by Imed Bouchrika, Phd
Chief Data Scientist & Head of Content
Completing a college degree is often regarded as a crucial step in securing a successful career. In fact, recent statistics present a strong correlation between higher education and job security.
Despite this data, college dropout rates still remain to be a concern in the United States education sector, with 40% of undergraduate students leaving universities and colleges every year (Education Data Initiative [EDI], 2021).
Research finds that dropouts often encounter more economic challenges due to lack of college credentials, connections, and career-related experiences. To help shed light on this issue, this guide outlines the current college dropout rates, the reasons why students drop out, as well as its impact on students who choose to do so.
College Dropout Rates Table of Contents:
- College Dropout Effects
- College Dropout General Statistics
- College Dropout Rates by Demographics
- College Retention and Graduation Rates by State
- Why do students drop out of college?
College Dropout Effects
Dropping out of college may have been the right path for some of the most well-known entrepreneurs today, from Microsoft’s Bill Gates to Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. However, being asuccessful dropout takes quite a lot of skill, vision, and luck.
With these in mind, college dropout effects are bound to be reflected mostly as financial difficulties in the coming years, with unemployment being the issue of most concern.
On average, these students are expected to earn $21,000 less than college graduates, ultimately making 35% less than their counterparts per year (ThinkImpact, 2021).
Furthermore, students with high school diplomas have a 12.7% more chance of living in poverty, compared to bachelor’s degree holders (or higher) at 4.8% (EDI, 2021). It is not a coincidence, too, that college dropouts have been found to be less financially knowledgeable.
Xiao, et al (2020) found out the “differences in specific financial knowledge items among college students, graduates, and dropouts… [concluding that] college graduates are more likely to perform several specific desirable financial behaviors than college students and dropouts.” Published in The Journal of Consumer Affairs, the study findings suggest that “Financial educators should emphasize action they’re taking when they provide financial education for student loan holders who are college students and dropouts.”
In a nutshell, failing to complete a college degree would likely result in lower-income and scarce opportunity, given the active and competitive pool of graduate applicants.
College Dropout General Statistics
College Dropout Rates in the United States
While high school dropout rates are decreasing, the United States experiences a daunting 40% college dropout rate every year. With only 41% of students graduating after four years without delay, American universities tend to pale at the scale of this recurring issue (ThinkImpact, 2021).
Due to such conditions, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ranked the U.S. 19th (out of 28 countries) in graduation rates (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2021).
Graduation Rates
College graduation rates show that only 14.7% of those enrolled in bachelor’s degrees and 37.5% of associate’s degree-enrollees finish their studies in six years, (EDI, 2021).
In this case, American students tend to either delay their studies or drop out completely—with the latter option being more appealing to older enrollees.
- College freshmen make up 30% of the total dropout rate (ThinkImpact, 2021).
- In 2019, less than half of Americans aged between 25-30 had credentials that exceed a high-school diploma, as only four million aged over 25 received “some” college credit (EDI, 2021).
- In four-year institutions, 56% of students tend to drop out after six years (What to Become, 2021).
- Students aged between 24-29 are most likely to drop out of four-year colleges, as 52.5% of them have already left without a degree (What to Become, 2021).
- Only 30% of these dropouts re-enroll in college to finish their degree (EDI, 2021).
Source: National Center for Education Statistics
Economic Impact
Meanwhile, reports find that students with higher student loans tend to drop out more than those with less or none, likely in the hopes of reducing their expenses.
However, with student loan debt piling up to $1.5 trillion in 2019—and given that more than two million borrowers have failed to settle their accounts in the last six years—dropout rates consequently impact both the student and the economy, as the lack of a college degree would limit one’s financial recovery, (Admissionsly, 2021).
- 51.04% of students drop out because they cannot pay for college (What to Become, 2021).
- Moreover, 55% of students struggle to financially support their education, which results in 79% of them delaying their graduation (ThinkImpact, 2021).
- $3.8 billion is consequently lost each year (ThinkImpact, 2021).
