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Digest of Education Statistics
2019 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest


Table 326.50. Number and percentage distribution of first-time postsecondary students starting at 2- and 4-year institutions during the 2011-12 academic year, by attainment and enrollment status and selected characteristics: Spring 2014
[Standard errors appear in parentheses]
Selected characteristic Total Students starting at 2-year institutions Students starting at 4-year institutions
Number (in thousands) Percentage distribution Percent who attained any degree or were still enrolled Percent with no degree and not enrolled Number (in thousands) Percentage distribution Percent who attained any degree or were still enrolled Percent with no degree and not enrolled Number (in thousands) Percentage distribution Percent who attained any degree or were still enrolled Percent with no degree and not enrolled
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Total 4,073   (254.9) 100.0   (†) 69.8   (0.99) 30.2   (0.99) 1,832   (170.4) 100.0   (†) 56.9   (1.52) 43.1   (1.52) 2,241   (87.5) 100.0   (†) 80.2   (0.56) 19.8   (0.56)
Sex                                                                        
Male 1,839   (127.8) 45.2   (0.61) 66.3   (1.54) 33.7   (1.54) 859   (82.8) 46.9   (0.96) 53.6   (2.04) 46.4   (2.04) 980   (50.3) 43.7   (0.84) 77.5   (1.09) 22.5   (1.09)
Female 2,234   (131.7) 54.8   (0.61) 72.6   (0.82) 27.4   (0.82) 972   (91.9) 53.1   (0.96) 59.9   (1.59) 40.1   (1.59) 1,261   (43.9) 56.3   (0.84) 82.4   (0.93) 17.6   (0.93)
                                                                         
Age when first enrolled                                                                        
19 years old or younger 3,103   (169.8) 76.2   (0.85) 75.9   (0.61) 24.1   (0.61) 1,201   (88.8) 65.6   (1.69) 61.5   (1.37) 38.5   (1.37) 1,902   (84.0) 84.9   (0.60) 85.0   (0.63) 15.0   (0.63)
20 to 23 years old 406   (37.7) 10.0   (0.44) 50.2   (3.38) 49.8   (3.38) 262   (34.0) 14.3   (0.76) 48.6   (2.99) 51.4   (2.99) 144   (9.4) 6.4   (0.39) 53.1   (5.48) 46.9   (5.48)
24 to 29 years old 252   (33.6) 6.2   (0.47) 47.6   (2.53) 52.4   (2.53) 173   (30.5) 9.4   (0.84) 47.6   (3.09) 52.4   (3.09) 79   (7.0) 3.5   (0.28) 47.5   (4.32) 52.5   (4.32)
30 years old or over 312   (27.2) 7.7   (0.35) 51.7   (3.08) 48.3   (3.08) 196   (28.1) 10.7   (0.71) 48.3   (3.23) 51.7   (3.23) 116   (7.7) 5.2   (0.43) 57.4   (4.36) 42.6   (4.36)
                                                                         
Race/ethnicity                                                                        
White 2,306   (159.0) 56.6   (0.74) 72.2   (0.95) 27.8   (0.95) 949   (99.4) 51.8   (1.16) 57.7   (1.65) 42.3   (1.65) 1,357   (64.2) 60.5   (0.89) 82.4   (0.75) 17.6   (0.75)
Black 564   (28.7) 13.9   (0.61) 59.6   (1.96) 40.4   (1.96) 258   (24.2) 14.1   (0.76) 48.0   (2.84) 52.0   (2.84) 307   (15.4) 13.7   (0.83) 69.4   (1.74) 30.6   (1.74)
Hispanic 765   (51.2) 18.8   (0.53) 67.3   (1.74) 32.7   (1.74) 453   (43.0) 24.7   (0.88) 59.4   (2.16) 40.6   (2.16) 312   (14.5) 13.9   (0.57) 78.6   (1.71) 21.4   (1.71)
Asian 234   (23.1) 5.7   (0.29) 80.9   (2.94) 19.1   (2.94) 81   (12.9) 4.4   (0.41) 64.6   (5.97) 35.4   (5.97) 153   (13.6) 6.8   (0.44) 89.6   (2.14) 10.4   (2.14)
Pacific Islander 16   (2.5) 0.4   (0.06) 72.4   (6.51) 27.6   (6.51) 7   (1.8) 0.4   (0.09) 64.2   (12.71) 35.8 ! (12.71) 9   (1.7) 0.4   (0.07) 79.4   (7.95) 20.6 ! (7.95)
American Indian/Alaska Native 38   (7.2) 0.9   (0.14) 54.9   (6.97) 45.1   (6.97) 20   (4.6) 1.1   (0.23) 47.1   (9.84) 52.9   (9.84) 18   (4.9) 0.8   (0.19) 63.8   (8.70) 36.2   (8.70)
Two or more races 149   (12.2) 3.7   (0.20) 68.6   (2.62) 31.4   (2.62) 64   (6.8) 3.5   (0.32) 57.0   (4.65) 43.0   (4.65) 86   (7.8) 3.8   (0.26) 77.2   (3.03) 22.8   (3.03)
                                                                         
