While nearly nine in ten U.S. public high school students now earn their diploma, the national graduation rate of 87% masks a complex tapestry of triumphs, persistent gaps, and hard-won progress stories playing out in states and student populations across the country.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021-22, the U.S. public high school adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) reached 87% nationally, with variations by state from 74% in New Mexico to 94% in West Virginia
- During the 2020-21 school year, approximately 1.96 million students graduated from U.S. public high schools, representing a 2.5% increase from the previous year despite pandemic disruptions
- The national average high school graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 86.4%, with Asian/Pacific Islander students achieving 94.6% compared to 79.8% for American Indian/Alaska Native students
- During 2019-20, the U.S. six-year college graduation rate for first-time, full-time students was 64%, up slightly from 62% in 2015-16 cohort
- At public four-year institutions, the six-year graduation rate was 62% for the 2016 entering cohort, with STEM majors at 55%
- Private nonprofit four-year colleges reported 68% six-year graduation rates for 2016 cohort, compared to 52% at for-profit schools
- The six-year graduation rate for master's degrees in the U.S. was 62% at public universities in 2022
- In 2021-22, 1.1 million master's degrees were conferred, with education fields at 20% of total, 65% completion rate
- Harvard's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences reports 95% completion within five years for PhD programs
- In OECD countries, tertiary graduation rates averaged 39% for short-cycle programs in 2022
- Japan's upper secondary graduation rate was 98.8% in 2021, highest globally
- South Korea's tertiary graduation rate reached 70% in 2022, with 95% high school completion
- In the U.S., Black high school students had 81% graduation rate vs. 89% White in 2022
- Female college graduation rates exceed males by 7 percentage points nationally, 65% vs. 58% six-year
- Hispanic postsecondary enrollment leads to 25% bachelor's completion within six years
Despite pandemic challenges, national high school graduation rates remain high with persistent equity gaps.
College Graduation
- During 2019-20, the U.S. six-year college graduation rate for first-time, full-time students was 64%, up slightly from 62% in 2015-16 cohort
- At public four-year institutions, the six-year graduation rate was 62% for the 2016 entering cohort, with STEM majors at 55%
- Private nonprofit four-year colleges reported 68% six-year graduation rates for 2016 cohort, compared to 52% at for-profit schools
- In 2022, 2.1 million associate degrees were conferred in the U.S., with 40% of community college entrants completing within three years
- Harvard University's six-year graduation rate exceeds 97% for undergraduates entering in 2017
- California State University system's graduation rate improved to 62% by 2023 for six-year metric, targeting 70% by 2025
- At the University of California, Berkeley, 93% of 2016 cohort graduated within four years, 96% within six
- Community college completion rates averaged 34% within three years for 2019 cohort, per Complete College America
- Texas public universities saw 55% four-year graduation rates in 2022, with UT Austin at 73%
- Florida's State University System reported 72% six-year graduation rate for 2017 cohort, up 5% from decade prior
- In 2023, NYU's undergraduate graduation rate was 93% within six years for full-time students
- Public two-year colleges had 31% three-year completion rate for 2018 cohort, with transfers boosting to 50%
- Stanford University's four-year graduation rate is 95%, six-year at 98% for recent classes
- Among HBCUs, Morehouse College achieved 85% six-year graduation rate in 2022
- Yale's six-year graduation rate stands at 98.5% for 2017 entrants
- Community college nursing program graduation rates averaged 65% within 150% time in 2021
- University of Michigan's 2023 report shows 92% six-year graduation for in-state students
- In 2022, 1.0 million bachelor's degrees were awarded in business fields, with 60% six-year completion at those programs
- Private for-profit four-year schools had 28% six-year graduation rates for 2016 cohort
- UCLA's four-year graduation rate reached 81% for 2019 freshmen, six-year 92%
- Ohio State University reported 88% six-year graduation for 2017 cohort
- Among online programs, Western Governors University boasts 65% completion within normal time
- MIT's undergraduate graduation rate is 93% within four years, 96% six years
- Public universities in Georgia had 52% four-year graduation rates in 2022
- Columbia University's six-year rate is 97%
- In 2021, 45% of community college students completed credentials within six years, per NSCRC
- Princeton's graduation rate exceeds 97% within six years
- University of Florida's six-year rate was 88% for 2016 cohort
- In 2022, the average six-year graduation rate at U.S. public four-year colleges was 61%
- Duke University's four-year rate is 90%, six-year 96%
- For the 2017-18 cohort, 39% of students at public two-year colleges earned a degree or transferred within three years
College Graduation Interpretation
While elite universities like Harvard and Stanford are popping champagne with graduation rates nearing 98%, the national story is a sobering marathon where, at the public institutions most Americans attend, only about six in ten students cross the finish line within six years, revealing a stark and persistent equity gap in higher education.
