Indiana's College Graduation Rate At All-Time High

Nearly 40 percent of all Hoosier college students graduated on time.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - Indiana’s college graduation rate has reached an all-time high.

Nearly 40 percent of all Hoosier college students graduated on time, according to the 2018 College Completion Report released Monday by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. That’s an increase of about 14 percent over the past five years, and four percentage points better than last year.

The number of students getting their degree in more than four years has reached 60 percent – up 2.8 percentage points in the last five years and five percentage points better than the previous year.

“It is encouraging to see Indiana’s significant progress in moving the needle on college completion,” said Indiana Commissioner of Higher Education Teresa Lubbers. “These successes are a direct reflection of the hard work happening at public campuses across the state, as well as the support of the General Assembly.”

The commission has a goal of a 60 percent higher education attainment rate by 2025. Helping the state get there is the 21st Century Scholars program.

On-time graduation rates for 21st Century Scholars are improving at a greater rate than all other student populations. The commission attributes the improvement largely toward state financial aid reform enacted by Indiana lawmakers in 2013, which required students to complete at least 30 credit hours each calendar year to stay on track for on-time graduation. Since then, the on-time graduation rate for Scholars has improved by 13.8 percentage points.

“By every measure, 21st Century Scholars are improving and making measurable gains toward closing Indiana’s college graduation achievement gap,” said Lubbers. “While the Scholar Success Program requirements have only been in place for a short time, I believe they are already making a significant difference and will continue to show that the Scholars program is an investment worth making for the state.”

The full 2018 College Completion Report is available here.

More from Local News


Events

Body Found on Railroad Tracks in Lawrenceburg

The body was located on Wednesday evening just before 8:00 p.m.

IDEM Issues Air Quality Action Days Throughout Indiana for Thursday and Friday

The Air Quality Action Days are due to smoke from Canadian wildfires.

Vehicle Break-ins Reported in Franklin County

The Sheriff's Department is seeking information.

Rising Sun Baseball Set for Trip to Jasper for Semi-State

Community members are invited to send off the Shiners on Friday afternoon.

Batesville's Schebler to Play in North South All-Star Game

Schebler is the 9th player in Batesville history to be selected to play in the All-Star Game.

Area Teams, Individuals Earn Academic All-State Honors

The Softball Coaches Association of Indiana released their Academic All-State teams this week.

On Air

Jeremy playing
Kenny Chesney - Beer In Mexico

Danielle Bradbery A Special Place 11:03
Fox News Fox News National Newscast 11:02
Rascal Flatts My Wish 10:57
Keith Urban God Whispered Your Name 10:54