Highest education level of parents                                                                        
Do not know 155   (18.0) 3.8   (0.26) 55.7   (3.45) 44.3   (3.45) 99   (14.8) 5.4   (0.45) 52.4   (4.73) 47.6   (4.73) 56   (5.7) 2.5   (0.22) 61.5   (7.12) 38.5   (7.12)
High school diploma or less 1,222   (85.4) 30.0   (0.56) 59.0   (2.01) 41.0   (2.01) 714   (74.7) 39.0   (0.92) 52.5   (2.10) 47.5   (2.10) 508   (18.3) 22.7   (0.73) 68.1   (2.08) 31.9   (2.08)
Some college/vocational 1,082   (71.5) 26.6   (0.51) 67.9   (1.59) 32.1   (1.59) 558   (47.4) 30.5   (0.87) 59.2   (2.29) 40.8   (2.29) 524   (27.7) 23.4   (0.66) 77.1   (1.37) 22.9   (1.37)
Bachelor's or higher degree 1,614   (93.8) 39.6   (0.66) 80.6   (0.80) 19.4   (0.80) 461   (44.2) 25.2   (0.83) 62.1   (2.07) 37.9   (2.07) 1,153   (53.2) 51.4   (0.74) 87.9   (0.82) 12.1   (0.82)
                                                                         
Dependency status when first enrolled                                                                        
Dependent 3,160   (185.4) 77.6   (0.69) 75.1   (0.67) 24.9   (0.67) 1,248   (97.2) 68.2   (1.46) 61.2   (1.42) 38.8   (1.42) 1,911   (91.7) 85.3   (0.90) 84.2   (0.66) 15.8   (0.66)
Independent with no dependents 416   (41.4) 10.2   (0.49) 54.0   (3.29) 46.0   (3.29) 265   (43.4) 14.5   (1.09) 49.0   (2.96) 51.0   (2.96) 151   (9.4) 6.7   (0.54) 63.0   (4.53) 37.0   (4.53)
Independent, married, and with
       dependents
178   (22.8) 4.4   (0.34) 51.5   (3.59) 48.5   (3.59) 121   (20.4) 6.6   (0.60) 48.0   (3.88) 52.0   (3.88) 57   (5.3) 2.5   (0.21) 58.9   (5.76) 41.1   (5.76)
Independent, not married, and with
       dependents
319   (21.0) 7.8   (0.36) 47.6   (2.55) 52.4   (2.55) 197   (21.1) 10.8   (0.63) 46.3   (3.07) 53.7   (3.07) 122   (8.0) 5.5   (0.44) 49.8   (3.62) 50.2   (3.62)
                                                                         
