Data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) provide a new look at graduation rate data for students who entered higher education for the first time in 2012. As illustrated, 37 percent of all first-time students earned a bachelor's degree within six years. Nineteen percent earned either an associate's or certificate, 12 percent were still enrolled, and 32 percent had dropped out without receiving a credential.
Over half of first-time Asian postsecondary students earned a BA (55 percent), compared to 43 percent of White students, 24 percent of Hispanic students, and 23 percent of Black students. With regard to dropouts, Black students had the highest dropout level (43 percent), followed by Hispanic students (34 percent), White students (29 percent), and Asian students (19 percent).
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2012/17 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:12/17).