- In the next 10 years, taxpayers are expected to absorb $31 billion in losses, due to more students defaulting on their loans (EDI, 2021).
College Dropout Rates by Country
From an OECD report in 2019, statistics show that the Republic of Korea had the highest population (aged between 25-34) that graduated from college.
Meanwhile, the U.S. ranked 11th—sharing this same measure with Iceland (12th) and Finland (13th)—as researchers learned that only 28% of its total population has obtained this level of education.
College Dropout Rates by Demographics
College Dropout Rates by Race
In totality, reports indicate that Asian students are least likely to drop out of college, while Black students are more likely to. Here are the details on college dropout rates by race.
Asians
- 72% of students finished their degrees, with 61% at the same college and 8% at a different college (ThinkImpact, 2021)
- Furthermore, 14% no longer finish college (ThinkImpact, 2021).
- 10% of students drop out of four-year programs and 35% of students drop out of two-year programs (EDI, 2021).
White
- 67% of students finished their degrees, with 52% at the same college and 11% at a different college (ThinkImpact, 2021)
- Furthermore, 21% no longer finish college (ThinkImpact, 2021).
Hispanic
- 55% of students finished their degrees, with 44% at the same college and 8% at a different college (ThinkImpact, 2021)
- Furthermore, 27% no longer finish college (ThinkImpact, 2021).
American Indians
- In both two-year and four-year colleges, 36% of American Indians drop out (EDI, 2021).
- The number of college graduates declined from 30% to 27% between 2000 to 2017 (Admissionsly, 2021).
- On the contrary, 23% of full-time students graduate within four years (Admissionsly, 2021).
Black
- 46% of students finished their degrees, with 35% at the same college and 7% at a different college (ThinkImpact, 2021)
- Black students who take four-year courses often graduate within six years; however, males are more likely to drop out (EDI, 2021).
- Furthermore, 35% no longer finish college (ThinkImpact, 2021).
More Than One Race
- 61% of students finished their degrees, with 49% at the same college and 9% at a different college, (ThinkImpact, 2021)
- Furthermore, 24% no longer finish college (ThinkImpact, 2021).
Educationdata.org, February 2021
College Dropout Rates by Gender
College dropout rates by gender show that women tend to fare better than men in college, as statistics claim that six women are enrolled for every four men. Data likewise shows that there are more female high-school graduates enrolled in college compared to men, with dropout rates 20% higher among men than women, (ThinkImpact, 2021).
In terms of graduation rates, the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported in 2013 that 66% more females graduate in six years, while only 60% of males do. They further claim that:
- In public universities, 65% of women graduate compared to 59% of men.
- In private nonprofit colleges, 71% more women graduate than 64% of men.
- In private for profit colleges, 28% more men graduate than 25% more women.
Suffice it to say, women are more likely to finish college, as Harvard University history and economic professor, Claudia Goldin claims that the majority of bachelor’s degrees are awarded to female graduates rather than their male counterparts. She further asserts that:
“Historically, men have been more likely to drop out of school to work in hot economies, whether it’s in the factories of World War II or the fracking mines of the Dakotas” (The Atlantic, 2021).
Men
- In 2018, 66.7% of high school graduates aged between 16-24 were enrolled in university (EDI, 2021).
- In median lifetime income, male college graduates earn about $900,000 more than high-school graduates (ThinkImpact, 2021).
- 70% of the 2020 enrollment decline accounted for male students (The Atlantic, 2021).
Women
- In 2018, 71.3% of high-school graduates aged between 16-24 were enrolled in university (EDI, 2021).
- In terms of median lifetime income, female college graduates earn about $630,000 more than high-school graduates (ThinkImpact, 2021).
College Completion Rates for Low-Income Students
Without a doubt, wealth largely influences a student’s decision on their preferred college and degree program.
