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 through 2021

Attendance status, level, control, and percent of applications accepted	First-time degree-seekers (adjusted entry cohort),1  by fall term of the entry year							Students from adjusted cohort returning in the fall term of the following year							Percent of first-time undergraduates retained
	2006	2009	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2007	2010	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2006 to 2007	2009 to 2010	2016 to 2017	2017 to 2018	2018 to 2019	2019 to 2020	2020 to 2021
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	2,177,194	2,180,000	2,188,713	2,171,772	1,982,913	1,541,201	1,705,242	1,643,904	1,648,563	1,667,000	1,647,685	1,501,084	71.0	71.9	75.5	75.6	76.2	75.9	75.7
Public institutions	1,522,928	1,732,822	1,620,387	1,624,257	1,628,989	1,619,500	1,462,956	1,071,986	1,222,688	1,203,750	1,206,831	1,218,828	1,212,646	1,090,902	70.4	70.6	74.3	74.3	74.8	74.9	74.6
Nonprofit institutions	466,078	478,755	491,742	505,749	511,667	499,073	464,672	368,783	381,364	399,354	409,756	416,202	400,138	375,728	79.1	79.7	81.2	81.0	81.3	80.2	80.9
For-profit institutions	181,498	159,643	65,065	49,994	48,057	53,199	55,285	100,432	101,190	40,800	31,976	31,970	34,901	34,454	55.3	63.4	62.7	64.0	66.5	65.6	62.3
4-year institutions	1,457,745	1,452,575	1,534,945	1,552,952	1,574,897	1,566,966	1,481,435	1,114,923	1,146,534	1,242,850	1,257,806	1,280,145	1,278,034	1,194,249	76.5	78.9	81.0	81.0	81.3	81.6	80.6
Public institutions	911,509	936,840	1,028,968	1,041,528	1,058,064	1,058,951	1,003,257	711,200	745,703	836,675	845,962	861,864	872,668	810,443	78.0	79.6	81.3	81.2	81.5	82.4	80.8
Open admissions	61,832	45,458	26,839	27,518	27,814	32,654	25,432	38,383	28,675	16,671	17,296	16,898	19,121	14,925	62.1	63.1	62.1	62.9	60.8	58.6	58.7
90 percent or more accepted	68,835	63,453	69,603	82,664	90,253	107,300	131,659	49,274	46,280	50,537	60,453	66,987	81,005	95,891	71.6	72.9	72.6	73.1	74.2	75.5	72.8
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	244,177	212,573	288,854	306,275	345,052	374,636	427,523	185,457	163,639	228,127	241,653	272,368	302,373	337,802	76.0	77.0	79.0	78.9	78.9	80.7	79.0
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	417,093	462,554	468,321	433,857	402,929	362,369	278,162	336,365	376,021	383,791	354,829	331,743	304,847	232,721	80.6	81.3	82.0	81.8	82.3	84.1	83.7
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	103,118	131,241	156,438	167,077	161,544	132,193	117,009	88,908	112,209	139,838	148,466	144,458	118,895	106,474	86.2	85.5	89.4	88.9	89.4	89.9	91.0
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	7,716	14,326	15,951	22,740	30,371	34,272	23,472	7,048	13,649	15,330	21,999	29,339	32,932	22,630	91.3	95.3	96.1	96.7	96.6	96.1	96.4
Information not available	8,738	7,235	2,962	1,397	101	15,527	0	5,765	5,230	2,381	1,266	71	13,495	0	66.0	72.3	80.4	90.6	70.3	86.9	†
Nonprofit institutions	457,505	470,795	484,334	495,012	501,087	488,071	457,843	363,459	376,668	394,415	402,044	408,385	392,874	371,269	79.4	80.0	81.4	81.2	81.5	80.5	81.1
Open admissions	26,565	22,613	13,378	12,116	16,599	13,200	9,867	16,019	14,349	8,795	7,870	10,314	8,506	6,458	60.3	63.5	65.7	65.0	62.1	64.4	65.5
90 percent or more accepted	13,632	15,135	23,596	33,038	30,923	36,334	41,244	9,543	10,953	16,897	23,969	22,466	26,521	29,166	70.0	72.4	71.6	72.5	72.7	73.0	70.7
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	102,358	80,301	91,372	92,984	104,588	105,651	125,020	78,424	62,196	71,328	72,983	82,632	82,952	97,335	76.6	77.5	78.1	78.5	79.0	78.5	77.9