Demographic Variations
- In the U.S., Black high school students had 81% graduation rate vs. 89% White in 2022
- Female college graduation rates exceed males by 7 percentage points nationally, 65% vs. 58% six-year
- Hispanic postsecondary enrollment leads to 25% bachelor's completion within six years
- Low-income students graduate high school at 78% vs. 93% high-income, 2022 data
- Asian American college six-year graduation rate is 76%, highest among groups
- Rural high school graduation rates average 88%, urban 85%, suburban 90%
- First-generation college students complete at 24% vs. 60% continuing-generation
- In 2023, LGBTQ+ high school students reported 82% graduation, lower due to bullying
- English language learners graduate high school at 65%, non-ELL 90%
- Students with disabilities have 72% high school graduation rate vs. 90% general
- Native American college completion is 40% six-year, lowest major group
- Immigrant students outperform U.S.-born in high school graduation by 5 points
- Single-parent household students graduate college at 50% less rate than two-parent
- Military-connected high schoolers graduate at 92%, above national average
- Homeless students graduate high school at 55%, per federal data
- Foster youth postsecondary completion is 10% within six years
- Overweight students have 5% lower high school graduation odds
- Gifted program participants graduate college at 80% vs. 50% average
- In urban areas, Black males graduate high school at 75%
- Women in STEM fields graduate at 65% vs. 70% men
- Veteran college students complete at 45% within six years
- Adult learners (25+) have 30% associate completion rate
- Pacific Islander high school graduation is 80%
- Children of college grads graduate at 60% rate vs. 30% non-college parents
- Incarcerated youth have <20% high school equivalency attainment
- Religious minority students (Muslim) graduate high school at 85%
- Athletes in high school graduate at 92% vs. 84% non-athletes
Demographic Variations Interpretation
The statistics paint a clear and stubborn American portrait: our educational outcomes are less a measure of individual merit and more a mirror reflecting the compounded advantages or burdens of race, income, origin, and identity, where the graduation gap often reveals the opportunity gap.
Graduate School Graduation
- The six-year graduation rate for master's degrees in the U.S. was 62% at public universities in 2022
- In 2021-22, 1.1 million master's degrees were conferred, with education fields at 20% of total, 65% completion rate
- Harvard's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences reports 95% completion within five years for PhD programs
- Stanford's PhD completion rate averages 85% within seven years across disciplines
- U.S. medical schools had a 94.3% four-year graduation rate for the class entering 2018
- Law schools reported 87% three-year graduation rates in 2022, with top tiers at 95%
- At UC Berkeley, 70% of PhD students complete within six years
- Yale Law School's graduation rate is 98% within three years
- In 2023, 202,400 doctoral degrees were awarded in the U.S., with sciences comprising 55%
- MBA programs at top business schools like Wharton achieve 95% two-year completion rates
- Public research universities saw 60% five-year master's completion for 2018 cohort
- Johns Hopkins University's PhD programs have 80% completion rate within seven years
- Nursing doctoral programs reported 85% completion within five years in 2022
- MIT's graduate programs boast 90% completion rates for master's, 82% for PhDs
- In the UK, Oxford University's DPhil completion rate is 85% within six years
- U.S. EdD programs have 55% three-year completion rates, lower than PhDs
- Columbia's GSAS PhD attrition rate is 15%, implying 85% graduation
- Engineering master's programs at Georgia Tech complete at 92% within two years
- In 2022, 56% of full-time graduate students completed their programs within 150% normal time
- Princeton's PhD programs graduate 90% of students
- Dental schools in U.S. have 96% four-year graduation rates
- UCLA's professional degree programs like MD achieve 97% graduation
- Social work MSW programs report 88% two-year completion rates nationally
- Chicago Booth MBA graduation rate is 98%
- In 2021, Canada’s graduate completion rate for master's was 82% within three years
- NYU's Tandon School engineering PhDs complete at 75% within seven years
- Veterinary medicine programs graduate 92% within four years
Graduate School Graduation Interpretation
While statistics often paint graduate programs as a game of scholastic roulette, from the near certainty of a medical degree to the coin-flip odds of an EdD, the data ultimately reveals that the house always wins but some students are playing with much better odds than others.
