September 9, 2025
Six-year graduation rates for students who started full-time, first-time at a four-year institution, by race/ethnicity (2017 cohort).
Two-thirds (64.5 percent) of entering four-year, degree-seeking students graduate within six years, equivalent to 150 percent of standard time. This varies significantly by race/ethnic groups, as with other variables. Asian and White students have the highest graduation rates (78.3 and 68.1 percent, respectively), while Hispanic (58.6), Native Hawaiian (50.5), Black (45.4), and American Indian (41.3) students graduate within 150 percent of time at their first institution. This does not include those who transfer and graduate from other institutions.
The graphic below depicts the same data by gender and race/ethnicity. Women consistently graduate at higher rates than men throughout all groups.
SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/hsgec.pdf). Downloaded and prepared by EPI September 2, 2025.
NOTE: Students included all full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates, regardless of the level of the degree or certificate sought. Graduation rate is 150 percent of time (six years).
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