College Dropout Rate (2021) - by Year + Demographics

28/9/21 18:36 College Dropout Rate [2021]: by Year + Demographics
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College Dropout Rate:
Institutional Demograph
College Dropout Rate: Po
College Dropout Demographics
Rates Dropping Out of College:

Employment & Career Pr
Last Updated:
September 14, 2021
by
Melanie Hanson Vocational and Trades Jo
Overlooked
Report Highlights. In the United States, the overall
Analysis: Why Students
dropout rate for undergraduate college students is 40%.
Leaving College
30% of the dropout rate comes from college
Financial Concerns & Tu
freshman dropping out before their sophomore year.
Increases
In 4-year colleges, 56% of students drop out within 6
Balancing Life & College
years.
Dropping Out of College:
Black students had the highest college dropout rate at
Economic Impact
54%.
38% of college dropouts – the largest majority – said Education & Socioecono
they left due to financial pressure. Status
Sources
Related reports include College Graduation Statistics |

High School Dropout Rate | College Enrollment Statistics |
K-12 School Enrollment Statistics | Financial Aid
Statistics
General Statistics
https://educationdata.org/college-dropout-rates 1/13
More students tend to drop out of two-year institutions

than four-year colleges, no matter what their age, gender,
or ethnicity is. Those in the highest income brackets have General Statistics
the lowest dropout rates. For college dropouts, it helps if College Dropout Rate:
they’ve had some prior vocational training and/or obtain a Institutional Demograph
professional certificate or license; otherwise, they tend to
have higher unemployment rates than their more educated
Demographics
peers.
In the United States, the overall dropout rate for
undergraduate college students is 40%.
Vocational and Trades Jo
30% of the dropout rate comes from college freshman
Overlooked
dropping out before their sophomore year.
The United States ranks 19th in graduation rates
Leaving College
among 28 countries in OECD studies.
In 2018, 66.9% of all male high school graduates Financial Concerns & Tu
between 16-24 years old were enrolled in colleges or Increases
universities. Balancing Life & College

In 2018, 71.3% of all female high school graduates
between 16-24 years old were enrolled in colleges or
Economic Impact
universities.
Education & Socioecono
40% of college dropouts have parents who didn’t
Status
finish college.
Sources
34 million Americans over 25 years of age have some
college credit.
In 2019, fewer than half of Americans between the age

of 25 and 35 obtained any credentials beyond a high
school diploma.
Students with the highest student loans are less likely

to drop out than those without loans or with smaller
loans.
Students aged 19 or under are the age group least

likely to drop out of college.
The cost of dropping out of college measured by lost

earnings is $3.8 billion in a single year.
General Statistics
Demographics

College Dropout Rate: Overlooked
Institutional Demographics Analysis: Why Students
Leaving College
Two-year colleges have the lowest completion rates of any
category of educational institution. While a fair number of
Increases
students enrolling in these schools go on to transfer to
another college for graduation, the dropout rates are still Balancing Life & College
sobering. The demographic for most community colleges Dropping Out of College:
includes first-generation college students, low-income Economic Impact
students, and students who may not have been able to
meet admission standards for 4-year schools.
Status
Only 5% of students in 2-year colleges graduate on

Sources
time with a 2-year degree.
15.9% of students pursuing a certificate program

graduate on time.
Less than 25% of high school graduates who enroll in

2-year colleges complete a degree in three years.
37.5% of recent high school graduates who enroll in a

2-year college complete a degree within six years.
Only 14.7% of recent high school graduates complete

a BA degree within six years.
General Statistics
Demographics
College Dropout Rate: Dropping Out of College:

Population Demographics
Students under the age of 19 are the least likely to drop Overlooked
out of college, followed by those 30 or older. Students

between the age of 20 and 29 are the most likely to drop
Leaving College
out at either a 4 or 2-year institution.
Asian students were the least likely group to drop out Increases
at either two- or four-year colleges.
10% of Asian students dropped out at four-year
institutions.
Economic Impact
35% of Asian students dropped out at two-year
colleges. Education & Socioecono
Status
36% of American Indians/Alaska natives were more
likely to drop out after two years at four-year colleges. Sources
23% of first-time full-time Native American students

graduated within 4 years.
Between 2000 and 2017 the number of Native

Americans who had attained at least a 2 or 4-year
degree had declined from 30% to 27%.
45.91% of black students complete their degree at

four-year public colleges within 6 years.
Nearly 66% of black undergrad students are women

and 33% are men.
Black male students pursuing a 4-year degree were

the most likely to drop out.
General Statistics
Demographics

Dropping Out of College: Overlooked
Employment & Career Analysis: Why Students
Leaving College
Prospects Financial Concerns & Tu
Dropping out of college can mean signing up for $25,000 Increases
less per year in income than those who graduate. It can Balancing Life & College
mean a higher chance of becoming unemployed and fewer
opportunities for jobs. Dropping out can not only decrease
Economic Impact
that potential but leave some students in an even worse
position than before they enrolled. Education & Socioecono
Status
The labor force participation rate for college
Sources
graduates possessing an associate’s degree is: 69.6%
vs. 57.7% for high school graduates in 2017.
73.3% labor force participation rate for college