In the academic year 2020-2021 alone, college tuition was estimated to be around $37,650 in private colleges, and between $10,560 (in-state) and $27,020 (out-of-state) in public colleges—thus, students with lower incomes tend to experience difficulties in keeping up with the college costs necessary to secure their education (What to Become, 2021)
Forty-two percent of low-income students are more likely to take up associate degrees, while 32% would pursue bachelor’s degrees (Inside Higher Ed, 2019). Moreover:
- 51% of these students enroll in two-year (ie. community college) or shorter programs.
- 28% attend public colleges.
- 13% attend for-profit colleges.
- 8% attend private colleges.
Also, 78% of higher-income students tend to enroll in four-year degrees, while only 13% pursue two-year degrees (Inside Higher Ed, 2019). Furthermore:
- 54% of these students enroll in public colleges.
- 26% attend private colleges.
- 18% attend community colleges.
- 2% attend for-profit colleges.
In exclusive colleges, 37% more higher-income students outpace 7% of lower-income enrollees, since their financial advantage allows them to focus more on university requirements (Inside Higher Ed, 2019).
After graduating high school, 53% of low-income students either delay or do not enroll in college, while only 11% of higher-income students do the same; as 88% of them enter university within a year (Inside Higher Ed, 2019).
In addition, “first generation students” or students whose parents have not obtained a college degree, tend to leave college more, as they comprise 40% of college dropouts (EDI, 2021). Granted, 89% of those coming from low-income families are also more likely to drop out of university (ThinkImpact, 2021).
Yet, whether they come from a public or private university, a study from U.S. News shows that schools themselves do not inherently disadvantage students of poorer backgrounds. Rather, it is their family’s financial history and overall educational attainment that directly affect their educational opportunities.
Source: Georgetown University Center on Education & The Workforce, 2018
College Dropout Rates for Students in Foster Care
Foster kids have a smaller likelihood of finishing college due to financial challenges.
- Only 8-10% of students in foster care graduate from college (ThinkImpact, 2021).
- However, when given support, their graduation rates increase by 44%.
College Dropout Rates for Students with Disabilities
Special Education is given to students diagnosed with one or more of the 13 disabilities. according to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, But due to the lack of accommodations provided by higher education institutes, students with disabilities tend to drop out of college. Janine Solomon, an attorney at Massachusetts Advocates for Children, notes that:
“In the end…a lot of the onus will come back on the school. It is a large task, and it is more of an ‘it takes a village’ approach” (Hechinger Report, 2017).
College dropout rate for students with disabilities show that:
- While 90% of high school graduates with disabilities are expected to be “college-ready,” less than 35% of students graduate from four-year colleges in eight years, and those enrolled in two-year courses fare worse, (Higher Ed Dive, 2017).
- 49% of students diagnosed with ADHD but are not given medication are more likely to drop out (What to Become, 2021).
- 47% of students diagnosed with schizophrenia tend to leave university (What to Become, 2021).
- A third of students diagnosed with depression do not finish their degree (What to Become, 2021).
College Retention and Graduation Rates by State
Retention Rate
Retention rate pertains to the percentage of first-time, freshmen undergraduates who continue to enroll in the following academic year. In U.S. colleges, the average retention rate is about 71%.
A 2017-2018 study from ThinkImpact (2021) further details that:
- Four-year institutions with open admissions recorded a 62% retention rate, while those with acceptance rates less than 25% have a 97% retention rate. This indicates that students enrolled in more exclusive colleges are more likely to finish their degrees.
- Public two-year institutions have a 62% retention rate, while private institutions average 66% at “for-profits” and 72% at non-profits.
Graduation Rate
Meanwhile, graduation rate refers to the percentage of first-time, freshmen undergraduates who complete their degree “within 150% of the published time for the program” (FAFSA, 2021). This means that four-year course undergraduates are expected to finish their degree in six years, while two-year course enrollees should graduate in three.
Yet, despite the soaring numbers of college enrollments, college dropouts tend to deplete the statistic on the average graduation rate is only 59% in U.S. colleges (Admissionsly, 2021).
