Table 326.30.

Retention of first-time degree-seeking undergraduates at degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by attendance status, level and control of institution, and percentage of applications accepted: Selected years, 2006 to 2019

Attendance status, level, control, and percent of applications accepted	First-time degree-seekers (adjusted entry cohort),1  by entry year							Students from adjusted cohort returning in the following year							Percent of first-time undergraduates retained
	2006	2009	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2007	2010	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2006 to 2007	2009 to 2010	2014 to 2015	2015 to 2016	2016 to 2017	2017 to 2018	2018 to 2019
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
Full-time students
All institutions	2,170,504	2,371,220	2,211,406	2,180,675	2,177,194	2,180,000	2,189,016	1,541,201	1,705,242	1,647,295	1,640,963	1,643,904	1,648,563	1,667,255	71.0	71.9	74.5	75.3	75.5	75.6	76.2
Public institutions	1,522,928	1,732,822	1,639,875	1,619,768	1,620,387	1,624,257	1,629,013	1,071,986	1,222,688	1,200,374	1,198,609	1,203,750	1,206,831	1,218,853	70.4	70.6	73.2	74.0	74.3	74.3	74.8
Nonprofit institutions	466,078	478,755	489,834	491,898	491,742	505,749	511,834	368,783	381,364	396,659	399,434	399,354	409,756	416,353	79.1	79.7	81.0	81.2	81.2	81.0	81.3
For-profit institutions	181,498	159,643	81,697	69,009	65,065	49,994	48,169	100,432	101,190	50,262	42,920	40,800	31,976	32,049	55.3	63.4	61.5	62.2	62.7	64.0	66.5
4-year institutions	1,457,745	1,452,575	1,501,582	1,524,088	1,534,945	1,552,952	1,575,193	1,114,923	1,146,534	1,212,464	1,231,920	1,242,850	1,257,806	1,280,414	76.5	78.9	80.7	80.8	81.0	81.0	81.3
Public institutions	911,509	936,840	995,110	1,018,253	1,028,968	1,041,528	1,058,081	711,200	745,703	807,687	825,885	836,675	845,962	861,878	78.0	79.6	81.2	81.1	81.3	81.2	81.5
Open admissions	61,832	45,458	31,477	26,888	26,839	27,518	27,825	38,383	28,675	19,618	16,689	16,671	17,296	16,898	62.1	63.1	62.3	62.1	62.1	62.9	60.7
90 percent or more accepted	68,835	63,453	60,160	71,117	69,603	82,664	90,253	49,274	46,280	43,559	51,533	50,537	60,453	66,987	71.6	72.9	72.4	72.5	72.6	73.1	74.2
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	244,177	212,573	281,422	317,658	288,854	306,275	345,056	185,457	163,639	221,245	251,113	228,127	241,653	272,382	76.0	77.0	78.6	79.1	79.0	78.9	78.9
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	417,093	462,554	456,622	435,275	468,321	433,857	402,931	336,365	376,021	376,587	357,438	383,791	354,829	331,743	80.6	81.3	82.5	82.1	82.0	81.8	82.3
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	103,118	131,241	145,622	150,981	156,438	167,077	161,544	88,908	112,209	128,568	133,668	139,838	148,466	144,458	86.2	85.5	88.3	88.5	89.4	88.9	89.4
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	7,716	14,326	14,947	15,563	15,951	22,740	30,371	7,048	13,649	14,336	14,959	15,330	21,999	29,339	91.3	95.3	95.9	96.1	96.1	96.7	96.6
Information not available	8,738	7,235	4,860	771	2,962	1,397	101	5,765	5,230	3,774	485	2,381	1,266	71	66.0	72.3	77.7	62.9	80.4	90.6	70.3
Nonprofit institutions	457,505	470,795	476,823	481,241	484,334	495,012	501,254	363,459	376,668	388,745	392,330	394,415	402,044	408,536	79.4	80.0	81.5	81.5	81.4	81.2	81.5
Open admissions	26,565	22,613	11,792	13,289	13,378	12,116	16,599	16,019	14,349	7,414	8,499	8,795	7,870	10,314	60.3	63.5	62.9	64.0	65.7	65.0	62.1
90 percent or more accepted	13,632	15,135	22,225	28,503	23,596	33,038	30,924	9,543	10,953	16,188	20,247	16,897	23,969	22,466	70.0	72.4	72.8	71.0	71.6	72.5	72.6
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	102,358	80,301	94,830	80,940	91,372	92,984	104,763	78,424	62,196	74,984	63,872	71,328	72,983	82,717	76.6	77.5	79.1	78.9	78.1	78.5	79.0
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	190,079	218,072	199,677	199,442	203,979	201,208	200,478	148,681	170,232	157,866	157,181	162,016	158,251	158,123	78.2	78.1	79.1	78.8	79.4	78.7	78.9
