What is a good university graduation rate?

A good university graduation rate is generally above 70%, with top private universities reaching 90%+ and strong public universities often above 80%, while the national average hovers around 60-65% for six-year rates, and rates below 50% at less selective schools can signal potential challenges. What's "good" varies by school type, but higher rates often indicate better student support, resources, and program strength.

What is the average graduation rate for a university?

The 6-year graduation rate was 63 percent at public institutions, 68 percent at private nonprofit institutions, and 29 percent at private for-profit institutions. The overall 6-year graduation rate was 60 percent for males and 67 percent for females.

Is 60% a good graduation rate?

Average College Graduation Rate

According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC), in 2024, just over 61% of college students graduated within six years of starting their program. Almost 65% graduated within eight years.

Is an 85 graduation rate good?

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

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.

4-Year College Graduation Rates

Is a 50% graduation rate bad?

What is a bad graduation rate in college? Less-selective schools often maintain graduation rates below 50%. Schools that offer open enrollment (no set admission requirements) typically have the lowest graduation rates.

What 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.

How rare is graduating with a 4.0 in college?

Maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout college is relatively rare, but definitely achievable. The prevalence of students with a 4.0 GPA depends on the institution and the program you're studying. In more rigorous or competitive programs, it may be less common, while in less demanding programs, it might be more attainable.

What state has the highest dropout rate?

At the forefront of states with the highest percentage of high school dropouts are California, Texas, and New York. California, despite being the most populous state, faces a significant educational hurdle with only 84.7% of residents aged 25 and over holding a high school diploma or higher.

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.

Why is Gen Z not going to college?

Sentiment toward college is shifting as Gen Z questions rising tuition costs, overwhelming student debt, and an unpredictable job market.

What college has the highest graduation rate in the US?

Elite colleges—such as our example school, Harvard—boast some of the highest rates in the country. In fact, Harvard takes the number-one spot with a whopping 97% graduation rate. Now, you might be wondering how nearly every student is graduating from Harvard.

What percentage of college students don't finish?

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 average graduating GPA in the US?

Key Takeaways. The average high school GPA in America is 3.0, roughly a B average. The average college GPA in America is slightly higher at around 3.15. GPA is an important measure of academic performance, but it doesn't entirely define your abilities.

How many people actually 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.

How important is graduation rate?

A graduation rate is among the most important statistics in higher education because of its powerful ability to gauge whether colleges are accomplishing their greatest mission – to see all enrolled students become alumni.

What is the #1 hardest college to get into?

Harvard University

The Harvard acceptance rate is 3%, tied with Caltech for the #1 spot on our list of hardest colleges to get into. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is a quintessential New England school globally recognized for its rigorous academic programs and influential alumni.

Which degree has the most dropouts?

According to a more recent report by Debut Careers, the subjects with the highest drop-out rates are:

• Computer Sciences (9.8%)
• Business and Administrative Studies (7.4%)
• Mass Communications and Documentation (7.2%)
• Engineering and Technology (7.2%)
• Creative Arts and Design (7.2%)
• Biological Sciences (6.7%)

Which state is ranked lowest in education?

Below are the country's least educated states, according to Wallethub.

• West Virginia is the least educated U.S. state, with an overall score of 23.15. ...
• Mississippi has a score of 25.35. ...
• Louisiana holds the third-place spot for the least educated states. ...
• Arkansas's score is 31.00 out of 100.

Who had a 10.03 GPA?

That's right - Patel has a 10.03 GPA. A 4.0 GPA is normally considered perfect, so how it is possible that Patel's GPA is so much higher than that? "I took a lot of online, AP and dual enrollment classes, and it was mostly the AP and dual enrollment classes, I think pushed it over the edge," she said.

Has anyone ever graduated with a 5.0 GPA?

Yes, achieving a 5.0 GPA is possible, but not always - it depends on the high school's specific grading scale. In some high schools, AP and IB classes have a weighted GPA scale where an A in those classes is worth 5.0 points instead of the typical 4.0 points for a regular class.

What is the hardest year of college?

While many students consider junior year the hardest year of college due to the combination of challenging courses and career prep, this can vary. Some students find freshman year more difficult because of the transition, while others feel the stress most intensely in senior year as they prepare to graduate.

What is the lowest ranked university in the USA?

A new ranking has named the worst school in America in 2025. According to a ranking from Think Impact, the worst school in America is Florida Memorial University, which is a private coeducational institution located in Miami Gardens, Florida.

What is the easiest university to graduate from?

Northeast

• Stevenson University (Stevenson, MD) ...
• University at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY)
• University of Maryland, Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, MD)
• University of Valley Forge (Phoenixville, PA)
• University of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC)
• Wheaton College (Norton, MA)
• Yale University (New Haven, CT)

What is considered a good graduation rate?

Top colleges often maintain graduation rates above 90%. For example, Harvard holds a six-year graduation rate of 98%, while Yale holds a six-year graduation rate of 96%. Various factors, like the college's selectivity, academic rigor, student body demographics, and resources and support, can influence graduation rates.