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| 2021 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 326.40. | Percentage distribution of first-time postsecondary students starting at 2- and 4-year institutions during the 2011-12 academic year, by highest degree attained, enrollment status, and selected characteristics: Spring 2017 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected characteristic | Students starting at 2-year institutions | Students starting at 4-year institutions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest degree attained | No degree, still enrolled | No degree, not enrolled | Highest degree attained | No degree, still enrolled | No degree, not enrolled | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total, any degree | Certificate | Associate's | Bachelor's | Total, any degree | Certificate | Associate's | Bachelor's | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 41.5 | (1.15) | 12.2 | (1.06) | 17.9 | (0.78) | 11.4 | (0.70) | 13.9 | (0.69) | 44.6 | (1.24) | 67.4 | (0.81) | 2.3 | (0.22) | 6.0 | (0.31) | 59.1 | (0.91) | 10.9 | (0.50) | 21.7 | (0.84) | ||||||||||||
| Sex | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Male | 38.6 | (1.42) | 10.5 | (0.97) | 18.0 | (1.14) | 10.0 | (0.85) | 13.5 | (0.98) | 47.9 | (1.57) | 63.0 | (1.14) | 1.7 | (0.22) | 5.7 | (0.50) | 55.7 | (1.21) | 12.2 | (0.78) | 24.8 | (1.19) | ||||||||||||
| Female | 44.0 | (1.50) | 13.6 | (1.64) | 17.7 | (0.91) | 12.7 | (0.94) | 14.2 | (0.98) | 41.8 | (1.51) | 70.7 | (0.91) | 2.8 | (0.33) | 6.2 | (0.39) | 61.7 | (1.02) | 9.9 | (0.63) | 19.4 | (0.92) | ||||||||||||
Age when first enrolled |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 years old or younger | 45.1 | (1.64) | 9.2 | (0.98) | 19.7 | (1.22) | 16.2 | (1.14) | 14.9 | (1.05) | 40.0 | (1.69) | 73.5 | (0.82) | 2.0 | (0.30) | 4.6 | (0.41) | 66.9 | (0.91) | 10.5 | (0.65) | 16.0 | (0.71) | ||||||||||||
| 19 years old | 42.4 | (1.65) | 12.1 | (1.28) | 18.4 | (1.24) | 12.0 | (1.24) | 15.0 | (1.28) | 42.6 | (1.78) | 69.5 | (1.42) | 2.2 | (0.29) | 5.2 | (0.52) | 62.2 | (1.39) | 10.3 | (0.80) | 20.2 | (1.36) | ||||||||||||
| 20 to 23 years old | 36.5 | (2.93) | 17.1 | (2.96) | 14.5 | (1.94) | 4.9 | (1.26) | 15.6 | (1.78) | 47.9 | (2.79) | 36.3 | (2.96) | 4.8 | (1.28) | 9.4 | (1.71) | 22.0 | (2.90) | 18.2 | (2.31) | 45.5 | (3.62) | ||||||||||||
| 24 to 29 years old | 34.3 | (2.76) | 14.7 | (2.00) | 15.1 | (1.85) | 4.5 | (1.10) | 7.5 | (1.92) | 58.1 | (2.98) | 25.7 | (2.47) | 3.8 | (0.86) | 13.5 | (1.82) | 8.4 | (1.72) | 13.4 | (2.17) | 60.9 | (3.06) | ||||||||||||
| 30 years old or over | 37.6 | (2.49) | 16.1 | (1.93) | 16.2 | (2.00) | 5.3 | (1.37) | 9.9 | (2.05) | 52.5 | (2.91) | 38.8 | (3.11) | 4.0 | ! | (1.23) | 20.6 | (2.65) | 14.2 | (2.38) | 9.6 | (1.61) | 51.6 | (3.19) | |||||||||||