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	93,560	98,312	95,164	102,823	98,053	95,866	77,385	81,880	84,941	82,511	89,426	84,421	82,883	66,589	87.5	86.4	86.7	87.0	86.1	86.5	86.0
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	26,696	32,980	48,076	54,573	51,642	55,035	70,291	25,639	31,790	46,054	51,699	49,508	53,162	67,789	96.0	96.4	95.8	94.7	95.9	96.6	96.4
Information not available	4,615	3,382	5,059	1,671	2,314	4,765	814	3,273	2,207	3,728	1,406	1,450	2,926	538	70.9	65.3	73.7	84.1	62.7	61.4	66.1
For-profit institutions	88,731	44,940	29,649	24,594	21,643	16,412	15,858	40,264	24,163	16,032	13,705	11,760	9,800	10,000	45.4	53.8	54.1	55.7	54.3	59.7	63.1
Open admissions	45,240	16,826	21,732	16,511	13,943	10,035	8,995	18,720	9,260	10,827	8,270	6,706	5,487	5,314	41.4	55.0	49.8	50.1	48.1	54.7	59.1
90 percent or more accepted	6,285	3,722	591	770	1,108	803	409	3,454	1,311	308	472	559	560	214	55.0	35.2	52.1	61.3	50.5	69.7	52.3
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	3,703	3,224	5,265	3,253	1,174	2,900	3,537	2,081	1,549	3,459	2,159	885	1,852	2,316	56.2	48.0	65.7	66.4	75.4	63.9	65.5
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	12,845	12,061	1,489	3,000	4,577	2,344	2,120	6,536	6,839	994	1,973	3,108	1,639	1,525	50.9	56.7	66.8	65.8	67.9	69.9	71.9
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	18,142	6,098	463	1,020	672	300	624	8,036	3,423	353	802	363	240	497	44.3	56.1	76.2	78.6	54.0	80.0	79.6
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	0	3	0	8	1	0	3	0	2	0	8	1	0	1	†	66.7	†	100.0	100.0	†	33.3
Information not available	2,516	3,006	109	32	168	30	170	1,437	1,779	91	21	138	22	133	57.1	59.2	83.5	65.6	82.1	73.3	78.2
2-year institutions	712,759	918,645	709,824	656,587	642,249	627,048	613,823	426,278	558,708	434,831	409,043	401,054	390,757	386,841	59.8	60.8	61.3	62.3	62.4	62.3	63.0
Public institutions	611,419	795,982	644,765	601,515	591,419	582,729	570,932	360,786	476,985	392,687	372,724	367,075	360,869	356,975	59.0	59.9	60.9	62.0	62.1	61.9	62.5
Nonprofit institutions	8,573	7,960	13,011	10,657	7,408	10,737	10,580	5,324	4,696	7,914	7,104	4,939	7,712	7,817	62.1	59.0	60.8	66.7	66.7	71.8	73.9
For-profit institutions	92,767	114,703	52,048	44,415	43,422	33,582	32,311	60,168	77,027	34,230	29,215	29,040	22,176	22,049	64.9	67.2	65.8	65.8	66.9	66.0	68.2
Part-time students
All institutions	461,574	545,635	470,772	429,109	411,269	403,410	381,623	190,547	229,566	205,366	192,527	186,683	182,673	171,588	41.3	42.1	43.6	44.9	45.4	45.3	45.0
Public institutions	417,314	497,453	445,495	404,279	390,075	379,770	359,572	170,682	209,164	195,147	181,993	177,878	172,723	161,996	40.9	42.0	43.8	45.0	45.6	45.5	45.1
Nonprofit institutions	14,618	10,359	8,885	10,446	8,825	13,898	12,349	7,027	4,892	3,681	4,951	3,893	5,965	5,377	48.1	47.2	41.4	47.4	44.1	42.9	43.5
For-profit institutions	29,642	37,823	16,392	14,384	12,369	9,742	9,702	12,838	15,510	6,538	5,583	4,912	3,985	4,215	43.3	41.0	39.9	38.8	39.7	40.9	43.4
4-year institutions	81,423	72,046	46,606	48,716	46,515	50,249	48,847	37,988	32,344	21,818	23,845	22,669	24,708	23,983	46.7	44.9	46.8	48.9	48.7	49.2	49.1
Public institutions	47,377	33,327	25,833	28,096	29,746	29,463	29,077	23,337	16,944	13,917	15,374	16,029	16,153	15,575	49.3	50.8	53.9	54.7	53.9	54.8	53.6
Open admissions	19,247	8,356	4,605	4,412	5,403	4,176	4,152	8,004	3,586	1,791	1,873	2,136	1,654	1,694	41.6	42.9	38.9	42.5	39.5	39.6	40.8
90 percent or more accepted	3,745	4,004	1,951	2,931	2,326	2,509	2,511	1,909	1,959	880	1,382	1,013	1,089	1,157	51.0	48.9	45.1	47.2	43.6	43.4	46.1
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	8,969	6,493	6,663	8,722	9,007	9,642	11,111	4,196	3,268	3,591	4,972	4,925	5,319	6,068	46.8	50.3	53.9	57.0	54.7	55.2	54.6
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	11,599	11,254	10,343	9,815	10,729	10,892	9,379	6,766	6,053	6,107	5,654	6,458	6,629	5,348	58.3	53.8	59.0	57.6	60.2	60.9	57.0
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	3,373	3,046	2,040	2,112	2,103	2,176	1,788	2,223	1,982	1,395	1,433	1,392	1,414	1,208	65.9	65.1	68.4	67.9	66.2	65.0	67.6