- 57% of students delay their four-year courses while 33% of them drop out (ThinkImpact, 2021).
- 36% of students from private universities graduate on time while 17% do in public or non-flagship colleges, (Admissionsly, 2021).
- In two-year colleges, about 15.9% graduate with only 5% finishing their degree on time, (Admissionsly, 2021).
Graduation Rates by State
In totality, Massachusetts reports the highest college retention rates by state at 44% while West Virginia ranks lowest at 21%. With Harvard University and the M.I.T. in its ranks, the former state is reported to have the sixth-highest funding for education, as well as the highest salary for educators, which, therefore, allows most students to thrive in its learning environments (MassLive, 2021).
Moreover, in 2021, the World Population Review reports the following:
Source: World Population Review 2021
Source: World Population Review 2021
Why Do Students Drop Out of College?
Based on statistics, America’s growing college dropout rate is attributed mostly to financial challenges. With tuition costs having risen by 1,375% since 1978—and with universities requiring more from applicants, through the years—students, thus have to decide between finishing their degree or dropping out to resolve their lingering hardships.
Financial Concerns
Based on research from ThinkImpact (2021), 38% of students admit to dropping out because of financial pressure. Provided the increasing expenses of higher education as well as the difficulty of finding scholarships, grants, and financial aid, low-income students often cannot keep up with university demands.
In addition, 9% of students state that the lack of family support contributes to their struggle.
Academic Disqualification
Academic pressure accounts for 28% of college dropouts, as students may be unprepared or unequipped for the challenges of university-level schooling (ThinkImpact, 2021).
In fact, 25% of students who have taken college readiness— assessments were still redirected to remedial courses—with fewer of them even graduating, due to this educational and financial roadblock (EDI, 2021).
Difficulty in Balancing Life and College
54% of college dropouts claim that the difficulty of balancing a work-study arrangement has caused them to leave college. The EDI reports that universities tend to lessen their financial aid coverage for students earning more than $7,000, thus, putting part-time and low-income students in a tough position.
Should they fail to integrate themselves with university life—be it in academics, expenses, or their full-time commitment—students might consider dropping out, in order to seek more accommodating opportunities elsewhere.
Finishing College Is Key to a Bright Future
There are many factors that come into play when students decide to drop out of college. Be it the rising costs or demanding academics, over the years, similar reasons have continued to bring about college dropouts, regardless of a university’s student demographic, status, and location.
But keep in mind: Getting a college education is the key to achieving a successful future. Therefore, what is important now is to understand how these challenges impact aspiring university graduates, in order to plan ahead and finish your degree on time.
References:
- Admissionsly. (2021). Eye-Opening College Dropout Rates & Statistics – 2021.https://admissionsly.com/college-dropout-rates/
- Fain, P. (2019). Wealth’s Influence on Enrollment and Completion. Inside Higher Ed.https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/05/23/feds-release-broader-data-socioeconomic-status-and-college-enrollment-and-completion
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). (n.d.). What are graduation, retention, andtransfer rates? https://fafsa.ed.gov/help/fotw91n.htm
- Hanson, M. (2021). College Dropout Rates. Education Data Initiative (EDI).https://educationdata.org/college-dropout-rates#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20the,college%20dropout%20rate%20at%2054%25.
- Mader, J. and Butrymowicz, S. (2017). The vast majority of students with disabilities don’t get acollege degree. https://hechingerreport.org/vast-majority-students-disabilities-dont-get-college-degree/
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). (2021). International Educational Attainment.https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cac
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). (2021). Undergraduate Retention and GraduationRates. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/ctr
- Smith, T. (2021). Massachusetts has the best school system in America, study says. MassLive.https://www.masslive.com/living/2021/07/massachusetts-has-the-best-school-system-in-america-study-says.html
- ThinkImpact. (2021). College Dropout Rates.https://www.thinkimpact.com/college-dropout-rates/
- Thompson, D. (2021). Colleges Have a Guy Problem. The Atlantic.https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/09/young-men-college-decline-gender-gap-higher-education/620066/
- What To Become. (2021). Everything You Need to Know About the College Dropout Rate.https://whattobecome.com/blog/college-dropout-rate/
- World Population Review. (2021). College Graduation Rates By State 2021.https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/college-graduation-rates-by-state
FAQs
What race has the highest college dropout rate? ›
College Dropouts Rates for Different Races
What is this? For full-time four-year college students; 35% of Asian students drop out – this represents the lowest percentage. In comparison, 52% of black students, 42% of white students, 40% of Hispanic students, and 53% of Native American students drop out.