Race/ethnicity |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White | 43.9 | (1.35) | 10.2 | (0.85) | 19.6 | (1.04) | 14.1 | (1.05) | 11.7 | (0.95) | 44.4 | (1.52) | 72.1 | (1.04) | 1.7 | (0.23) | 5.6 | (0.43) | 64.8 | (1.21) | 9.1 | (0.56) | 18.8 | (0.98) | ||||||||||||
| Black | 30.4 | (2.36) | 11.6 | (1.29) | 12.7 | (1.67) | 6.1 | (1.22) | 16.7 | (2.06) | 52.9 | (2.27) | 49.9 | (2.07) | 4.1 | (0.87) | 7.0 | (0.84) | 38.9 | (2.12) | 15.1 | (1.50) | 35.0 | (1.86) | ||||||||||||
| Hispanic | 40.3 | (2.25) | 16.4 | (2.59) | 16.6 | (1.40) | 7.3 | (0.85) | 16.5 | (1.49) | 43.2 | (2.30) | 62.2 | (2.06) | 4.1 | (0.62) | 7.6 | (0.91) | 50.5 | (1.97) | 15.1 | (1.78) | 22.7 | (1.67) | ||||||||||||
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 49.2 | (5.05) | 8.8 | (2.43) | 20.4 | (4.31) | 20.0 | (3.11) | 17.2 | (3.73) | 33.6 | (4.17) | 75.3 | (2.49) | ‡ | (†) | 3.7 | (0.89) | 70.7 | (2.47) | 11.4 | (1.72) | 13.2 | (2.15) | ||||||||||||
| Asian | 49.7 | (5.65) | 8.7 | ! | (2.66) | 19.8 | (4.51) | 21.2 | (3.37) | 18.2 | (4.00) | 32.1 | (4.70) | 76.5 | (2.42) | ‡ | (†) | 3.4 | (0.97) | 72.1 | (2.42) | 11.5 | (1.78) | 11.9 | (1.99) | |||||||||||
| Pacific Islander | 45.2 | ! | (14.83) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 46.8 | (13.77) | 52.5 | (12.07) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 44.5 | (12.49) | ‡ | (†) | 38.0 | ! | (12.14) | ||||||||||
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 53.2 | (11.76) | 36.2 | ! | (14.32) | 11.1 | ! | (4.84) | ‡ | (†) | 18.8 | ! | (9.12) | 28.1 | ! | (9.52) | 41.4 | (6.93) | ‡ | (†) | 9.1 | ! | (4.27) | 26.3 | (6.07) | 11.5 | ! | (3.95) | 47.2 | (7.14) | ||||||
| Two or more races | 46.3 | (4.63) | 10.1 | (2.42) | 22.3 | (3.88) | 13.8 | (3.78) | 10.6 | (2.99) | 43.1 | (4.95) | 62.0 | (2.93) | 1.9 | ! | (0.81) | 5.5 | (1.50) | 54.5 | (3.13) | 10.4 | (1.82) | 27.6 | (2.86) | |||||||||||
Highest education level of parents |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less than a high school diploma | 40.5 | (2.69) | 14.3 | (2.21) | 20.2 | (2.11) | 6.0 | (1.00) | 14.4 | (1.91) | 45.1 | (2.99) | 50.3 | (3.08) | 3.7 | (0.92) | 8.5 | (1.26) | 38.0 | (2.87) | 17.4 | (2.09) | 32.3 | (3.25) | ||||||||||||
| High school diploma/GED | 37.0 | (1.86) | 14.1 | (1.47) | 15.4 | (1.17) | 7.5 | (0.94) | 12.1 | (1.13) | 50.9 | (2.04) | 49.7 | (1.93) | 3.8 | (0.58) | 7.9 | (0.73) | 38.0 | (1.85) | 15.2 | (1.30) | 35.1 | (1.96) | ||||||||||||
| Vocational/technical or some college |
42.7 | (2.09) | 13.0 | (1.76) | 18.2 | (1.39) | 11.5 | (1.20) | 13.6 | (1.40) | 43.7 | (2.10) | 60.5 | (1.53) | 3.1 | (0.50) | 8.9 | (1.05) | 48.5 | (1.59) | 11.1 | (1.19) | 28.4 | (1.43) | ||||||||||||
| Associate's degree | 38.8 | (3.23) | 10.6 | (1.68) | 19.5 | (2.54) | 8.8 | (1.56) | 13.7 | (2.48) | 47.5 | (3.06) | 65.1 | (2.69) | 3.4 | ! | (1.27) | 9.4 | (1.33) | 52.3 | (2.66) | 11.0 | (1.77) | 23.9 | (2.54) | |||||||||||