Income quarter in 20121                                                                        
Lowest quarter 990   (55.4) 24.3   (0.57) 61.8   (1.33) 38.2   (1.33) 527   (43.4) 28.8   (1.04) 54.8   (2.05) 45.2   (2.05) 463   (18.4) 20.7   (0.64) 69.7   (1.60) 30.3   (1.60)
Second quarter 1,006   (77.6) 24.7   (0.52) 67.1   (1.41) 32.9   (1.41) 513   (45.7) 28.0   (0.74) 58.2   (2.26) 41.8   (2.26) 493   (35.0) 22.0   (0.80) 76.4   (1.31) 23.6   (1.31)
Third quarter 1,031   (65.4) 25.3   (0.51) 71.0   (1.06) 29.0   (1.06) 466   (52.6) 25.5   (0.92) 58.0   (1.87) 42.0   (1.87) 565   (17.8) 25.2   (0.67) 81.7   (1.31) 18.3   (1.31)
Highest quarter 1,046   (70.4) 25.7   (0.50) 78.7   (1.90) 21.3   (1.90) 325   (41.0) 17.8   (0.85) 57.0   (3.21) 43.0   (3.21) 720   (33.3) 32.1   (0.63) 88.5   (1.02) 11.5   (1.02)
                                                                         
Disability in 20122                                                                        
With a disability 472   (31.9) 11.6   (0.38) 55.1   (2.93) 44.9   (2.93) 233   (28.8) 12.7   (0.69) 42.0   (3.85) 58.0   (3.85) 240   (10.5) 10.7   (0.54) 67.9   (2.36) 32.1   (2.36)
Without a disability 3,600   (228.2) 88.4   (0.38) 71.7   (0.86) 28.3   (0.86) 1,599   (145.5) 87.3   (0.69) 59.1   (1.38) 40.9   (1.38) 2,001   (85.9) 89.3   (0.54) 81.7   (0.61) 18.3   (0.61)
                                                                         
High school completion type                                                                        
High school diploma 3,664   (228.5) 90.0   (0.38) 71.7   (0.96) 28.3   (0.96) 1,571   (136.4) 85.8   (0.85) 58.3   (1.53) 41.7   (1.53) 2,093   (95.2) 93.4   (0.68) 81.8   (0.57) 18.2   (0.57)
GED or equivalent 274   (18.6) 6.7   (0.32) 46.7   (2.40) 53.3   (2.40) 177   (22.5) 9.7   (0.56) 46.3   (2.81) 53.7   (2.81) 97   (9.5) 4.3   (0.53) 47.5   (3.71) 52.5   (3.71)
Other type or no completion3 134   (17.0) 3.3   (0.26) 63.4   (4.23) 36.6   (4.23) 83   (17.2) 4.5   (0.56) 54.5   (5.16) 45.5   (5.16) 51   (4.9) 2.3   (0.25) 78.0   (5.07) 22.0   (5.07)
                                                                         
Highest level of high school
      mathematics4
                                                                       
Less than algebra II 575   (58.7) 15.3   (0.68) 54.9   (2.22) 45.1   (2.22) 395   (53.1) 24.2   (1.25) 49.6   (2.79) 50.4   (2.79) 180   (10.7) 8.5   (0.41) 66.6   (2.37) 33.4   (2.37)
Algebra II/trigonometry 1,408   (87.4) 37.4   (0.55) 67.1   (1.49) 32.9   (1.49) 726   (65.1) 44.4   (1.03) 57.5   (1.74) 42.5   (1.74) 682   (26.7) 32.1   (0.65) 77.3   (1.46) 22.7   (1.46)
Precalculus/calculus or higher 1,778   (95.2) 47.3   (0.72) 79.8   (0.72) 20.2   (0.72) 515   (36.8) 31.5   (1.19) 65.1   (1.64) 34.9   (1.64) 1,263   (62.7) 59.4   (0.76) 85.9   (0.82) 14.1   (0.82)
                                                                         
Earned any college-level credits in
      high school4
                                                                       
No 1,535   (105.7) 40.8   (0.64) 61.3   (1.13) 38.7   (1.13) 926   (95.4) 56.6   (1.15) 55.4   (1.40) 44.6   (1.40) 609   (18.4) 28.7   (1.01) 70.5   (1.31) 29.5   (1.31)
Yes 2,226   (132.1) 59.2   (0.64) 78.1   (0.91) 21.9   (0.91) 710   (54.7) 43.4   (1.15) 61.4   (2.11) 38.6   (2.11) 1,516   (81.5) 71.3   (1.01) 85.9   (0.66) 14.1   (0.66)
                                                                         