Graduation Rate
57% of students delay their four-year courses while 33% of them drop out (ThinkImpact, 2021). 36% of students from private universities graduate on time while 17% do in public or non-flagship colleges, (Admissionsly, 2021).
While financial issues are probably the most common reason for dropping out of college, every student has their own reasons. Some unfortunately have family issues, a lack of support, or unexpected medical problems that are beyond their control.
What race is most likely to drop out? ›Dropout Rate by Race
In particular, American Indian/Alaska Native high school students have the highest high school dropout rate at 9.6% (NCES, 2021).
In 2020, the high school drop out rate for American Indian/Alaska Natives in the United States was 11.5 percent -- the highest rate of any ethnicity. In comparison, the high school drop out rate for Asians was just over two percent.
What is the graduation rate for college students by race? ›The 150 percent graduation rate was highest for Asian students (36 percent), followed by Pacific Islander students (34 percent), White students (32 percent), Hispanic students (30 percent), American Indian/Alaska Native students (27 percent), students of Two or more races (25 percent), and Black students (23 percent).
Is the college dropout rate increasing? ›The national dropout rate for six-year colleges has decreased by 1.2%. Within six years of starting college, 56% of students drop out. The cost of studying is one of the main reasons students drop out of college, according to 2022 college dropout rate statistics.
How does the student dropout rate affect the economy as a whole? ›Students who take out loans to attend college but never finish are three times as likely to default, earn lower incomes throughout their lives, and have higher rates of unemployment. That leaves billions of taxpayers' significant federal investment in higher education wasted.
What are the two biggest causes of students dropping out? ›Academic difficulties and the family's economic needs are two of the most common reasons kids drop out of school.
Why do black students dropout of college? ›Black college students have lower six-year completion rates for any type of degree or certificate program than any other racial or ethnic group because of racial discrimination, the high cost of higher education and a multitude of external responsibilities, according to a new Lumina Foundation-Gallup 2023 State of ...
What is the impact of college dropout? ›
Economic Impacts of College Dropouts
College dropouts borrow more money on average to pay for school than their counterparts who complete their degrees. They are also left with less ability to pay back their student loan debt, as dropouts earn less and have higher rates of unemployment than those with degrees.
Asian Americans had the highest educational attainment of any race, followed by whites who had a higher percentage of high school graduates but a lower percentage of college graduates. Persons identifying as Hispanic or Latino, without regard to race, had the lowest educational attainment.
What races go to college the most? ›College degrees are increasing among all racial and ethnic groups, but white and Asian Americans are far more likely to hold a college degree or earn one than Black, Hispanic or Native Americans.
What race drops out of school the most in the US? ›The status dropout rate varied by race/ethnicity in 2020. The status dropout rate for Asian 16- to 24-year-olds (2.4 percent) was lower than the rates for Black (4.2 percent) and White (4.8 percent) 16- to 24-year-olds, and all three rates were lower than the rate for those who were Hispanic (7.4 percent).
What percent of black kids drop out? ›The status dropout rate in 2018 was higher for males (6.3%) than female youth (5.1%). In 2018, the dropout rate for white youth (4.5%) remained below the rate for Black youth (5.8%) and Hispanic youth (9.0%). Overall, the dropout rate in 2018 (5.7%) reached its lowest level since 1975.
