Postsecondary Graduation Rates, Outcome Measures, Student Financial Aid, and Admissions

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About 19 percent of first-time full-time students who enrolled in 2-year institutions in 2012 graduated within two years (100 percent of normal time), according to new postsecondary data. However, that rate jumped to 36 percent when the time for graduation was extended to four years (200 percent of normal time). The National Center for Education Statistics released a First Look report today (December 28) that contains data on Graduation Rates for Selected Cohorts, 2008-13; Outcome Measures for cohort year 2008; Student Financial Aid in Postsecondary Institutions, Academic Year 2015-16; and Admissions in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2016. The findings are from the winter data collection of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Other findings include: • Among first-time student who enrolled at an institution in 2010 seeking a bachelor’s or equivalent degree, approximately 60 percent earned such a degree within six years at the same institution where they began their studies; • Among full-time, first-time students who enrolled in 2012 at less-than 2-year institutions, 45 percent graduated within 100 percent of the normal time. When that time span was extended to within 200 percent, the graduation rate rose to 70 percent; • Among full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who were awarded any grant aid, the differences in average cost of attendance and net price (average cost minus grant aid) of attendance for the 2015-16 academic year varied by institutional sector. For those attending public 4-year institutions, average cost was approximately $19,600 and net price was about $12,400; for those attending nonprofit 4-year institutions, average cost was roughly $39,500 and net price was about $22,200; and for those attending for-profit 4-year institutions, average cost was approximately $27,900 and net price was about $21,900; and • Title IV institutions that do not have an open admission policy received approximately 10.4 million applications for fall 2016 admission. About 5.8 million of these applications resulted in admission, and around 1.6 million students enrolled.