| Bachelor's degree | 47.4 | (2.24) | 8.2 | (1.27) | 20.1 | (1.81) | 19.1 | (1.93) | 15.5 | (1.70) | 37.1 | (2.64) | 76.3 | (1.31) | 1.2 | (0.32) | 3.9 | (0.56) | 71.2 | (1.43) | 9.0 | (0.89) | 14.7 | (1.15) | ||||||||||||
| Advanced (higher than bachelor's) degree |
51.4 | (3.25) | 8.1 | (1.22) | 18.8 | (2.26) | 24.5 | (2.67) | 15.2 | (2.52) | 33.4 | (3.02) | 81.2 | (1.36) | 1.0 | (0.29) | 3.1 | (0.50) | 77.1 | (1.48) | 8.0 | (0.71) | 10.8 | (1.24) | ||||||||||||
Dependency status when first enrolled |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dependent | 44.0 | (1.27) | 10.8 | (0.94) | 19.1 | (0.95) | 14.0 | (0.86) | 14.6 | (0.80) | 41.4 | (1.33) | 71.8 | (0.73) | 2.0 | (0.23) | 4.9 | (0.32) | 64.8 | (0.81) | 10.6 | (0.53) | 17.7 | (0.74) | ||||||||||||
| Independent | 35.8 | (1.73) | 15.5 | (1.75) | 14.9 | (1.13) | 5.4 | (0.81) | 12.2 | (1.14) | 51.9 | (1.85) | 36.9 | (1.76) | 4.6 | (0.61) | 13.0 | (1.13) | 19.3 | (1.58) | 13.6 | (1.22) | 49.5 | (1.86) | ||||||||||||
Dependent student family income in 2012 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less than $25,000 | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||||||
| $25,000 to $44,999 | 40.9 | (2.39) | 12.6 | (2.15) | 17.1 | (1.54) | 11.2 | (1.35) | 15.5 | (1.81) | 43.6 | (2.16) | 62.0 | (1.70) | 2.4 | (0.56) | 6.1 | (0.77) | 53.4 | (1.65) | 15.0 | (1.45) | 23.0 | (1.52) | ||||||||||||
| $45,000 to $69,999 | 44.1 | (2.81) | 10.4 | (1.50) | 20.5 | (2.29) | 13.3 | (1.83) | 17.4 | (2.18) | 38.4 | (2.57) | 70.4 | (2.09) | 2.2 | ! | (0.75) | 6.2 | (0.88) | 62.1 | (2.37) | 10.8 | (1.37) | 18.8 | (1.70) | |||||||||||
| $70,000 to $99,999 | 49.6 | (2.57) | 7.6 | (1.40) | 21.2 | (2.02) | 20.8 | (2.03) | 12.4 | (1.69) | 37.9 | (2.71) | 76.7 | (1.52) | 1.7 | (0.49) | 4.8 | (0.74) | 70.2 | (1.68) | 8.2 | (0.88) | 15.1 | (1.36) | ||||||||||||
| $100,000 or more | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||||||
Timing of postsecondary enrollment |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Delayed entry (1 or more years since completing high school) |
36.9 | (1.75) | 15.5 | (1.80) | 14.7 | (1.06) | 6.7 | (0.78) | 13.3 | (1.16) | 49.8 | (1.80) | 41.8 | (1.84) | 2.0 | (0.23) | 4.9 | (0.30) | 66.4 | (0.75) | 10.3 | (0.52) | 16.3 | (0.63) | ||||||||||||
| Did not delay entry (less than 1 year since completing high school) |
45.0 | (1.24) | 9.7 | (0.87) | 20.3 | (0.90) | 15.0 | (0.90) | 14.4 | (0.87) | 40.6 | (1.33) | 73.4 | (0.67) | 3.6 | (0.57) | 10.3 | (0.91) | 27.9 | (1.91) | 13.8 | (1.19) | 44.4 | (2.00) | ||||||||||||
Intensity of enrollment through 2014 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Always full-time | 50.6 | (1.94) | 17.9 | (2.14) | 19.0 | (1.54) | 13.8 | (1.25) | 9.3 | (0.80) | 40.1 | (1.87) | 73.0 | (0.93) | 1.9 | (0.23) | 4.6 | (0.37) | 66.5 | (0.97) | 8.1 | (0.52) | 18.9 | (0.90) | ||||||||||||
