Six-Year College Completion Rates Remain Robust

Fall 2019 Cohort Completed College Credentials at a Rate of 61.1%, Highlighting Continued Stability In the Higher Education Ecosystem

Despite entering college just months before the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fall 2019 cohort of college students has kept pace with the high completion rates in recent years.

According to the Yearly Progress and Completion report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, national six-year completion rates have now held steady for four consecutive cohorts, an encouraging sign of stability in higher education.

The report shows that 61.1% of the more than 2.3 million students who began college in fall 2019 earned a credential within six years. Another 9.0% were still enrolled at the six-year mark, while 29.8% were no longer enrolled, also known as “stopped out.” Considering that this cohort’s second semester coincided with the start of the pandemic, these results are particularly noteworthy.

“Students who started in fall 2019 faced the challenges of the pandemic beginning in their second semester, so the fact that their completion rates remain at recent highs underscores the remarkable strength of our higher education ecosystem. This stability is built on the day‑to‑day efforts of students and institutions to maintain progress toward credentials in a changing environment,” said Doug Shapiro, Executive Director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Dual Enrollment Drives Completion

One of the most striking findings this year is centered on dual enrollment, when students earn college credit while still attending high school. These students significantly outperformed their peers without dual enrollment experience. Seventy-one percent of students with prior dual enrollment completed a credential within six years, compared to 57.2% of students without dual enrollment.

The data echoes a growing body of research showing how early exposure to college coursework can jump-start academic confidence, reduce time to degree, and improve long-term outcomes.

Full-Time Students More Likely to Complete

Unsurprisingly, students enrolling full-time continue to complete at much higher rates than their part-time peers. The report finds that 67.1% of full-time starters completed a credential by year six, while 25.1% stopped out. For part-time starters, 34.1% completed, while 51.7% stopped out.

The gap highlights the challenges part-time students face. These individuals often juggle work, family responsibilities, and limited financial aid, creating barriers to completing their studies.

Income Background and Age Remain Key Drivers of College Completion

The data finds that income disparities also persist. Students from the most affluent neighborhoods continue to complete credentials at far higher rates. Students from the lowest income quintile neighborhoods had a 50.1% completion rate, while those from the highest income areas had a 75.9% completion rate in the latest report.

These differences reinforce the ongoing need for targeted support, especially for students navigating systemic barriers linked to income and opportunity.

Additionally, the age at which students enroll in college remains a key factor in completion. For students aged 20 or younger at entry, the completion rate is 63.8%. For those aged 21–24 at entry, 35.6% completed within six years, while 36.6% of students aged 25 and older completed a credential. While older learners bring valuable experience to academic institutions, they often face external pressures, such as full-time work and family responsibilities, that can challenge long-term enrollment.

More on the Yearly Progress and Completion Report

The Yearly Progress and Completion report combines a year-over-year look at 12 cohorts’ journeys toward completion with an in-depth analysis of six- and eight-year completion rates. Explore the interactive dashboard and data appendix for additional variables at the national and state levels.

“Students who started in fall 2019 faced the challenges of the pandemic beginning in their second semester, so the fact that their completion rates remain at recent highs underscores the remarkable strength of our higher education ecosystem. This stability is built on the day‑to‑day efforts of students and institutions to maintain progress toward credentials in a changing environment.”

Doug Shapiro
Executive Director, National Student Clearinghouse Research Center