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District of Columbia
59.8%
Massachusetts
44.5%
Colorado
41.6%
Maryland
40.9%
New Jersey
40.7%
Connecticut
40%
Vermont
39.7%
Virginia
39.5%
New Hampshire
37.6%
New York
37.5%
Minnesota
36.8%
Washington
36.7%
Illinois
35.5%
Rhode Island
35%
California
34.7%
Utah
34.7%
Oregon
34.4%
Kansas
33.9%
Hawaii
33.6%
Montana
33.1%
Delaware
32.7%
Maine
32.5%
Nebraska
32.5%
Pennsylvania
32.3%
Georgia
32.2%
North Carolina
32%
Wisconsin
30.8%
North Dakota
30.7%
Texas
30.7%
Florida
30.5%
Arizona
30.3%
Alaska
30%
Michigan
30%
Missouri
29.9%
Iowa
29.3%
South Dakota
29.3%
South Carolina
29%
Ohio
28.9%
Idaho
28.7%
Tennessee
28.2%
Wyoming
28.2%
New Mexico
28.1%
Indiana
27.2%
Alabama
26.2%
Oklahoma
26.1%
Nevada
25.5%
Kentucky
25%
Louisiana
24.9%
Arkansas
23.8%
Mississippi
22.8%
West Virginia
21.3%

College Graduation Rates by Race 2024

College Graduation Rates by Race 2024

Retention in the college of students who can complete their degrees within 150 percent of the anticipated time to complete the degree is the number one indicator for college graduation rates. In 2022, there were more Asians graduating in America than any other race with some states having as many as 70 percent of their graduates of Asian descent.

Retention and Graduation Rates

A retention rate refers to the number of students who graduate within 150 percent of the anticipated time. So a four-year program completed in six years would meet that criterion.

Graduation rates for students completing four-year degrees in four years were 41 percent in 2022. For students completing these degrees in six years, the graduation rates were 60 percent. Of those graduating, most states saw an Asian graduation rate of over 60 percent and whites over 40 percent. On average, every graduating class is 25 percent African American.

Top Five States for Graduates

The top five states in the United States with the highest graduation rates are Massachusetts, Colorado, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. Here are the top five states with their graduation rates by race in 2022:

  • Massachusetts: Asian (61.07%), African American (26.29%), Caucasian (45.36%)
  • Colorado: Asian (52.63%), African American (26.29%), Caucasian (42.62%)
  • New Jersey: Asian (70.0%), African American (24.31%), Caucasian (40.51%)
  • Maryland: Asian (63.72%), African American (30.06%), Caucasian (44.32%)
  • Virginia: Asian (61.02%), African American (24.34%), Caucasian (41.21%)

Variables Impacting Racial Disparities in Graduation Rates

There are many variables impacting racial disparities in graduation rates, and many of those variables point to economic factors. Loan default rates are a concern among many college and university students, and there are some indicators to suggest those rates are higher among African Americans than among Caucasians or Asians. That would prevent those races from graduating within the 150 percent timeline hoped for.

Some data indicates that African Americans have a default rate of six times higher than Caucasians. That, in addition to a labor market where racial discrimination occurs, is another key factor that determines graduation rates. There are fewer African American families that can help their students pay back their loans after college. Worse, families can rarely if ever help their students enter the job market quickly and successfully. Racial discrimination is a deterrent in keeping graduation rates for African Americans in college when they are also struggling with overwhelming debt that accumulates every year they are studying.

College Graduation Rates by Race 2024

* These percentages represent those that have achieved education of bachelors or higher

Download Table Data

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State
Overall Graduation Rate
Asian
Black
White
District of Columbia59.8%83.44%29.09%89.76%
Massachusetts44.5%61.78%27.63%46.32%
Colorado41.6%51.49%27.21%43.82%
Maryland40.9%63.66%31.08%44.93%
New Jersey40.7%71.03%25.24%41.86%
Connecticut40%66.31%22.95%42.74%
Vermont39.7%51.21%34.17%39.58%
Virginia39.5%61.19%25.06%41.94%
New Hampshire37.6%58.53%25.71%37.37%
New York37.5%47.92%24.91%41.88%
Minnesota36.8%45.7%22.2%37.96%
Washington36.7%54.51%26.87%36.92%
Illinois35.5%66.3%22.74%37.32%
Rhode Island35%54.02%23.82%36.78%
California34.7%53.63%27.11%36.33%
Utah34.7%49.02%23.18%36.07%
Oregon34.4%53.81%27.65%34.7%
Kansas33.9%51.55%21.58%35.05%
Hawaii33.6%35.04%30.92%44.47%
Montana33.1%47.47%31.06%34.14%
Delaware32.7%63.7%23.3%34.07%
Maine32.5%45.26%26.13%32.55%
Nebraska32.5%46.24%20.9%33.5%
Pennsylvania32.3%56.35%20.19%33.32%
Georgia32.2%56.87%25.11%34.8%
North Carolina32%59.59%22.02%34.85%
Wisconsin30.8%48.81%14.92%31.81%
North Dakota30.7%52.62%22.73%31.62%
Texas30.7%59.34%25.6%31.5%
Florida30.5%50.26%20.07%32.26%
Arizona30.3%57.62%26.12%32.17%
Alaska30%26.14%20.74%35.85%
Michigan30%64.27%17.92%30.86%
Missouri29.9%60.91%19.1%30.79%
Iowa29.3%47.56%16.95%29.51%
South Dakota29.3%48.74%19.38%30.9%
South Carolina29%52.6%16.66%33.32%
Ohio28.9%60.5%18.04%29.73%
Idaho28.7%44.97%25.13%29.49%
Tennessee28.2%56.14%21.08%29.11%
Wyoming28.2%57.52%32.9%28.56%
New Mexico28.1%53.73%30.5%31.52%
Indiana27.2%57.45%18.78%27.68%
Alabama26.2%51.27%18.38%28.8%
Oklahoma26.1%42.24%21.01%27.73%
Nevada25.5%41.4%19.12%27.07%
Kentucky25%54.18%17.75%25.24%
Louisiana24.9%43.97%16.54%28.42%
Arkansas23.8%49.38%16.92%25.07%
Mississippi22.8%41.36%16.26%26.31%
West Virginia21.3%64.1%17.08%21.05%
United States32.85%54.99%22.57%34.44%
showing: 51 rows

College Graduation Rates by Race 2024

Sources