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	190,079	218,072	203,979	201,208	200,478	184,938	168,679	148,681	170,232	162,016	158,251	158,091	144,933	134,103	78.2	78.1	79.4	78.7	78.9	78.4	79.5
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	93,560	98,312	98,053	95,866	77,394	81,684	47,732	81,880	84,941	84,421	82,883	66,555	69,194	41,477	87.5	86.4	86.1	86.5	86.0	84.7	86.9
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	26,696	32,980	51,642	55,035	70,291	65,930	64,625	25,639	31,790	49,508	53,162	67,789	60,566	62,269	96.0	96.4	95.9	96.6	96.4	91.9	96.4
Information not available	4,615	3,382	2,314	4,765	814	334	676	3,273	2,207	1,450	2,926	538	202	461	70.9	65.3	62.7	61.4	66.1	60.5	68.2
For-profit institutions	88,731	44,940	21,643	16,412	15,746	19,944	20,335	40,264	24,163	11,760	9,800	9,896	12,492	12,537	45.4	53.8	54.3	59.7	62.8	62.6	61.7
Open admissions	45,240	16,826	13,943	10,035	8,883	9,494	10,227	18,720	9,260	6,706	5,487	5,210	5,111	5,482	41.4	55.0	48.1	54.7	58.7	53.8	53.6
90 percent or more accepted	6,285	3,722	1,108	803	409	1,384	411	3,454	1,311	559	560	214	851	294	55.0	35.2	50.5	69.7	52.3	61.5	71.5
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	3,703	3,224	1,174	2,900	3,537	6,395	7,472	2,081	1,549	885	1,852	2,316	4,649	5,136	56.2	48.0	75.4	63.9	65.5	72.7	68.7
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	12,845	12,061	4,577	2,344	2,120	1,696	919	6,536	6,839	3,108	1,639	1,525	1,122	681	50.9	56.7	67.9	69.9	71.9	66.2	74.1
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	18,142	6,098	672	300	624	940	1,165	8,036	3,423	363	240	497	737	838	44.3	56.1	54.0	80.0	79.6	78.4	71.9
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	0	3	1	0	3	1	1	0	2	1	0	1	1	1	†	66.7	100.0	†	33.3	100.0	100.0
Information not available	2,516	3,006	168	30	170	34	140	1,437	1,779	138	22	133	21	105	57.1	59.2	82.1	73.3	78.2	61.8	75.0
2-year institutions	712,759	918,645	642,249	627,048	613,816	604,806	501,478	426,278	558,708	401,054	390,757	386,855	369,651	306,835	59.8	60.8	62.4	62.3	63.0	61.1	61.2
Public institutions	611,419	795,982	591,419	582,729	570,925	560,549	459,699	360,786	476,985	367,075	360,869	356,964	339,978	280,459	59.0	59.9	62.1	61.9	62.5	60.7	61.0
Nonprofit institutions	8,573	7,960	7,408	10,737	10,580	11,002	6,829	5,324	4,696	4,939	7,712	7,817	7,264	4,459	62.1	59.0	66.7	71.8	73.9	66.0	65.3
For-profit institutions	92,767	114,703	43,422	33,582	32,311	33,255	34,950	60,168	77,027	29,040	22,176	22,074	22,409	21,917	64.9	67.2	66.9	66.0	68.3	67.4	62.7
Part-time students
All institutions	461,574	545,635	411,269	403,410	381,599	373,752	334,091	190,547	229,566	186,683	182,673	171,570	156,558	145,119	41.3	42.1	45.4	45.3	45.0	41.9	43.4
Public institutions	417,314	497,453	390,075	379,770	359,608	349,948	310,068	170,682	209,164	177,878	172,723	162,005	146,160	134,923	40.9	42.0	45.6	45.5	45.1	41.8	43.5
Nonprofit institutions	14,618	10,359	8,825	13,898	12,289	12,956	14,335	7,027	4,892	3,893	5,965	5,350	5,748	6,036	48.1	47.2	44.1	42.9	43.5	44.4	42.1
For-profit institutions	29,642	37,823	12,369	9,742	9,702	10,848	9,688	12,838	15,510	4,912	3,985	4,215	4,650	4,160	43.3	41.0	39.7	40.9	43.4	42.9	42.9
4-year institutions	81,423	72,046	46,515	50,249	48,795	57,265	64,706	37,988	32,344	22,669	24,708	23,959	28,487	31,512	46.7	44.9	48.7	49.2	49.1	49.7	48.7
Public institutions	47,377	33,327	29,746	29,463	29,077	35,608	42,711	23,337	16,944	16,029	16,153	15,578	19,202	22,393	49.3	50.8	53.9	54.8	53.6	53.9	52.4
Open admissions	19,247	8,356	5,403	4,176	4,152	9,965	5,634	8,004	3,586	2,136	1,654	1,694	4,597	2,190	41.6	42.9	39.5	39.6	40.8	46.1	38.9
90 percent or more accepted	3,745	4,004	2,326	2,509	2,511	3,938	6,548	1,909	1,959	1,013	1,089	1,160	1,863	2,826	51.0	48.9	43.6	43.4	46.2	47.3	43.2
