- The national six-year college completion rate was 61.1 percent for the fall 2019 cohort, marking the fourth consecutive year with minimal mobility.
- The slight decline in completion rates stems in part from an increase in the number of students still enrolled after six years, not from higher dropout rates.
- Significant gaps remain across enrollment status, age, income background, and prior participation in dual enrollment.
The latest national data on college completion shows a stark picture: Of the group of students who started college in the fall of 2019, only 61.1% earned a degree or certificate within six years.. This number has ranged between 61.1% and 61.4% since the 2016 group.
While the pattern of stability shows a trend, it is also a reminder that one in three college students never finish school.
The slight decline of 0.3% on the previous year was not driven by a rise in the number of students leaving university altogether. Instead, more students remained enrolled at the six-year mark (9% of the cohort, up 0.4%), suggesting that a portion of them may go on to complete it in later years.
The results come from the latest Annual progress and achievement reportwhich tracks all incoming students (full-time and part-time) who entered a U.S. degree-granting institution in the fall of 2019. Completions at any institution are counted, including post-transfer, providing one of the most comprehensive national views of student outcomes.
Patterns of college completion and enrollment
The report’s findings extend beyond six years’ results. the The eight-year completion rate for the fall 2017 cohort remained at 64.8%which corresponds to the highest level of the previous year.
More students finish within the first six years, and fewer students finish in the seventh or eighth year. Compared to the class of 2008, the percentage of students who completed studies during the seventh and eighth years decreased by 1.6%.
At the same time, the stability in both six- and eight-year completion suggests that fundamental challenges (academic preparation, affordability, and unstable enrollment patterns) continue to shape students’ trajectories.
Full time vs part time
While the national average appears stable, analysis of the data reveals more pronounced disparities.
The gap between full-time and part-time students remains striking. Among students who began full-time study in 2019, 67.1% earned credentials within six years. For part-time students, only 34.1% completed the study, while more than half (51.7%) dropped out.
These differences reflect not only the obvious advantage of earning more credits each semester, but also the financial and life constraints that often drive students to enroll part-time. Students who juggle work and family responsibilities face longer paths to school completion, and are more likely to experience interruptions that can cause them to drop out of school altogether.
For families evaluating college options, these numbers highlight a practical consideration: Even modest increases in credit burden, when possible, can significantly increase the likelihood of completion.
Dual enrollment students get the best results
Prior dual enrollment remains one of the strongest predictors of school completion.
Among 2019 freshmen, 71.1% of students who took college courses completed high school within six years — a much higher percentage than the 57.2% among those with no dual enrollment experience. Dropout patterns reinforce this gap: one in three non-dual-enrolled students dropped out by the sixth year, compared with one in five dual-enrolled students.
These differences may reflect both academic preparation and credit momentum gained from completing college-level coursework prior to graduation.
What these numbers mean for students and families
For families navigating college decisions, the data provides several practical signals:
- Expect slow national change. Completion rates have remained approximately constant for four consecutive cohorts, suggesting that individual institutional outcomes, program choices, and personal circumstances are often more important than national averages.
- Full-time enrollment, when possible, remains a strong predictor of completion. Many colleges now offer structured scheduling, block scheduling, or financial incentives designed to help students earn more credits.
- Dual enrollment can provide a meaningful advantage. Earning associate’s credits in high school not only shortens the time needed to earn a degree, but is also associated with stronger long-term persistence.
- Age and income gaps persist. Support systems—academic advising, financial aid counseling, and access to child care—remain critical for older, low-income students.
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