| Always part-time | 16.9 | (1.72) | 9.1 | (1.15) | 7.1 | (1.16) | ‡ | (†) | 16.5 | (1.53) | 66.6 | (2.27) | 14.9 | (2.95) | 2.7 | ! | (0.96) | 9.1 | (2.32) | ‡ | (†) | 24.9 | (4.58) | 60.2 | (4.46) | |||||||||||
| Mixed | 48.0 | (1.29) | 10.6 | (1.02) | 22.3 | (1.16) | 15.1 | (1.02) | 15.2 | (0.95) | 36.8 | (1.19) | 65.3 | (1.09) | 2.8 | (0.41) | 7.2 | (0.56) | 55.2 | (1.24) | 13.1 | (0.76) | 21.7 | (0.92) | ||||||||||||
Remedial course taken in 2011-12 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No | 43.1 | (1.45) | 13.8 | (1.39) | 17.2 | (0.93) | 12.1 | (0.85) | 13.1 | (0.82) | 43.8 | (1.53) | 69.8 | (0.88) | 2.1 | (0.23) | 5.3 | (0.30) | 62.4 | (0.95) | 10.0 | (0.55) | 20.3 | (0.90) | ||||||||||||
| Yes | 38.0 | (1.45) | 8.7 | (0.90) | 19.3 | (1.08) | 10.0 | (0.88) | 15.7 | (1.31) | 46.3 | (1.70) | 53.8 | (1.82) | 3.3 | (0.65) | 9.9 | (1.04) | 40.5 | (1.85) | 16.4 | (1.17) | 29.8 | (1.74) | ||||||||||||
Highest degree expected in 2011-12 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No degree or certificate | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||||||
| Certificate | 58.9 | (3.96) | 55.2 | (4.28) | 3.1 | ! | (0.96) | ‡ | (†) | 6.6 | (1.01) | 34.4 | (4.04) | 51.7 | (9.78) | 50.0 | (9.92) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 19.8 | ! | (7.15) | 28.5 | ! | (10.24) | |||||||||
| Associate's degree | 36.5 | (2.43) | 13.5 | (1.81) | 20.4 | (1.92) | 2.6 | (0.64) | 10.2 | (1.31) | 53.3 | (2.44) | 36.3 | (3.43) | 5.9 | (1.00) | 26.3 | (3.34) | 4.2 | (1.09) | 14.3 | (2.80) | 49.4 | (4.19) | ||||||||||||
| Bachelor's degree1 | 39.2 | (1.62) | 8.8 | (0.92) | 19.2 | (1.09) | 11.2 | (0.91) | 15.7 | (1.10) | 45.1 | (1.77) | 61.1 | (1.22) | 2.7 | (0.37) | 7.8 | (0.61) | 50.6 | (1.21) | 12.2 | (0.91) | 26.7 | (1.16) | ||||||||||||
| Master's degree1 | 46.3 | (2.11) | 9.6 | (1.37) | 16.8 | (1.33) | 20.0 | (1.75) | 12.5 | (1.11) | 41.2 | (2.15) | 71.9 | (1.25) | 1.6 | (0.31) | 4.1 | (0.45) | 66.2 | (1.33) | 9.8 | (0.72) | 18.3 | (1.16) | ||||||||||||
| Doctoral/first-professional degree1 |
41.7 | (2.67) | 7.0 | (1.24) | 17.8 | (2.09) | 16.9 | (2.18) | 20.8 | (3.06) | 37.5 | (2.84) | 74.2 | (1.73) | 1.6 | (0.44) | 3.4 | (0.46) | 69.2 | (1.78) | 10.2 | (0.93) | 15.5 | (1.69) | ||||||||||||
Work intensity (including work- study) in 2011-12 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Did not work | 43.9 | (1.94) | 15.7 | (2.42) | 17.9 | (1.27) | 10.3 | (1.14) | 13.0 | (1.36) | 43.1 | (2.61) | 70.1 | (3.02) | 2.6 | (0.52) | 5.9 | (0.45) | 61.7 | (2.63) | 9.7 | (0.86) | 20.2 | (2.70) | ||||||||||||
| Worked part time | 49.6 | (3.39) | 10.0 | (1.66) | 22.3 | (1.90) | 17.2 | (3.78) | 14.5 | (2.09) | 35.9 | (3.15) | 73.3 | (2.25) | 1.8 | (0.39) | 5.4 | (0.70) | 66.1 | (1.92) | 9.8 | (1.07) | 17.0 | (2.25) | ||||||||||||
