Four-Year College Graduation Rates

I've been hearing a lot about this lately, and it's slightly stressing me out. What's the graduation rate for students who complete their Bachelor's degree in the traditional 4-year time frame vs. those who stretch it out more?

While the specific rates can vary by the type and location of the schools, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), for first-time, full-time undergraduate students who began seeking a bachelor's degree at a 4-year degree-granting institution in fall 2017, the 4-year completion rate was 49 percent. That's less than half of all students graduating on the "traditional" four-year timeline. In contrast, the 6-year graduation rate for the same group was substantially higher, at 65 percent.

There can be many reasons why a student may take more than four years to graduate, including changing majors, working part-time, struggling academically, or having personal circumstances that slow down their pace. While completing a degree in four years can save time and tuition cost, it's not the only path to success, and many students benefit from a more flexible approach to their education. It's important to keep in mind that everyone's journey is unique and there's no one-size-fits-all timeline for achieving a Bachelor's degree!