High School Graduation
- In 2021-22, the U.S. public high school adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) reached 87% nationally, with variations by state from 74% in New Mexico to 94% in West Virginia
- During the 2020-21 school year, approximately 1.96 million students graduated from U.S. public high schools, representing a 2.5% increase from the previous year despite pandemic disruptions
- The national average high school graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 86.4%, with Asian/Pacific Islander students achieving 94.6% compared to 79.8% for American Indian/Alaska Native students
- In California, the high school graduation rate improved to 87.2% for the class of 2022, driven by targeted interventions for English learners who reached 82.5%
- Texas public high schools reported a 90% graduation rate in 2022-23, with Hispanic students at 89.5% and Black students at 88.2%, reflecting equity gains
- New York State's four-year high school graduation rate stood at 80% for the class of 2022, with significant gaps as English language learners graduated at 61%
- Florida's high school graduation rate hit a record 90% in 2022-23, boosted by career and technical education pathways adopted by 25% of graduates
- In 2022, Iowa achieved the highest U.S. high school graduation rate at 91.5% for public schools, attributed to low dropout rates of 1.2%
- Michigan's high school graduation rate for 2021-22 was 82.1%, with urban districts like Detroit at 72% showing improvement from 65% in 2019
- The U.S. Department of Education reports that 93% of Asian American high school students graduated on-time in 2021, compared to 82% of Hispanic students
- In 2023, West Virginia's high school graduation rate was 92%, with special education students improving to 85% from 78% pre-pandemic
- Nevada's high school graduation rate rose to 82.5% in 2022, with Clark County schools at 80.1% amid efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism
- Oregon reported a 79% high school graduation rate for 2021-22, with Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students at 68%, highlighting equity challenges
- Indiana's class of 2023 had an 89.4% graduation rate, with evidence-based interventions credited for a 3% rise in low-income student graduations
- Kentucky achieved 90.7% high school graduation in 2022, with rural schools matching urban rates at 91%
- Washington's high school graduation rate was 84.5% in 2022-23, with homeless students graduating at 62% via support programs
- Alabama's public high school graduation rate reached 89% in 2023, up 1.5% from 2022, driven by alternative diploma options
- In 2021-22, Colorado's high school graduation rate was 82.3%, with English learners at 65% prompting new bilingual programs
- New Jersey's rate was 91% for 2022 graduates, highest among large states, with Black students at 87%
- Oklahoma reported 84% high school graduation in 2023, with tribal students at 78% benefiting from cultural programs
- Arkansas improved to 88.5% high school graduation rate in 2022-23, with foster care students reaching 75%
- Utah's high school graduation rate was 88%, with Pacific Islander students at 82% showing narrowing gaps
- In 2022, Hawaii's public high school graduation rate was 83.5%, with Native Hawaiian students at 77%
- South Carolina's rate hit 84% in 2023, with special needs students at 80% due to personalized learning plans
- Georgia achieved 84.5% high school graduation in 2022, with Hispanic rates climbing to 85%
- North Carolina's 2023 class had 87% graduation rate, rural areas at 86%
- Arizona's high school graduation rate was 77% in 2022, with efforts targeting 70% Native American rate
- In 2021-22, public high school graduates numbered 3.7 million in the U.S., with 87% ACGR
- Male high school graduation rate in U.S. was 86% vs. 88% for females in 2022
High School Graduation Interpretation
While celebrating a national graduation high of 87% as a testament to resilience, we must acknowledge that a student's zip code, native language, or race still plays an unforgivably powerful role in determining their odds of walking across the stage.
