Completion: Improvements, Declines, and Gaps in Performance
Since the early 1990s, most states have increased the number of students earning certificates and degrees as a proportion of state residents without a college degree. However, overall rates of completion have remained fairly low and even the performance of the best states in this area is not impressive. For example, in the top states only 68% of students at four-year institutions complete a bachelor’s degree within six years of enrolling.
Key Indicator: All degree completions per 100 students
 |
|
48 states improved or stayed the same on the key indicator |
 |
|
2 states declined on the key indicator |
Improvements
First-time, full-time students completing a bachelor’s degree within six years of college entrance
| Idaho |
33% to 43% |
| Louisiana |
33% to 42% |
| Nebraska |
44% to 56% |
| Kentucky |
37% to 47% |
Certificates and degrees awarded at all colleges and universities per 1,000 state residents (ages 18 to 44) without a college degree
| Kentucky |
15 to 32 |
| Georgia |
15 to 27 |
| Arkansas |
15 to 24 |
| West Virginia |
18 to 27 |
Gaps
First-time, full-time students completing a bachelor’s degree within six years of college entrance
| |
Whites |
Blacks |
| Delaware |
73% |
41% |
| Illinois |
65% |
34% |
| Maryland |
73% |
42% |
| Michigan |
58% |
32% |
| |
|
|
| |
Whites |
Hispanics |
| Illinois |
65% |
45% |
| New Jersey |
66% |
49% |
| New York |
63% |
43% |
| Texas |
56% |
38% |
| |
|
|
| |
Whites |
Native Americans |
| New Mexico |
47% |
25% |
| North Dakota |
48% |
17% |
| Washington |
65% |
41% |