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	8,969	6,493	9,007	9,642	11,111	10,608	17,031	4,196	3,268	4,925	5,319	6,068	5,905	8,885	46.8	50.3	54.7	55.2	54.6	55.7	52.2
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	11,599	11,254	10,729	10,892	9,379	9,404	11,406	6,766	6,053	6,458	6,629	5,348	5,657	7,025	58.3	53.8	60.2	60.9	57.0	60.2	61.6
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	3,373	3,046	2,103	2,176	1,788	1,435	2,013	2,223	1,982	1,392	1,414	1,208	1,015	1,407	65.9	65.1	66.2	65.0	67.6	70.7	69.9
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	65	44	65	58	80	77	79	50	35	57	44	63	60	60	76.9	79.5	87.7	75.9	78.8	77.9	75.9
Information not available	379	130	113	10	56	181	0	189	61	48	4	37	105	0	49.9	46.9	42.5	40.0	66.1	58.0	†
Nonprofit institutions	12,861	9,599	7,962	13,352	11,648	12,502	13,950	6,054	4,491	3,553	5,755	5,123	5,571	5,892	47.1	46.8	44.6	43.1	44.0	44.6	42.2
Open admissions	5,419	3,821	1,583	1,757	1,988	1,615	1,636	2,558	1,693	660	758	862	684	680	47.2	44.3	41.7	43.1	43.4	42.4	41.6
90 percent or more accepted	523	393	1,990	911	980	1,738	7,471	237	199	887	565	516	835	2,870	45.3	50.6	44.6	62.0	52.7	48.0	38.4
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	2,459	1,164	938	4,522	997	6,239	1,461	1,047	550	465	1,967	438	2,791	721	42.6	47.3	49.6	43.5	43.9	44.7	49.3
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	3,131	3,256	2,358	1,985	7,178	2,285	2,632	1,406	1,531	1,018	872	3,026	970	1,181	44.9	47.0	43.2	43.9	42.2	42.5	44.9
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	853	715	587	1,026	372	504	505	452	366	263	427	171	198	256	53.0	51.2	44.8	41.6	46.0	39.3	50.7
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	112	93	458	99	126	104	234	86	78	238	84	110	89	181	76.8	83.9	52.0	84.8	87.3	85.6	77.4
Information not available	364	157	48	3,052	7	17	11	268	74	22	1,082	0	4	3	73.6	47.1	45.8	35.5	0	23.5	27.3
For-profit institutions	21,185	29,120	8,807	7,434	8,070	9,155	8,045	8,597	10,909	3,087	2,800	3,258	3,714	3,227	40.6	37.5	35.1	37.7	40.4	40.6	40.1
Open admissions	10,514	10,926	6,384	5,667	5,999	6,647	6,677	4,121	4,299	2,388	2,227	2,528	2,730	2,650	39.2	39.3	37.4	39.3	42.1	41.1	39.7
90 percent or more accepted	2,212	1,372	453	204	205	1,371	74	639	375	115	47	55	504	27	28.9	27.3	25.4	23.0	26.8	36.8	36.5
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	2,838	3,151	109	1,065	1,315	1,024	990	1,342	1,093	29	382	501	428	413	47.3	34.7	26.6	35.9	38.1	41.8	41.7
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	2,774	4,591	812	487	494	26	29	1,134	2,249	328	141	146	8	9	40.9	49.0	40.4	29.0	29.6	30.8	31.0
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	2,033	1,099	1,043	6	33	76	262	627	342	227	3	14	40	124	30.8	31.1	21.8	50.0	42.4	52.6	47.3
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	†	†	†	†	†	100.0	†
Information not available	814	7,981	6	5	24	10	13	734	2,551	0	0	14	3	4	90.2	32.0	0	0	58.3	30.0	30.8
2-year institutions	380,151	473,589	364,754	353,161	332,804	316,487	269,385	152,559	197,222	164,014	157,965	147,611	128,071	113,607	40.1	41.6	45.0	44.7	44.4	40.5	42.2
Public institutions	369,937	464,126	360,329	350,307	330,531	314,340	267,357	147,345	192,220	161,849	156,570	146,427	126,958	112,530	39.8	41.4	44.9	44.7	44.3	40.4	42.1
Nonprofit institutions	1,757	760	863	546	641	454	385	973	401	340	210	227	177	144	55.4	52.8	39.4	38.5	35.4	39.0	37.4
For-profit institutions	8,457	8,703	3,562	2,308	1,632	1,693	1,643	4,241	4,601	1,825	1,185	957	936	933	50.1	52.9	51.2	51.3	58.6	55.3	56.8

†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 2022, Fall Enrollment component; and IPEDS Fall 2006 through Fall 2020, Institutional Characteristics component. (This table was prepared January 2023.)