| Worked full time | 32.3 | (2.92) | 9.7 | (1.69) | 16.0 | (3.40) | 6.6 | (1.05) | 15.0 | (2.83) | 52.7 | (2.77) | 47.3 | (4.37) | 4.4 | (1.27) | 10.6 | (1.74) | 32.2 | (3.51) | 14.8 | (2.93) | 38.0 | (3.38) | ||||||||||||
Control of first institution |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Public | 39.1 | (1.10) | 8.4 | (0.63) | 18.1 | (0.81) | 12.7 | (0.79) | 14.6 | (0.76) | 46.3 | (1.23) | 67.6 | (1.20) | 2.4 | (0.34) | 5.8 | (0.50) | 59.4 | (1.34) | 12.1 | (0.77) | 20.3 | (1.18) | ||||||||||||
| Private, nonprofit | 51.9 | (12.94) | 20.4 | ! | (9.81) | 21.0 | ! | (10.06) | 10.6 | ! | (4.83) | 9.7 | ! | (3.67) | 38.4 | (11.31) | 77.8 | (1.25) | 1.3 | (0.33) | 2.9 | (0.51) | 73.6 | (1.39) | 7.5 | (0.58) | 14.7 | (1.22) | ||||||||
| Private, for-profit | 61.0 | (2.63) | 44.4 | (4.84) | 16.0 | (3.03) | ‡ | (†) | 8.2 | (0.78) | 30.7 | (2.66) | 35.2 | (1.10) | 5.0 | (0.41) | 16.1 | (0.81) | 14.1 | (0.68) | 14.6 | (0.81) | 50.2 | (1.35) | ||||||||||||
Income quartile in 2011-122 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lowest quartile | 37.2 | (1.83) | 13.2 | (1.25) | 17.5 | (1.22) | 6.4 | (0.82) | 13.3 | (1.04) | 49.6 | (1.91) | 51.0 | (1.99) | 3.4 | (0.53) | 6.8 | (0.69) | 40.8 | (1.81) | 15.4 | (1.23) | 33.6 | (1.94) | ||||||||||||
| Second quartile | 41.2 | (1.99) | 13.6 | (1.99) | 17.7 | (1.35) | 9.8 | (1.09) | 15.1 | (1.32) | 43.7 | (1.94) | 61.2 | (1.39) | 3.0 | (0.58) | 7.1 | (0.61) | 51.1 | (1.42) | 14.0 | (1.11) | 24.8 | (1.32) | ||||||||||||
| Third quartile | 44.0 | (1.91) | 10.9 | (1.41) | 18.4 | (1.66) | 14.6 | (1.22) | 13.5 | (1.14) | 42.5 | (2.05) | 70.8 | (1.45) | 2.2 | (0.44) | 5.8 | (0.59) | 62.7 | (1.64) | 9.2 | (0.85) | 20.0 | (1.42) | ||||||||||||
| Highest quartile | 45.3 | (2.47) | 10.2 | (1.27) | 17.9 | (1.70) | 17.2 | (2.04) | 13.6 | (1.54) | 41.0 | (2.68) | 80.3 | (0.99) | 1.2 | (0.25) | 4.7 | (0.51) | 74.4 | (1.18) | 7.1 | (0.62) | 12.6 | (0.83) | ||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| !Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ‡Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases for a reliable estimate or the coefficient of variation (CV) is 50 percent or greater. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Students starting at 2-year institutions include students whose goal was to transfer to a 4-year institution. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 Indicates the income quartile of the student, based on the student's total income in 2012 for independent students or the parents' total income in 2012 for dependent students. Income quartiles were determined separately for dependent and independent students based on percentile rankings and then combined into one variable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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, 2012/2017 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:12/17). (This table was prepared May 2021.) |
