contribute to low graduation rates like access to financial aid, academic support services, and the flexibility of degree programs can all influence a student's likelihood of completing their degree.

What is a good 4 year grad rate?

College Graduation Rates by School Type

Private nonprofit four-year colleges have an average graduation rate of about 76%. Public four-year colleges have an average graduation rate of about 71%.

What do Gen Z use instead of 😂?

Gen Z uses the 💀 (Skull) emoji to mean "I'm dead" from laughter, the 😭 (Loudly Crying Face) for intense humor or emotion, and sometimes the 🤡 (Clown Face) for foolishness, while finding the 😂 emoji outdated or "cheugy," often preferring these more dramatic or layered expressions of extreme amusement. 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.
 

Which US college has the lowest graduation rate?

Top 10 Lowest Graduation Rate Colleges in the US

• Western International University.
• Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City.
• University of Cincinnati, Blue Ash College.
• National American University, Rapid City. ...
• Georgia Highlands College.
• College of Southern Nevada.
• Sitting Bull College.
• Harris Stowe State University.

What is the #1 reason students drop out of college?

The leading causes of college dropouts are overwhelmingly financial strain (high costs, need to work) and mental health challenges (stress, anxiety, burnout), often compounded by work/family pressures, making students feel overwhelmed, academically unprepared, or uncertain about their path, with financial instability being cited by a majority as a top reason for even considering leaving.
 

Why is Purdue graduation rate so low?

Student retention, a key factor often correlated with graduation, is also low at 68%. This retention rate positions the university in the lower 30th percentile, indicating that a significant portion of new students do not return after their first year.