High school GPA4,5                                                                        
0.5 to 1.9 201   (16.8) 5.3   (0.26) 51.6   (2.85) 48.4   (2.85) 143   (13.4) 8.8   (0.56) 51.1   (3.61) 48.9   (3.61) 58   (6.2) 2.7   (0.24) 53.1   (4.59) 46.9   (4.59)
2.0 to 2.4 670   (54.2) 17.8   (0.52) 60.4   (1.54) 39.6   (1.54) 427   (42.6) 26.1   (0.88) 56.2   (2.04) 43.8   (2.04) 243   (15.7) 11.4   (0.45) 67.8   (2.36) 32.2   (2.36)
2.5 to 2.9 536   (40.5) 14.3   (0.40) 66.9   (1.83) 33.1   (1.83) 260   (27.8) 15.9   (0.60) 58.0   (2.41) 42.0   (2.41) 276   (16.9) 13.0   (0.50) 75.4   (2.13) 24.6   (2.13)
3.0 to 3.4 1,434   (80.1) 38.1   (0.59) 74.1   (1.20) 25.9   (1.20) 562   (56.6) 34.4   (0.88) 59.6   (2.46) 40.4   (2.46) 871   (27.4) 41.0   (0.86) 83.5   (1.00) 16.5   (1.00)
3.5 to 4.0 920   (57.1) 24.5   (0.49) 81.5   (0.96) 18.5   (0.96) 243   (21.3) 14.9   (0.81) 61.4   (2.58) 38.6   (2.58) 677   (40.3) 31.9   (0.76) 88.7   (0.75) 11.3   (0.75)
                                                                         
Took the SAT or ACT exam4,6                                                                        
No 636   (65.1) 16.9   (0.76) 54.5   (1.47) 45.5   (1.47) 498   (60.6) 30.5   (1.23) 55.1   (1.68) 44.9   (1.68) 137   (10.0) 6.5   (0.40) 52.4   (3.36) 47.6   (3.36)
Yes 3,125   (172.0) 83.1   (0.76) 74.7   (0.83) 25.3   (0.83) 1,138   (89.4) 69.5   (1.23) 59.2   (1.77) 40.8   (1.77) 1,988   (85.6) 93.5   (0.40) 83.5   (0.54) 16.5   (0.54)
Lowest quarter SAT (400 to 850) 729   (36.0) 19.4   (0.59) 62.4   (1.83) 37.6   (1.83) 429   (36.3) 26.2   (0.90) 56.6   (2.06) 43.4   (2.06) 300   (11.1) 14.1   (0.81) 70.6   (2.02) 29.4   (2.02)
Second quarter SAT (860 to 990) 793   (47.3) 21.1   (0.48) 72.0   (1.58) 28.0   (1.58) 317   (29.0) 19.4   (0.72) 61.7   (3.02) 38.3   (3.02) 476   (22.2) 22.4   (0.62) 78.9   (1.26) 21.1   (1.26)
Third quarter SAT (1000 to
       1140)
801   (50.5) 21.3   (0.48) 78.1   (1.23) 21.9   (1.23) 249   (20.4) 15.2   (0.81) 60.7   (3.18) 39.3   (3.18) 553   (34.7) 26.0   (0.75) 85.9   (1.19) 14.1   (1.19)
Highest quarter SAT (1150 or
       higher)
802   (53.3) 21.3   (0.49) 85.1   (1.03) 14.9   (1.03) 143   (17.1) 8.7   (0.63) 59.1   (3.62) 40.9   (3.62) 659   (40.3) 31.0   (0.79) 90.7   (0.70) 9.3   (0.70)
                                                                         
Control of first institution                                                                        
Public 2,952   (191.9) 72.5   (0.38) 67.7   (1.16) 32.3   (1.16) 1,636   (161.1) 89.3   (0.60) 55.9   (1.39) 44.1   (1.39) 1,316   (34.7) 58.7   (0.94) 82.3   (0.85) 17.7   (0.85)
Private, nonprofit 691   (40.3) 17.0   (0.34) 87.1   (0.98) 12.9   (0.98) 27   (4.9) 1.5   (0.31) 67.7   (6.12) 32.3   (6.12) 664   (41.8) 29.6   (0.78) 87.9   (0.86) 12.1   (0.86)
Private, for-profit 430   (27.9) 10.5   (0.25) 56.0   (2.68) 44.0   (2.68) 168   (13.3) 9.2   (0.42) 64.9   (4.54) 35.1   (4.54) 261   (16.4) 11.7   (0.39) 50.3   (2.33) 49.7   (2.33)
                                                                         