What is the racial inequality in graduation rates? ›Almost 70 percent of white students completed a degree by the summer of 2021, but only 45 percent of Black students hit this milestone. The Black-white college completion gap actually widened slightly from 23 to 24 percentage points.
Which racial group has the lowest graduation rates? ›The high school graduation rate is lowest among American Indian/Alaska Native and Black students. Asian/Pacific Islander students have the highest rate, followed by white and Hispanic students.
What race has the highest level of education? ›Racial Demographics of Master's Degree Holders and Higher
Asians are 5 times more likely than Latino/Hispanics to hold an advanced degree. Asian attainment is at least 92% higher than other races.
White or Caucasian students in bachelor's programs have a five-year graduation rate of 62.2%. 2,410,070 or 59.1% of college graduates are White or Caucasian.
What is the breakdown of college students by race? ›The college enrollment rate in 2020 was higher for 18- to 24-year-olds who were Asian (64 percent) than for those who were White (41 percent), Hispanic (36 percent), Black (36 percent), of Two or more races (34 percent), Pacific Islander (34 percent), and American Indian/Alaska Native (22 percent).
Are most college dropouts successful? ›
Based on these numbers, the college dropout success rate is only at around 6%. There is no guarantee of financial success if one chooses to leave school and pursue an interest that could possibly be translated into a scalable business.
What is the college dropout crisis? ›Among students at four-year colleges, two of every five do NOT complete their college degree. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the six-year graduation rate is only 64% for all students seeking bachelor's degrees.
What percent of minorities graduate from college? ›| Student Group | 2019–20 4-Year Graduation Rate | 2020–21 4-Year Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino | 82.1% | 80.5% |
| Pacific Islander | 84.3% | 81.7% |
| White | 87.8% | 88.2% |
| Two or More Races | 85.5% | 85.5% |
Many students leave college because they couldn't find a healthy school-work-life balance. The time spent on class lectures, projects, tests and studying prove to be too much. College is a multiyear commitment, and many students drop out because they just don't have that kind of time to complete their degrees.
Why do low income students dropout of college? ›“The number one reason that low-income students drop out is financial. And often it's a little thing, that a middle- or higher-income family wouldn't even think twice about.” It's not that the students don't try to economize.
What are the factors influencing the dropout rate? ›The findings reveal that personal economic factors, academic satisfaction, academic performance, and family economics are the most influential.
Who are students at risk of dropping out? ›❖ Students at risk of dropping out are likely to have poor attendance, low achievement, and negative attitudes toward school.
What puts students at risk of dropping out? ›Potential dropouts tend to be retained in the same grade, have poor academic grades, and feel disengaged from school. They are more likely to come from low socioeconomic status families where parents did not get very far in their schooling.
How many college students drop out due to stress? ›Of students who report struggling with their mental health, 59% say they consider dropping out 'all of the time' (14%) or 'some of the time' (45%). This means, overall, close to half of all college students (42%) think about dropping out due to the state of their mental health.
Are minorities more likely to drop out of college? ›52% of Black students and 53% of Native American students drop out of 4-year colleges, this is compared to only 42% of white students dropping out (National Center for Educational Statistics 2019).
Are minorities more likely to drop out of school? ›
While Black and White students have a similar likelihood of dropping out when we control for free/reduced lunch eligibility and suspension, Black students nonetheless have an overall statewide dropout rate that is 48% higher than Whites (2.9% vs. 1.8%).
Why do African Americans drop out of high school? ›Financial pressure — whether sheer lack of funds or the need to hold down a paying job while in college — is a primary reason. Spending excessive time in remedial classes that carry no college credit but drain financial aid is another.
What are some fun facts about the college dropout? ›Altogether, 'The College Dropout' contains 14 samples.
Of the 21 tracks on his very first album, 14 samples were used on 12 songs. Most notably you'll recognise Luther Vandross' 'House Is Not A Home' on 'Slow Jamz,' Chaka Khan's 'Through The Fire' on 'Through The Wire' and Marvin Gaye's 'Distant Lover' on 'Spaceship.
