College Type Preference Match
Among college-enrolled ACT-tested students, 73% with a 2-year college preference, 63% with a public 4-year college preference, and 56% with a private 4-year college preference attend a college that matches their preferred type.
Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Enrolled at Various College Types by College Type Preference and State ACT Participation Rate, 2012
- As state ACT participation rate increases, so does the share of ACT-tested students who attend a college that matches their 2-year college preference.
- Conversely, the share of ACT-tested students who attend a college that matches their private 4-year college preference decreases as state ACT participation rate increases.
- Statewide administration states are an exception to these patterns.
Graph reads: 31% of college-enrolled ACT-tested students from states administering the ACT statewide who preferred to attend a public 4-year college attend a 2-year college instead.
Note: Based on 88% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom college type preference is available. Percentages within stacked bars may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
| State ACT Participation Rate | 2-Year Enrolled | Public 4-Year Enrolled | Private 4-Year Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 26% | 54% | 26% | 20% |
| 26%–50% | 67% | 24% | 9% |
| 51%–75% | 67% | 25% | 7% |
| 76%–100% | 81% | 15% | 3% |
| Statewide (100%) | 77% | 14% | 10% |
| State ACT Participation Rate | 2-Year Enrolled | Public 4-Year Enrolled | Private 4-Year Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 26% | 18% | 64% | 17% |
| 26%–50% | 23% | 62% | 15% |
| 51%–75% | 21% | 67% | 13% |
| 76%–100% | 29% | 64% | 7% |
| Statewide (100%) | 31% | 55% | 14% |
| State ACT Participation Rate | 2-Year Enrolled | Public 4-Year Enrolled | Private 4-Year Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 26% | 8% | 33% | 60% |
| 26%–50% | 7% | 32% | 61% |
| 51%–75% | 10% | 36% | 54% |
| 76%–100% | 13% | 41% | 46% |
| Statewide (100%) | 16% | 33% | 51% |
Note: Based on 88% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom college type preference is available. Percentages within table rows may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Enrolled at Various College Types by College Type Preference and ACT Composite Score, 2012
- As ACT Composite score increases, the share of students who attend a college that matches their 2-year college preference decreases.
- The share of students who attend a college that matches either their public or private 4-year college preference increases as ACT Composite score increases.
Graph reads: 43% of college-enrolled ACT-tested students with an ACT Composite score in the range of 1–15 who preferred to attend a private 4-year college attend a 2-year college instead.
Note: Based on 88% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom college type preference is available. Percentages within stacked bars may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
| ACT Composite Score Range | 2-Year Enrolled | Public 4-Year Enrolled | Private 4-Year Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–15 | 81% | 13% | 6% |
| 16–19 | 77% | 17% | 7% |
| 20–23 | 68% | 23% | 9% |
| 24–27 | 57% | 30% | 14% |
| 28–32 | 39% | 39% | 22% |
| 33–36 | 19% | 47% | 35% |
| ACT Composite Score Range | 2-Year Enrolled | Public 4-Year Enrolled | Private 4-Year Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–15 | 55% | 35% | 9% |
| 16–19 | 37% | 51% | 11% |
| 20–23 | 22% | 65% | 13% |
| 24–27 | 12% | 74% | 15% |
| 28–32 | 5% | 78% | 17% |
| 33–36 | 1% | 76% | 22% |
| ACT Composite Score Range | 2-Year Enrolled | Public 4-Year Enrolled | Private 4-Year Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–15 | 43% | 27% | 29% |
| 16–19 | 25% | 33% | 43% |
| 20–23 | 13% | 35% | 52% |
| 24–27 | 6% | 35% | 59% |
| 28–32 | 2% | 35% | 63% |
| 33–36 | 1% | 32% | 67% |
Note: Based on 88% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom college type preference is available. Percentages within table rows may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Enrolled at Various College Types by College Type Preference and Parent Education Level, 2012
- The share of ACT-tested students who attend a college that matches either their public or private 4-year college preference increases with parent education level.
- The share of ACT-tested students who attend a college that matches their 2-year college preference decreases as parent education level increases.
Graph reads: 21% of college-enrolled ACT-tested students whose parents earned a bachelor’s degree and who preferred to attend a 2-year college attend a public 4-year college instead.
Note: Based on 81% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom college type preference and parent education level are available. Percentages within stacked bars may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
| Parent Education Level | 2-Year Enrolled | Public 4-Year Enrolled | Private 4-Year Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| No College | 76% | 17% | 7% |
| Some College | 74% | 18% | 7% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 70% | 21% | 9% |
| Graduate Degree | 66% | 23% | 11% |
| Parent Education Level | 2-Year Enrolled | Public 4-Year Enrolled | Private 4-Year Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| No College | 36% | 53% | 11% |
| Some College | 31% | 57% | 12% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 20% | 67% | 14% |
| Graduate Degree | 14% | 71% | 16% |
| Parent Education Level | 2-Year Enrolled | Public 4-Year Enrolled | Private 4-Year Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| No College | 21% | 40% | 39% |
| Some College | 17% | 36% | 47% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 9% | 35% | 56% |
| Graduate Degree | 5% | 32% | 64% |
Note: Based on 81% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom college type preference and parent education level are available. Percentages within table rows may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
Percent of College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Enrolled at Various College Types by College Type Preference and Degree Plans, 2012
- As degree aspirations increase, the percentage of ACT-tested students who attend a college that matches their 2-year college preference decreases.
- The share of ACT-tested students who attend a college that matches either their public or private 4-year college preference increases with their degree aspirations.
Graph reads: 36% of college-enrolled ACT-tested students who plan to earn a graduate degree and who preferred to attend a private 4-year college attend a public 4-year college instead.
Note: Based on 86% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom college type preference and degree plans are available. Percentages within stacked bars may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
| Degree Plans | 2-Year Enrolled | Public 4-Year Enrolled | Private 4-Year Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less Than Bachelor's Degree | 80% | 14% | 6% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 74% | 19% | 8% |
| Graduate Degree | 60% | 29% | 12% |
| Degree Plans | 2-Year Enrolled | Public 4-Year Enrolled | Private 4-Year Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less Than Bachelor's Degree | 56% | 34% | 10% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 29% | 58% | 12% |
| Graduate Degree | 17% | 69% | 15% |
| Degree Plans | 2-Year Enrolled | Public 4-Year Enrolled | Private 4-Year Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less Than Bachelor's Degree | 40% | 26% | 34% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 16% | 31% | 54% |
| Graduate Degree | 7% | 36% | 57% |
Note: Based on 86% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom college type preference and degree plans are available. Percentages within table rows may not sum to 100 due to rounding.