graduates with a 4-year degree.
Adults who attended some college, but didn’t

graduate, earn about $1 less per hour, on average,
than those who earned an 2-year degree, and about
$5 less per hour, on average, than those earning a 4-
year degree.
College dropouts earn, on average, $21,000 less per

year than their college graduate counterparts.
General Statistics
Demographics


Overlooked
Leaving College
Vocational and Trades Jobs Often Increases
Overlooked Balancing Life & College

Few students initially enter vocational schools and the
Economic Impact
trades right out of high school. In many other developed
countries, vocational training for students in high school Education & Socioecono
and afterward is offered for students who decide not to Status
enroll in college. In U.S. high schools, the push is mainly for Sources
standardized testing and college preparation only, and
outside of vocational trades, most employers in the U.S.
still expect a degree. After a cost-benefit analysis, some
students may determine a college degree just isn’t worth
it.
Most non-vocational jobs require educational

credentials.
Nearly 40% of college graduates end up working jobs

that don’t require degrees, and even more are working
in fields that are not what they went to school for.
College dropouts earn, on average, about $4 per hour

less than high school graduates with a professional
certificate or vocational training. General Statistics

Analysis: Why Students Are Institutional Demograph
Leaving College College Dropout Rate: Po
Demographics
The reasons for dropping out of college vary widely. It’s
true that many former students find other economic Dropping Out of College:
opportunities. Some students may feel it’s not worth it to Employment & Career Pr
complete college. For others, it may be due to failing Vocational and Trades Jo
physical or mental health. Overlooked
Some students may be unprepared for the challenges Analysis: Why Students
of college studies (academic or structure). Leaving College
Another group may have enrolled in college only to Financial Concerns & Tu
meet the expectations of others (family, spouse, Increases
teachers, etc.).
Some students leave after doing a cost-benefit
analysis of the level of debt required for completion
Economic Impact
vs. job prospects upon graduation.
The student’s parents or spouses became Education & Socioecono
unemployed. Status
The student became too ill. Sources
Their financial aid status or eligibility changed.
There were family needs (caring for family members,

pregnancy, or illness).
There was a lack of meaningful connections with

other students on campus.
The student fell behind academically and had no

support to catch up.
As many as 25% of students who take standardized

tests for college readiness end up being directed to
remedial college courses.
Remedial college courses can become a bottleneck

General Statistics
for students as they do not count for credits, delay
graduation, and increase tuition costs – fewer than College Dropout Rate:
25% of college students taking remedial coursework Institutional Demograph
go on to declare a major and graduate.

Demographics


Overlooked
Leaving College
Financial Concerns & Tuition Increases
Increases Balancing Life & College

Among the most prominent issues that could cause a
Economic Impact
student to drop out of college are financial conflicts or
money. Both high tuition costs and the difficulties of Education & Socioecono
paying bills while studying are critical factors. Concerns Status
about affordability for higher education keeps many
Sources
potential high school graduates from even applying.
The cost of college tuition has continuously increased,

skyrocketing by 1375% since 1978.
Tuition rates are climbing far faster than the cost of

living.
For most students, even part-time college is out of

reach without financial aid.
General Statistics
Balancing Life & College Demographics

Working while attending school can be a challenging
balance to maintain for many students. Tuition rates and
cost of living in the areas where most major colleges are
Overlooked
high. Many students have to work to meet basic needs
while attending college. It can be a challenge to schedule Analysis: Why Students
classes around jobs. Leaving College
Entry-level employers may have trouble hiring college Financial Concerns & Tu
students who need flexible scheduling. Increases
Nearly 54% of students who dropped out of college Balancing Life & College
indicated they were unable to balance work and
school.
Economic Impact
Earning over $7,000 may cause a college to reassess
their financial aid to a student.
Status
Sources

Economic Impact General Statistics

Dropping out not only affects students, it affects college
reputations and their finances. 2/5ths of all college
dropouts have a B average or higher—and nearly the same College Dropout Rate: Po
number of students shared the frustration that their Demographics
classes weren’t worth what they’d had to pay for them.