Among those between the ages of 18 and 24, dropouts were more than twice as likely as college graduates to live in poverty according to the Department of Education. Dropouts experienced a poverty rate of 30.8 percent, while those with at least a bachelor's degree had a poverty rate of 13.5 percent.
Why you should not quit college? ›Finishing school can help you be more successful in your career, by requiring you to learn and build skill areas you wouldn't develop on your own. Graduating with a degree takes a lot of the “luck” out of starting a successful career – not to mention, many entry-level jobs require a degree.
What race graduates the most from college? ›- White or Caucasian students in bachelor's programs have a five-year graduation rate of 62.2%.
- 2,410,070 or 59.1% of college graduates are White or Caucasian.
- 7% of White or Caucasian graduates earn 56.2% of associate's degrees.
- 51% of White or Caucasian graduates earn 62.3% of bachelor's degrees.
Black and Pacific Islander first-year students also dropped out at higher rates than Hispanic, White, and Asian students. Asian students have consistently had the lowest dropout rate after their first year of all other racial/ethnic groups at an average of 16.6%.
What race has the lowest graduation rate in the US? ›The high school graduation rate is lowest among American Indian/Alaska Native and Black students. Asian/Pacific Islander students have the highest rate, followed by white and Hispanic students.
What is the college education rate by race? ›From 2011 to 2021, the percentage of adults age 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher increased from 34.0% to 41.9% for the non-Hispanic White population; from 19.9% to 28.1% for the Black population; from 50.3% to 61.0% for the Asian population; and from 14.1% to 20.6% for the Hispanic population.
What are the statistics for college education by race? ›Among the other racial/ethnic groups, 35 percent of White adults, 34 percent of adults of Two or more races, 21 percent of Black adults, 18 percent of Pacific Islander adults, and 15 percent each of American Indian/Alaska Native and Hispanic adults had earned a bachelor's or higher degree.
What is the college graduation rate by race? ›
The 150 percent graduation rate was highest for Asian students (36 percent), followed by Pacific Islander students (34 percent), White students (32 percent), Hispanic students (30 percent), American Indian/Alaska Native students (27 percent), students of Two or more races (25 percent), and Black students (23 percent).
What ethnic group is the least educated? ›Asian Americans had the highest educational attainment of any race, followed by whites who had a higher percentage of high school graduates but a lower percentage of college graduates. Persons identifying as Hispanic or Latino, without regard to race, had the lowest educational attainment.
What race has the lowest education? ›The research shows that Hispanic, Black or African American, and Native American or Alaska Native groups continue to have lower rates of educational attainment than Whites.
Which racial group is least likely to earn a bachelor's degree? ›While more than half of all degrees that white students earn are bachelor's degrees, just under 40 percent of the degrees that black and Hispanic students earn are bachelor's degrees. By contrast, underrepresented students of color see a much larger fraction of their completions come at the lowest credential level.
What percentage of blacks go to college? ›From 2000 to 2018, college enrollment rates among 18- to 24-year-olds increased for those who were Black (from 31 to 37 percent) and Hispanic (from 22 to 36 percent). The college enrollment rate in 2018 was also higher than in 2000 for those who were White (42 vs. 39 percent).
What is race to the top US education? ›Race to the Top was introduced by President Obama in 2009, as a competitive fund to promote school improvement on both a state and local level. At that time, $4.35 billion was pledged in what the White House called the “largest ever federal investment in education reform,” according to the Washington Post.
What school has the most white students? ›United States Colleges Ranked by Highest Percent of White Students. Below is a ranking of the 3620 colleges in the United States with the highest percent of white students. American Conservatory Theater tops the list with white students comprising 100% of the school's enrollment.
What group in the US population has the highest rate of going straight from high school to college? ›Across the state, Asian students enroll in college at higher rates than students from all other racial/ethnic backgrounds, 78%, as compared to Black students at 58%, Latino students at 56%, and White students at 69%.