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	65	44	58	48	65	58	80	50	35	49	38	57	44	63	76.9	79.5	84.5	79.2	87.7	75.9	78.8
Information not available	379	130	173	56	113	10	56	189	61	104	22	48	4	37	49.9	46.9	60.1	39.3	42.5	40.0	66.1
Nonprofit institutions	12,861	9,599	8,093	9,686	7,962	13,352	11,700	6,054	4,491	3,322	4,612	3,553	5,755	5,150	47.1	46.8	41.0	47.6	44.6	43.1	44.0
Open admissions	5,419	3,821	1,450	1,540	1,583	1,757	1,988	2,558	1,693	486	673	660	758	862	47.2	44.3	33.5	43.7	41.7	43.1	43.4
90 percent or more accepted	523	393	494	3,769	1,990	911	985	237	199	204	1,882	887	565	519	45.3	50.6	41.3	49.9	44.6	62.0	52.7
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	2,459	1,164	1,903	874	938	4,522	1,009	1,047	550	811	422	465	1,967	442	42.6	47.3	42.6	48.3	49.6	43.5	43.8
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	3,131	3,256	2,231	1,812	2,358	1,985	7,178	1,406	1,531	928	839	1,018	872	3,026	44.9	47.0	41.6	46.3	43.2	43.9	42.2
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	853	715	815	866	587	1,026	407	452	366	394	381	263	427	191	53.0	51.2	48.3	44.0	44.8	41.6	46.9
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	112	93	136	640	458	99	126	86	78	123	302	238	84	110	76.8	83.9	90.4	47.2	52.0	84.8	87.3
Information not available	364	157	1,064	185	48	3,052	7	268	74	376	113	22	1,082	0	73.6	47.1	35.3	61.1	45.8	35.5	0.0
For-profit institutions	21,185	29,120	12,680	10,934	8,807	7,434	8,070	8,597	10,909	4,579	3,859	3,087	2,800	3,258	40.6	37.5	36.1	35.3	35.1	37.7	40.4
Open admissions	10,514	10,926	10,089	8,822	6,384	5,667	5,999	4,121	4,299	3,863	3,183	2,388	2,227	2,528	39.2	39.3	38.3	36.1	37.4	39.3	42.1
90 percent or more accepted	2,212	1,372	123	246	453	204	205	639	375	30	85	115	47	55	28.9	27.3	24.4	34.6	25.4	23.0	26.8
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	2,838	3,151	1,794	1,027	109	1,065	1,315	1,342	1,093	492	259	29	382	501	47.3	34.7	27.4	25.2	26.6	35.9	38.1
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	2,774	4,591	586	753	812	487	494	1,134	2,249	158	282	328	141	146	40.9	49.0	27.0	37.5	40.4	29.0	29.6
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	2,033	1,099	9	81	1,043	6	33	627	342	2	45	227	3	14	30.8	31.1	22.2	55.6	21.8	50.0	42.4
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	†	†	†	†	†	†	†
Information not available	814	7,981	79	5	6	5	24	734	2,551	34	5	0	0	14	90.2	32.0	43.0	100.0	0.0	0.0	58.3
2-year institutions	380,151	473,589	424,166	380,393	364,754	353,161	332,776	152,559	197,222	183,548	168,682	164,014	157,965	147,605	40.1	41.6	43.3	44.3	45.0	44.7	44.4
Public institutions	369,937	464,126	419,662	376,183	360,329	350,307	330,495	147,345	192,220	181,230	166,619	161,849	156,570	146,421	39.8	41.4	43.2	44.3	44.9	44.7	44.3
Nonprofit institutions	1,757	760	792	760	863	546	649	973	401	359	339	340	210	227	55.4	52.8	45.3	44.6	39.4	38.5	35.0
For-profit institutions	8,457	8,703	3,712	3,450	3,562	2,308	1,632	4,241	4,601	1,959	1,724	1,825	1,185	957	50.1	52.9	52.8	50.0	51.2	51.3	58.6

†Not applicable.

1 Adjusted entry cohort counts exclude students who died or were totally and permanently disabled, served in the armed forces (including those called to active duty), served with a foreign aid service of the federal government (e.g., Peace Corps), or served on official church missions.

NOTE: Data in this table represent the 50 states and the District of Columbia. For 4-year institutions, entry cohorts are based on first-time bachelor’s degree-seeking students. For 2-year institutions, entry cohorts are based on first-time degree/certificate-seeking students. At 2-year institutions, retained students include those who re-enrolled at the institution in the following fall term or completed their degree/certificate by the following fall term (e.g., short-term certificate program). Some data have been revised from previously published figures.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Spring 2008 through Spring 2020, Fall Enrollment component; and IPEDS Fall 2006 through Fall 2018, Institutional Characteristics component. (This table was prepared January 2021.)