Average yearly lost tuition revenue from students that Employment & Career Pr
drop out: $16.5 Billion. Vocational and Trades Jo
40% of college drop-outs have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Overlooked
39% of college drop-outs said they weren’t getting Analysis: Why Students
their money’s worth at college. Leaving College
Students who drop out are 4 times more likely to

default on their student loans.
Increases
Taxpayers will absorb $31 billion in losses in the next
10 years due to students defaulting on loans.
Economic Impact
Status
Sources
Education & Socioeconomic

Status
College graduation also affects unemployment rates. The
socioeconomic consequences for those who drop out of
college are significant. Education has a direct effect on

equity. College dropouts or those with no education tend
to stay in low-income brackets, place more of a demand on General Statistics
government and social services, and struggle in the labor College Dropout Rate:
market to advance. Institutional Demograph
In 2017, graduates possessing a bachelor’s degree had College Dropout Rate: Po
unemployment rates around 2.5%. Demographics
Graduates with a two-year or associate’s degree had a Dropping Out of College:

3.2% unemployment rate. Employment & Career Pr
12.7% of students with only a high school diploma are

more likely to be in poverty.
Overlooked
Graduates possessing a bachelor’s degree or higher
typically see poverty rates close to 4.8 %
Leaving College
Students who are “first generation” students and the
first in their families to go to college fare poorly as
Increases
well.
As many as 89% of these students do not receive a Balancing Life & College
degree or credential. Dropping Out of College:
The likelihood of a student re-enrolling in college after Economic Impact
they have dropped out is low, with only 30% returning

to finish a degree.
Status
Sources
Sources
1 National Center for Education Statistics (NCES):
Table 302.30 Percentage of recent high school
completers enrolled in college, by race/ethnicity:
1960 through 2017

Graduation Rates for Selected Cohorts, 2008-13;
Outcome Measures for Cohort Year 2008; Student General Statistics
Financial Aid, Academic Year 2015-16; and College Dropout Rate:

Admissions in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2016 Institutional Demograph

Demographics
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 Vocational and Trades Jo
characteristics: Spring 2014 Overlooked
4 College Atlas: U.S. College Dropout Rate and Dropout Analysis: Why Students
Statistics Leaving College
5 The Hechinger Report: More High School Grads Than
Ever Are Going to College, but 1 in 5 Will Quit
Increases
6 National School Boards Association: Center for
Public Education – The Path Least Taken
7 U.S. News & World Report: 25 Best Jobs That Don’t
Economic Impact
Require a College Degree
8 National Student Clearinghouse Research Center: Education & Socioecono
Persistence & Retention – 2019 Status
9 National Student Clearinghouse Research Center: Sources

Yearly Success & Progress Rates – 2019
About Media
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important discussions in education deserve to Contact us
start from a place of fact, not opinion. From hot

button topics like student loan debt to high
school graduation rates, our mission is to make General Statistics
sure the data surrounding these topics is open College Dropout Rate:
& accessible. Institutional Demograph
Demographics
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Overlooked
Leaving College
Increases

Economic Impact
Status
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28/9/21 18:36 College Dropout Rate [2021]: by Year + Demographics

College Dropout Rate:

College Dropout Rate: Po

College Dropout Demographics

Rates Dropping Out of College:

they left due to financial pressure. Status

Related reports include College Graduation Statistics |

More students tend to drop out of two-year institutions

between 16-24 years old were enrolled in colleges or Increases

universities. Balancing Life & College

In 2019, fewer than half of Americans between the age

Students with the highest student loans are less likely

Students aged 19 or under are the age group least

The cost of dropping out of college measured by lost

College Dropout Rate:

College Dropout Rate: Po

Dropping Out of College:

Vocational and Trades Jo

College Dropout Rate: Overlooked

Institutional Demographics Analysis: Why Students

Only 5% of students in 2-year colleges graduate on

15.9% of students pursuing a certificate program

Less than 25% of high school graduates who enroll in

37.5% of recent high school graduates who enroll in a

Only 14.7% of recent high school graduates complete

College Dropout Rate:

College Dropout Rate: Po

College Dropout Rate: Dropping Out of College:

out of college, followed by those 30 or older. Students

23% of first-time full-time Native American students

Between 2000 and 2017 the number of Native

45.91% of black students complete their degree at

Nearly 66% of black undergrad students are women

Black male students pursuing a 4-year degree were

College Dropout Rate:

College Dropout Rate: Po

Dropping Out of College:

Vocational and Trades Jo

Dropping Out of College: Overlooked

Employment & Career Analysis: Why Students

Dropping out of college can mean signing up for $25,000 Increases

73.3% labor force participation rate for college

Adults who attended some college, but didn’t

College dropouts earn, on average, $21,000 less per

College Dropout Rate:

College Dropout Rate: Po

Dropping Out of College:

Vocational and Trades Jo

Analysis: Why Students

Financial Concerns & Tu

Vocational and Trades Jobs Often Increases

Overlooked Balancing Life & College

Dropping Out of College:

and afterward is offered for students who decide not to Status

Most non-vocational jobs require educational

Nearly 40% of college graduates end up working jobs

College dropouts earn, on average, about $4 per hour

College Dropout Rate: