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 2022

(25KB)

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 2022
Attendance status, level, control, and percent of applications accepted	First-time degree-seekers (adjusted entry cohort), by fall term of the entry year¹							Students from adjusted cohort returning in the fall term of the following year							Percent of first-time undergraduates retained
	2006	2009	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2007	2010	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2006 to 2007	2009 to 2010	2017 to 2018	2018 to 2019	2019 to 2020	2020 to 2021	2021 to 2022
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	2,180,000	2,188,713	2,171,772	1,984,153	2,023,950	1,541,201	1,705,242	1,648,563	1,667,000	1,647,685	1,501,775	1,552,156	71.0	71.9	75.6	76.2	75.9	75.7	76.7
Public institutions	1,522,928	1,732,822	1,624,257	1,628,989	1,619,500	1,462,383	1,472,193	1,071,986	1,222,688	1,206,831	1,218,828	1,212,646	1,090,992	1,114,450	70.4	70.6	74.3	74.8	74.9	74.6	75.7
Private nonprofit institutions	466,078	478,755	505,749	511,667	499,073	464,489	491,818	368,783	381,364	409,756	416,202	400,138	375,635	399,498	79.1	79.7	81.0	81.3	80.2	80.9	81.2
Private for-profit institutions	181,498	159,643	49,994	48,057	53,199	57,281	59,939	100,432	101,190	31,976	31,970	34,901	35,148	38,208	55.3	63.4	64.0	66.5	65.6	61.4	63.7

4-year institutions	1,457,745	1,452,575	1,552,952	1,574,897	1,566,966	1,480,319	1,544,589	1,114,923	1,146,534	1,257,806	1,280,145	1,278,034	1,193,578	1,250,415	76.5	78.9	81.0	81.3	81.6	80.6	81.0

Public institutions	911,509	936,840	1,041,528	1,058,064	1,058,951	1,002,316	1,038,173	711,200	745,703	845,962	861,864	872,668	809,864	842,489	78.0	79.6	81.2	81.5	82.4	80.8	81.2
Open admissions	61,832	45,458	27,518	27,814	32,654	24,830	26,455	38,383	28,675	17,296	16,898	19,121	14,595	15,625	62.1	63.1	62.9	60.8	58.6	58.8	59.1
90 percent or more accepted	68,835	63,453	82,664	90,253	107,300	131,712	208,080	49,274	46,280	60,453	66,987	81,005	95,924	155,833	71.6	72.9	73.1	74.2	75.5	72.8	74.9
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	244,177	212,573	306,275	345,052	374,636	427,521	354,615	185,457	163,639	241,653	272,368	302,373	337,800	280,973	76.0	77.0	78.9	78.9	80.7	79.0	79.2
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	417,093	462,554	433,857	402,929	362,369	277,772	282,813	336,365	376,021	354,829	331,743	304,847	232,441	238,163	80.6	81.3	81.8	82.3	84.1	83.7	84.2
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	103,118	131,241	167,077	161,544	132,193	117,009	110,279	88,908	112,209	148,466	144,458	118,895	106,474	100,685	86.2	85.5	88.9	89.4	89.9	91.0	91.3
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	7,716	14,326	22,740	30,371	34,272	23,472	36,443	7,048	13,649	21,999	29,339	32,932	22,630	35,176	91.3	95.3	96.7	96.6	96.1	96.4	96.5
Information not available	8,738	7,235	1,397	101	15,527	0	19,488	5,765	5,230	1,266	71	13,495	0	16,034	66.0	72.3	90.6	70.3	86.9	†	82.3

Private nonprofit institutions	457,505	470,795	495,012	501,087	488,071	457,668	484,705	363,459	376,668	402,044	408,385	392,874	371,176	394,358	79.4	80.0	81.2	81.5	80.5	81.1	81.4
Open admissions	26,565	22,613	12,116	16,599	13,200	9,836	12,021	16,019	14,349	7,870	10,314	8,506	6,433	8,021	60.3	63.5	65.0	62.1	64.4	65.4	66.7
90 percent or more accepted	13,632	15,135	33,038	30,923	36,334	41,244	55,139	9,543	10,953	23,969	22,466	26,521	29,166	40,052	70.0	72.4	72.5	72.7	73.0	70.7	72.6
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	102,358	80,301	92,984	104,588	105,651	124,884	146,528	78,424	62,196	72,983	82,632	82,952	97,274	114,336	76.6	77.5	78.5	79.0	78.5	77.9	78.0
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	190,079	218,072	201,208	200,478	184,938	168,656	151,032	148,681	170,232	158,251	158,091	144,933	134,090	120,795	78.2	78.1	78.7	78.9	78.4	79.5	80.0
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	93,560	98,312	95,866	77,394	81,684	47,741	42,669	81,880	84,941	82,883	66,555	69,194	41,483	36,944	87.5	86.4	86.5	86.0	84.7	86.9	86.6
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	26,696	32,980	55,035	70,291	65,930	64,631	76,953	25,639	31,790	53,162	67,789	60,566	62,269	73,940	96.0	96.4	96.6	96.4	91.9	96.3	96.1
Information not available	4,615	3,382	4,765	814	334	676	363	3,273	2,207	2,926	538	202	461	270	70.9	65.3	61.4	66.1	60.5	68.2	74.4

