System-Level Accountability Scorecard
Assessments: Progress toward Implementing the Strategic Plan

High Quality Learning Programs & Services Indicator 6: Student Learning - Students achieve identified learning outcomes.

Measure 6C: IPEDS Graduation and Transfer-Out Rates

Measure 6C is the graduation and transfer-out rates that are reported to the National Center for Education Statistics on the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System Survey. The graduation rate is the percent of full-time, first-time certificate-seeking, diploma-seeking or degree-seeking undergraduate students who graduate within 150 percent of the time it would take a full-time student to complete the award. The transfer-out rate is the percent of full-time, first-time certificate-seeking, diploma-seeking or degree-seeking undergraduate students who do not graduate within 150 percent of the time it would take a full-time student, but do transfer to another college or university (click here for a printer friendly PDF copy of this page).

Significance: Measure 6C is signficant in that it indicates the effectiveness of colleges and universities at enabling degree-seeking students to meet their educational goals.

Measure 6C: The combined graduation and transfer-out rates at the state colleges increased from 53.5 percent in 1999 to 55.6 percent in 2003, as shown in Figure 6C-1. The graduation rates at the state universities increased from 39.7 percent in 1999 to 46.1 percent in 2003, as shown in Figure 6C-2. Reporting transfer-out rates is optional, and these rates were not reported by the universities in 1999 and 2000.

Context: The 2003 combined graduation and transfer-out rate for the state colleges, 55.6 percent, was substantially higher than the rate for similar U.S. public two-year colleges, as shown in Figure 6C-3. The graduation and transfer-out rate for the state universities, 75.5 percent, was substantially higher than the rate for similar U.S. public four-year universities, as shown in Figure 6C-4.

Drill-Downs: The combined graduation and transfer-out rates for students of color at the state colleges were substantially lower than for white students, but the rates for all groups increased between 2001 and 2003, as shown in Figure 6C-5. The combined graduation and transfer-out rates for students of color at the state universities also were lower than for white students, and the rates for most groups increased between 2001 and 2003, as shown in Figure 6C-6. Appendix A contains institutional level reports.