Intensity of enrollment through
      20147
                                                                       
Always full-time 2,402   (112.4) 59.0   (1.03) 76.4   (0.84) 23.6   (0.84) 761   (59.1) 41.5   (1.07) 61.1   (2.03) 38.9   (2.03) 1,642   (57.2) 73.3   (0.70) 83.5   (0.56) 16.5   (0.56)
Part-time for some or all semesters. 1,670   (145.7) 41.0   (1.03) 60.2   (1.25) 39.8   (1.25) 1,071   (114.8) 58.5   (1.07) 54.0   (1.57) 46.0   (1.57) 599   (34.8) 26.7   (0.70) 71.4   (1.51) 28.6   (1.51)
                                                                         
Remedial course taken                                                                        
No 3,141   (224.4) 77.1   (0.77) 71.8   (1.07) 28.2   (1.07) 1,242   (130.8) 67.8   (1.09) 56.8   (1.82) 43.2   (1.82) 1,899   (97.0) 84.7   (1.08) 81.6   (0.61) 18.4   (0.61)
Yes 931   (37.3) 22.9   (0.77) 62.9   (1.38) 37.1   (1.38) 589   (44.1) 32.2   (1.09) 57.3   (1.60) 42.7   (1.60) 342   (15.1) 15.3   (1.08) 72.6   (1.64) 27.4   (1.64)
                                                                         
Work intensity while enrolled in
      2011-12
                                                                       
Did not work 2,542   (146.3) 62.4   (0.65) 70.4   (1.04) 29.6   (1.04) 1,058   (100.5) 57.8   (0.91) 56.1   (1.73) 43.9   (1.73) 1,483   (50.6) 66.2   (0.78) 80.7   (0.72) 19.3   (0.72)
Worked less than 20 hours per week 424   (23.7) 10.4   (0.33) 84.1   (1.38) 15.9   (1.38) 119   (11.4) 6.5   (0.46) 70.0   (3.94) 30.0   (3.94) 305   (16.4) 13.6   (0.46) 89.6   (1.72) 10.4   (1.72)
Worked at least 20 hours per week 1,106   (93.0) 27.2   (0.70) 62.7   (1.59) 37.3   (1.59) 654   (66.2) 35.7   (0.85) 55.9   (1.84) 44.1   (1.84) 453   (30.0) 20.2   (0.70) 72.5   (1.79) 27.5   (1.79)
                                                                         
Declared a major during first year8                                                                        
No 513   (40.8) 12.8   (0.44) 75.0   (1.46) 25.0   (1.46) 183   (19.1) 10.3   (0.63) 57.1   (2.96) 42.9   (2.96) 330   (25.6) 14.8   (0.65) 84.9   (1.19) 15.1   (1.19)
Yes 3,486   (220.1) 87.2   (0.44) 69.2   (1.05) 30.8   (1.05) 1,592   (149.2) 89.7   (0.63) 57.0   (1.56) 43.0   (1.56) 1,894   (74.0) 85.2   (0.65) 79.5   (0.65) 20.5   (0.65)
                                                                         
Number of transfers through 2014                                                                        
Zero 3,332   (232.0) 81.8   (0.69) 65.9   (1.16) 34.1   (1.16) 1,475   (157.6) 80.6   (1.22) 49.5   (1.51) 50.5   (1.51) 1,856   (77.3) 82.8   (0.59) 78.9   (0.65) 21.1   (0.65)
One or more 741   (30.5) 18.2   (0.69) 87.3   (0.93) 12.7   (0.93) 356   (19.8) 19.4   (1.22) 87.9   (1.26) 12.1   (1.26) 385   (17.4) 17.2   (0.59) 86.7   (1.30) 13.3   (1.30)
                                                                         
Number of stopouts through 20149                                                                        
Zero 3,369   (210.6) 82.7   (0.44) 69.0   (1.16) 31.0   (1.16) 1,429   (135.3) 78.0   (0.74) 52.6   (1.68) 47.4   (1.68) 1,940   (78.4) 86.6   (0.55) 81.1   (0.61) 18.9   (0.61)
One or more 704   (49.1) 17.3   (0.44) 73.3   (1.17) 26.7   (1.17) 403   (38.8) 22.0   (0.74) 72.2   (1.96) 27.8   (1.96) 301   (16.3) 13.4   (0.55) 74.8   (1.89) 25.2   (1.89)
                                                                         
Took out loans in 2011-1210                                                                        
No 2,240   (145.0) 55.0   (0.55) 66.0   (1.24) 34.0   (1.24) 1,362   (108.6) 74.3   (1.31) 56.1   (1.53) 43.9   (1.53) 878   (41.6) 39.2   (0.71) 81.3   (1.12) 18.7   (1.12)
Yes 1,833   (114.3) 45.0   (0.55) 74.4   (0.97) 25.6   (0.97) 470   (65.6) 25.7   (1.31) 59.4   (2.49) 40.6   (2.49) 1,363   (51.6) 60.8   (0.71) 79.5   (0.64) 20.5   (0.64)
Up to $4,499 460   (45.9) 11.3   (0.49) 60.7   (2.30) 39.3   (2.30) 210   (39.2) 11.5   (1.10) 52.2   (2.48) 47.8   (2.48) 250   (11.5) 11.1   (0.42) 67.9   (2.55) 32.1   (2.55)
$4,500 to $6,009 479   (33.0) 11.8   (0.31) 78.1   (1.15) 21.9   (1.15) 97   (9.6) 5.3   (0.29) 57.9   (3.65) 42.1   (3.65) 382   (25.4) 17.0   (0.61) 83.2   (1.21) 16.8   (1.21)
$6,010 to $9,500 430   (23.9) 10.6   (0.37) 72.3   (1.45) 27.7   (1.45) 110   (17.7) 6.0   (0.51) 64.2   (4.39) 35.8   (4.39) 319   (11.6) 14.2   (0.58) 75.1   (1.33) 24.9   (1.33)
$9,501 or more 464   (21.8) 11.4   (0.34) 86.0   (0.84) 14.0   (0.84) 52   (6.1) 2.9   (0.28) 81.4   (4.47) 18.6   (4.47) 412   (18.6) 18.4   (0.43) 86.6   (0.97) 13.4   (0.97)
†Not applicable.
!Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.
1 Income quarters were computed separately for dependent and independent students. Quarters for independent students were based on the students' total family income, while quarters for dependent students were based on their parents' income.
2 Indicates whether student has a long-lasting condition such as deafness or serious difficulty hearing; blindness or serious difficulty seeing; serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions; or a long-term impairment that substantially limits one or more basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting, or carrying.
3 Includes students who attended a foreign high school, were home schooled, or received a completion certificate, as well as those without a high school diploma, certificate, or equivalency.
4 Survey questions regarding highest level of high school mathematics, college credits earned during high school, high school GPA, and SAT scores were restricted to respondents less than 30 years old.
5 A grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 corresponds to an A, a GPA of 3.0 corresponds to a B, a GPA of 2.0 corresponds to a C, and a GPA of 1.0 corresponds to a D.
6 Test score quarters are based on the SAT combined critical reading and mathematics score; scale ranges from 400 to 1600. ACT scores for students who only took the ACT exam were converted to SAT scores using a concordance table from the following source: Dorans, N. (1999). Correspondences Between ACT and SAT I Scores (College Board Report No. 99-1). New York: College Entrance Examination Board.
7 Full-time enrollment may vary by school. Full-time undergraduate students are typically enrolled for at least 12 semester or quarter hours per term or at least 24 clock hours per week.
8 The question regarding declaration of a major was restricted to students enrolled in a degree program.
9 A stopout is a break in enrollment of 5 or more consecutive months.
10 Includes amount of all loans received in 2011-12, including federal Direct PLUS Loans to parents of undergraduate students.
NOTE: Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2012/14 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:12/14). (This table was prepared February 2017.)

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