International Graduation Rates
- In OECD countries, tertiary graduation rates averaged 39% for short-cycle programs in 2022
- Japan's upper secondary graduation rate was 98.8% in 2021, highest globally
- South Korea's tertiary graduation rate reached 70% in 2022, with 95% high school completion
- In 2020, the EU average tertiary attainment for 25-34 year-olds was 42%, led by Ireland at 63%
- China's gross tertiary graduation rate hit 59.6% in 2022, with 10.76 million graduates
- India's higher education gross enrollment ratio led to 4.3 million graduates in 2023, rate ~28%
- Australia's bachelor degree attainment for 25-34s is 44%, tertiary graduation 50%
- Finland's upper secondary graduation rate is 93%, vocational focus aiding 85% tertiary entry
- Brazil's high school completion rate for 25-34s was 59% in 2022, tertiary 21%
- Germany's dual education system yields 90% upper secondary graduation, 55% tertiary
- In 2023, UK's university graduation rate for full-time undergrads was 86% within five years
- Russia's tertiary graduation rate is 62%, with high school at 98%
- Mexico's upper secondary completion rose to 78% in 2022, tertiary graduation 25%
- Singapore's polytechnic diploma graduation rate is 95%, university 90%
- In 2021, France's baccalauréat pass rate was 96.5%, tertiary graduation 45%
- Sweden's upper secondary graduation is 88%, with 50% tertiary attainment
- Turkey's tertiary graduation rate improved to 30% in 2022 from 20% in 2015
- Canada's postsecondary graduation rate is 65% within six years
- Saudi Arabia's university graduation rate reached 45% in 2023, women at 60%
- Netherlands' HBO bachelor graduation is 75% within four years
- South Africa's high school matric pass rate was 82.9% in 2023, tertiary low at 15%
- Poland's upper secondary graduation is 95%, tertiary 55%
- UAE's tertiary graduation rate is 50%, with 90% high school
- Chile's tertiary enrollment led to 40% graduation rate in 2022
- Israel's high school graduation is 92%, tertiary 50%
- New Zealand's tertiary qualification rate for 25-34s is 41%
- Norway's upper secondary completion is 85%, university graduation 55%
International Graduation Rates Interpretation
The world is hitting the books, though some are acing the final while others are still cramming for the midterm, revealing a global classroom where the bell to graduate rings at vastly different times for each nation.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NCESnces.ed.govVisit source
- Reference 2EDWEEKedweek.orgVisit source
- Reference 3CDEcde.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 4TEAtea.texas.govVisit source
- Reference 5DATAdata.nysed.govVisit source
- Reference 6FLDOEfldoe.orgVisit source
- Reference 7EDNCednc.orgVisit source
- Reference 8MICHIGANmichigan.govVisit source
- Reference 9WVDEwvde.state.wv.usVisit source
- Reference 10DOEdoe.nv.govVisit source
- Reference 11OREGONoregon.govVisit source
- Reference 12INin.govVisit source
- Reference 13EDUCATIONeducation.ky.govVisit source
- Reference 14K12k12.wa.usVisit source
- Reference 15ALABAMAACHIEVESalabamaachieves.orgVisit source
- Reference 16CDEcde.state.co.usVisit source
- Reference 17NJnj.govVisit source
- Reference 18SDEsde.ok.govVisit source
- Reference 19DESEdese.ade.arkansas.govVisit source
- Reference 20SCHOOLSschools.utah.govVisit source
- Reference 21HAWAIIPUBLICSCHOOLShawaiipublicschools.orgVisit source
- Reference 22EDed.sc.govVisit source
- Reference 23GADOEgadoe.orgVisit source
- Reference 24DPIdpi.nc.govVisit source
- Reference 25AZEDazed.govVisit source
