Information Brief 2013-5
Associate’s Degree Completion Rates
for a sample of two-year postsecondary institutions
A recent ACT study (Radunzel & Noble, 2012) based on more than 40 two-year postsecondary institutions found that degree completion rates varied substantially across institutions. The three-year associate’s degree completion rate for incoming, first-time, ACT-tested freshmen ranged from 4% to 34% across institutions. The typical rate was 14%.
The middle fifty percent of the institutional rates ranged from 10% to 21% (25th and 75th percentiles shown in the figure below). Fewer than one-fifth (16%) of the institutions had a rate of 25% or higher. These findings illustrate the great variability in degree completion rates across two-year institutions.
Institutional Three-Year Associate’s Degree Completion Rates
| Degree Completion Rates | Percent of Participating Institutions |
|---|---|
| 30% to 35% | 7% |
| 25% to less than 30% | 9% |
| 20% to less than 25% | 9% |
| 15% to less than 20% | 23% |
| 10% to less than 15% | 28% |
| 5% to less than 10% | 21% |
| 0% to less than 5% | 2% |
| Percentile | Degree Completion Rate |
|---|---|
| 75th Percentile (Q3) | 21% |
| 50th Percentile (Median, Q2) | 14% |
| 25th Percentile (Q1) | 10% |
Note: Based on data from more than 40 two-year postsecondary institutions and nearly 68,000 ACT-tested students who enrolled in one of these institutions as a first-time entering student in fall, 2000 through 2006. The sample used in the study may not be representative of all US two-year postsecondary institutions.
The five parts to the boxplot include the minimum, the 25th percentile, the 50th percentile (median), the 75th percentile, and the maximum. For a more detailed description of the study, including characteristics of the institutions included, see the full ACT Research Report.
Radunzel, J., & Noble, J. (2012). Predicting long-term college success through degree completion using ACT Composite score, ACT Benchmarks, and high school grade point average. (ACT Research Report No. 2012-5). Iowa City, IA: ACT, Inc.
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