Private for-profit institutions	88,731	44,940	16,412	15,746	19,944	20,335	21,711	40,264	24,163	9,800	9,896	12,492	12,538	13,568	45.4	53.8	59.7	62.8	62.6	61.7	62.5
Open admissions	45,240	16,826	10,035	8,883	9,494	10,227	11,102	18,720	9,260	5,487	5,210	5,111	5,483	6,056	41.4	55.0	54.7	58.7	53.8	53.6	54.5
90 percent or more accepted	6,285	3,722	803	409	1,384	411	424	3,454	1,311	560	214	851	294	298	55.0	35.2	69.7	52.3	61.5	71.5	70.3
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	3,703	3,224	2,900	3,537	6,395	7,472	7,447	2,081	1,549	1,852	2,316	4,649	5,136	5,153	56.2	48.0	63.9	65.5	72.7	68.7	69.2
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	12,845	12,061	2,344	2,120	1,696	919	1,474	6,536	6,839	1,639	1,525	1,122	681	1,152	50.9	56.7	69.9	71.9	66.2	74.1	78.2
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	18,142	6,098	300	624	940	1,165	1,071	8,036	3,423	240	497	737	838	746	44.3	56.1	80.0	79.6	78.4	71.9	69.7
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	0	3	0	3	1	1	161	0	2	0	1	1	1	145	†	66.7	†	33.3	100.0	100.0	90.1
Information not available	2,516	3,006	30	170	34	140	32	1,437	1,779	22	133	21	105	18	57.1	59.2	73.3	78.2	61.8	75.0	56.3

2-year institutions	712,759	918,645	627,048	613,816	604,806	503,834	479,361	426,278	558,708	390,757	386,855	369,651	308,197	301,741	59.8	60.8	62.3	63.0	61.1	61.2	62.9
Public institutions	611,419	795,982	582,729	570,925	560,549	460,067	434,020	360,786	476,985	360,869	356,964	339,978	281,128	271,961	59.0	59.9	61.9	62.5	60.7	61.1	62.7
Private nonprofit institutions	8,573	7,960	10,737	10,580	11,002	6,821	7,113	5,324	4,696	7,712	7,817	7,264	4,459	5,140	62.1	59.0	71.8	73.9	66.0	65.4	72.3
Private for-profit institutions	92,767	114,703	33,582	32,311	33,255	36,946	38,228	60,168	77,027	22,176	22,074	22,409	22,610	24,640	64.9	67.2	66.0	68.3	67.4	61.2	64.5

Part-time students
All institutions	461,574	545,635	403,410	381,599	373,752	334,302	344,781	190,547	229,566	182,673	171,570	156,558	145,066	153,361	41.3	42.1	45.3	45.0	41.9	43.4	44.5
Public institutions	417,314	497,453	379,770	359,608	349,948	310,381	320,357	170,682	209,164	172,723	162,005	146,160	134,943	142,589	40.9	42.0	45.5	45.1	41.8	43.5	44.5
Private nonprofit institutions	14,618	10,359	13,898	12,289	12,956	14,348	15,115	7,027	4,892	5,965	5,350	5,748	6,033	6,116	48.1	47.2	42.9	43.5	44.4	42.0	40.5
Private for-profit institutions	29,642	37,823	9,742	9,702	10,848	9,573	9,309	12,838	15,510	3,985	4,215	4,650	4,090	4,656	43.3	41.0	40.9	43.4	42.9	42.7	50.0

4-year institutions	81,423	72,046	50,249	48,795	57,265	64,016	66,922	37,988	32,344	24,708	23,959	28,487	31,256	32,898	46.7	44.9	49.2	49.1	49.7	48.8	49.2

Public institutions	47,377	33,327	29,463	29,077	35,608	42,008	44,447	23,337	16,944	16,153	15,578	19,202	22,140	23,338	49.3	50.8	54.8	53.6	53.9	52.7	52.5
Open admissions	19,247	8,356	4,176	4,152	9,965	4,926	6,339	8,004	3,586	1,654	1,694	4,597	1,913	2,625	41.6	42.9	39.6	40.8	46.1	38.8	41.4
90 percent or more accepted	3,745	4,004	2,509	2,511	3,938	6,552	11,572	1,909	1,959	1,089	1,160	1,863	2,827	5,192	51.0	48.9	43.4	46.2	47.3	43.1	44.9
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	8,969	6,493	9,642	11,111	10,608	17,031	13,230	4,196	3,268	5,319	6,068	5,905	8,906	7,384	46.8	50.3	55.2	54.6	55.7	52.3	55.8
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	11,599	11,254	10,892	9,379	9,404	11,407	11,346	6,766	6,053	6,629	5,348	5,657	7,027	6,743	58.3	53.8	60.9	57.0	60.2	61.6	59.4
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	3,373	3,046	2,176	1,788	1,435	2,013	1,566	2,223	1,982	1,414	1,208	1,015	1,407	1,142	65.9	65.1	65.0	67.6	70.7	69.9	72.9
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	65	44	58	80	77	79	118	50	35	44	63	60	60	97	76.9	79.5	75.9	78.8	77.9	75.9	82.2
Information not available	379	130	10	56	181	0	276	189	61	4	37	105	0	155	49.9	46.9	40.0	66.1	58.0	†	56.2

Private nonprofit institutions	12,861	9,599	13,352	11,648	12,502	13,963	14,757	6,054	4,491	5,755	5,123	5,571	5,889	5,945	47.1	46.8	43.1	44.0	44.6	42.2	40.3
Open admissions	5,419	3,821	1,757	1,988	1,615	1,630	1,896	2,558	1,693	758	862	684	676	717	47.2	44.3	43.1	43.4	42.4	41.5	37.8
90 percent or more accepted	523	393	911	980	1,738	7,471	8,954	237	199	565	516	835	2,870	3,473	45.3	50.6	62.0	52.7	48.0	38.4	38.8
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	2,459	1,164	4,522	997	6,239	1,465	1,307	1,047	550	1,967	438	2,791	721	591	42.6	47.3	43.5	43.9	44.7	49.2	45.2
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	3,131	3,256	1,985	7,178	2,285	2,647	1,951	1,406	1,531	872	3,026	970	1,179	848	44.9	47.0	43.9	42.2	42.5	44.5	43.5
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	853	715	1,026	372	504	505	471	452	366	427	171	198	259	179	53.0	51.2	41.6	46.0	39.3	51.3	38.0
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	112	93	99	126	104	234	154	86	78	84	110	89	181	128	76.8	83.9	84.8	87.3	85.6	77.4	83.1
Information not available	364	157	3,052	7	17	11	24	268	74	1,082	0	4	3	9	73.6	47.1	35.5	0	23.5	27.3	37.5

Private for-profit institutions	21,185	29,120	7,434	8,070	9,155	8,045	7,718	8,597	10,909	2,800	3,258	3,714	3,227	3,615	40.6	37.5	37.7	40.4	40.6	40.1	46.8
Open admissions	10,514	10,926	5,667	5,999	6,647	6,677	6,372	4,121	4,299	2,227	2,528	2,730	2,650	3,100	39.2	39.3	39.3	42.1	41.1	39.7	48.7
90 percent or more accepted	2,212	1,372	204	205	1,371	74	131	639	375	47	55	504	27	43	28.9	27.3	23.0	26.8	36.8	36.5	32.8
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	2,838	3,151	1,065	1,315	1,024	990	951	1,342	1,093	382	501	428	413	364	47.3	34.7	35.9	38.1	41.8	41.7	38.3
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	2,774	4,591	487	494	26	29	22	1,134	2,249	141	146	8	9	5	40.9	49.0	29.0	29.6	30.8	31.0	22.7
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	2,033	1,099	6	33	76	262	239	627	342	3	14	40	124	103	30.8	31.1	50.0	42.4	52.6	47.3	43.1
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	†	†	†	†	100.0	†	†
Information not available	814	7,981	5	24	10	13	3	734	2,551	0	14	3	4	0	90.2	32.0	0	58.3	30.0	30.8	0

2-year institutions	380,151	473,589	353,161	332,804	316,487	270,286	277,859	152,559	197,222	157,965	147,611	128,071	113,810	120,463	40.1	41.6	44.7	44.4	40.5	42.1	43.4
Public institutions	369,937	464,126	350,307	330,531	314,340	268,373	275,910	147,345	192,220	156,570	146,427	126,958	112,803	119,251	39.8	41.4	44.7	44.3	40.4	42.0	43.2
Private nonprofit institutions	1,757	760	546	641	454	385	358	973	401	210	227	177	144	171	55.4	52.8	38.5	35.4	39.0	37.4	47.8
Private for-profit institutions	8,457	8,703	2,308	1,632	1,693	1,528	1,591	4,241	4,601	1,185	957	936	863	1,041	50.1	52.9	51.3	58.6	55.3	56.5	65.4
†Not applicable.
¹Adjusted 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. 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) at 2-year institutions or their bachelor’s degree by the following fall term at 4-year institutions. 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), Fall Enrollment component, Spring 2008 through Spring 2022 (final data) and Spring 2023 (provisional data); IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component, Fall 2006 through Fall 2021 (final data); and IPEDS Admissions component, Winter 2021-22 (final data). (This table was prepared December 2023.)

2023 Tables and Figures

All Years of Tables and Figures

Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest

Download Excel Excel format

(25KB)