- Reference 26COLLEGEcollege.harvard.eduVisit source
- Reference 27CALSTATEcalstate.eduVisit source
- Reference 28ADMISSIONadmission.universityofcalifornia.eduVisit source
- Reference 29COMPLETECOLLEGEcompletecollege.orgVisit source
- Reference 30REPORTSreports.tea.texas.govVisit source
- Reference 31FLBOGflbog.eduVisit source
- Reference 32NYUnyu.eduVisit source
- Reference 33FACTSfacts.stanford.eduVisit source
- Reference 34HBCUCONNECThbcuconnect.comVisit source
- Reference 35OIRoir.yale.eduVisit source
- Reference 36AACNNURSINGaacnnursing.orgVisit source
- Reference 37ODPodp.umich.eduVisit source
- Reference 38ADMISSIONadmission.ucla.eduVisit source
- Reference 39OSUosu.eduVisit source
- Reference 40WGUwgu.eduVisit source
- Reference 41IRir.mit.eduVisit source
- Reference 42USGusg.eduVisit source
- Reference 43OIRoir.columbia.eduVisit source
- Reference 44NSCRESEARCHCENTERnscresearchcenter.orgVisit source
- Reference 45REGISTRARregistrar.princeton.eduVisit source
- Reference 46IRir.ufl.eduVisit source
- Reference 47CHRONICLEchronicle.comVisit source
- Reference 48OIRoir.duke.eduVisit source
- Reference 49GSASgsas.harvard.eduVisit source
- Reference 50GAPgap.stanford.eduVisit source
- Reference 51AAMCaamc.orgVisit source
- Reference 52LSTREPORTSlstreports.comVisit source
- Reference 53GRADgrad.berkeley.eduVisit source
- Reference 54LAWlaw.yale.eduVisit source
- Reference 55STATISTICSstatistics.wharton.upenn.eduVisit source
- Reference 56GRADgrad.jhu.eduVisit source
- Reference 57OXox.ac.ukVisit source
- Reference 58GSASgsas.columbia.eduVisit source
- Reference 59GRADgrad.gatech.eduVisit source
- Reference 60GRADSCHOOLgradschool.princeton.eduVisit source
- Reference 61ADAada.orgVisit source
- Reference 62MEDSCHOOLmedschool.ucla.eduVisit source
- Reference 63CSWEcswe.orgVisit source
- Reference 64CHICAGOBOOTHchicagobooth.eduVisit source
- Reference 65STATCANwww150.statcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 66ENGINEERINGengineering.nyu.eduVisit source
- Reference 67AVMAavma.orgVisit source
- Reference 68DATAdata.oecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 69UISuis.unesco.orgVisit source
- Reference 70ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 71ENen.moe.gov.cnVisit source
- Reference 72AISHEaishe.gov.inVisit source
- Reference 73OECD-ILIBRARYoecd-ilibrary.orgVisit source
- Reference 74OECDoecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 75HESAhesa.ac.ukVisit source
- Reference 76MOEmoe.gov.sgVisit source
- Reference 77EDUCATIONeducation.gouv.frVisit source
- Reference 78MOEmoe.gov.saVisit source
- Reference 79RIJKSOVERHEIDrijksoverheid.nlVisit source
- Reference 80EDUCATIONeducation.gov.zaVisit source
- Reference 81Uu.aeVisit source
- Reference 82EDUCATIONCOUNTSeducationcounts.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 83PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 84GLSENglsen.orgVisit source
- Reference 85MIGRATIONPOLICYmigrationpolicy.orgVisit source
- Reference 86BROOKINGSbrookings.eduVisit source
- Reference 87MILITARYCHILDmilitarychild.orgVisit source
- Reference 88NCHEnche.ed.govVisit source
- Reference 89CHAPINHALLchapinhall.orgVisit source
- Reference 90NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 91NRCGTnrcgt.uconn.eduVisit source
- Reference 92EDTRUSTedtrust.orgVisit source
- Reference 93NSFnsf.govVisit source
- Reference 94VAva.govVisit source
- Reference 95AECFaecf.orgVisit source
- Reference 96CSGJUSTICECENTERcsgjusticecenter.orgVisit source
- Reference 97PRRIprri.orgVisit source
- Reference 98NFHSnfhs.orgVisit source