Retention of first-time degree-seeking undergraduates at degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by attendance status, level and control of institution, and percentage of applications accepted: Selected years, 2012 through 2023

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Table 326.30.Retention of first-time degree-seeking undergraduates at degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by attendance status, level and control of institution, and percentage of applications accepted: Selected years, 2012 through 2023
Attendance status, level, control, and percent of applications accepted	First-time degree-seekers (adjusted entry cohort), by fall term of the entry year¹								Students from adjusted cohort returning in the fall term of the following year							Percent of first-time undergraduates retained
	2012	2013	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2013	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2012 to 2013	2017 to 2018	2018 to 2019	2019 to 2020	2020 to 2021	2021 to 2022	2022 to 2023
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23
Full-time students
All institutions	2,222,696	2,222,085	2,180,000	2,188,713	2,171,772	1,984,153	2,019,643	2,062,005	1,620,901	1,648,563	1,667,000	1,647,685	1,501,775	1,550,727	1,602,510	72.9	75.6	76.2	75.9	75.7	76.8	77.7
Public institutions	1,637,518	1,646,902	1,624,257	1,628,989	1,619,500	1,462,383	1,470,773	1,516,936	1,168,782	1,206,831	1,218,828	1,212,646	1,090,992	1,114,233	1,166,613	71.4	74.3	74.8	74.9	74.6	75.8	76.9
Private nonprofit institutions	483,373	483,617	505,749	511,667	499,073	464,489	491,720	484,966	388,107	409,756	416,202	400,138	375,635	399,341	396,166	80.3	81.0	81.3	80.2	80.9	81.2	81.7
Private for-profit institutions	101,805	91,566	49,994	48,057	53,199	57,281	57,150	60,103	64,012	31,976	31,970	34,901	35,148	37,153	39,731	62.9	64.0	66.5	65.6	61.4	65.0	66.1
4-year institutions	1,466,129	1,483,526	1,552,952	1,574,897	1,566,966	1,480,319	1,542,693	1,572,961	1,166,522	1,257,806	1,280,145	1,278,034	1,193,578	1,249,373	1,284,894	79.6	81.0	81.3	81.6	80.6	81.0	81.7
Public institutions	957,709	978,041	1,041,528	1,058,064	1,058,951	1,002,316	1,036,405	1,071,147	765,686	845,962	861,864	872,668	809,864	841,608	879,171	79.9	81.2	81.5	82.4	80.8	81.2	82.1
Open admissions	34,897	34,706	27,518	27,814	32,654	24,830	24,749	29,582	21,128	17,296	16,898	19,121	14,595	14,818	18,427	60.5	62.9	60.8	58.6	58.8	59.9	62.3
90 percent or more accepted	47,775	55,188	82,664	90,253	107,300	131,712	208,080	192,294	33,969	60,453	66,987	81,005	95,924	155,833	146,516	71.1	73.1	74.2	75.5	72.8	74.9	76.2
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	226,673	261,763	306,275	345,052	374,636	427,521	354,554	405,130	174,316	241,653	272,368	302,373	337,800	280,928	323,900	76.9	78.9	78.9	80.7	79.0	79.2	79.9
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	469,245	461,551	433,857	402,929	362,369	277,772	282,812	251,288	381,576	354,829	331,743	304,847	232,441	238,134	210,894	81.3	81.8	82.3	84.1	83.7	84.2	83.9
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	164,067	147,849	167,077	161,544	132,193	117,009	110,279	138,180	141,671	148,466	144,458	118,895	106,474	100,685	126,756	86.3	88.9	89.4	89.9	91.0	91.3	91.7
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	8,843	15,315	22,740	30,371	34,272	23,472	36,443	54,673	8,357	21,999	29,339	32,932	22,630	35,176	52,678	94.5	96.7	96.6	96.1	96.4	96.5	96.4
Information not available	6,209	1,669	1,397	101	15,527	0	19,488	0	4,669	1,266	71	13,495	†	16,034	†	75.2	90.6	70.3	86.9	†	82.3	†
Private nonprofit institutions	475,635	476,437	495,012	501,087	488,071	457,668	484,606	477,949	383,552	402,044	408,385	392,874	371,176	394,201	391,102	80.6	81.2	81.5	80.5	81.1	81.3	81.8
Open admissions	22,497	12,549	12,116	16,599	13,200	9,836	12,072	12,989	14,349	7,870	10,314	8,506	6,433	8,021	8,508	63.8	65.0	62.1	64.4	65.4	66.4	65.5
90 percent or more accepted	12,348	22,841	33,038	30,923	36,334	41,244	55,086	58,491	8,516	23,969	22,466	26,521	29,166	40,058	42,847	69.0	72.5	72.7	73.0	70.7	72.7	73.3
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	79,804	86,040	92,984	104,588	105,651	124,884	146,419	139,938	62,184	72,983	82,632	82,952	97,274	114,191	109,718	77.9	78.5	79.0	78.5	77.9	78.0	78.4
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	219,709	207,431	201,208	200,478	184,938	168,656	151,049	142,560	173,059	158,251	158,091	144,933	134,090	120,809	115,213	78.8	78.7	78.9	78.4	79.5	80.0	80.8
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	95,584	98,202	95,866	77,394	81,684	47,741	42,665	43,785	81,655	82,883	66,555	69,194	41,483	36,911	37,825	85.4	86.5	86.0	84.7	86.9	86.5	86.4
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	44,735	45,222	55,035	70,291	65,930	64,631	76,953	79,506	43,208	53,162	67,789	60,566	62,269	73,940	76,430	96.6	96.6	96.4	91.9	96.3	96.1	96.1
Information not available	958	4,152	4,765	814	334	676	362	680	581	2,926	538	202	461	271	561	60.6	61.4	66.1	60.5	68.2	74.9	82.5
Private for-profit institutions	32,785	29,048	16,412	15,746	19,944	20,335	21,682	23,865	17,284	9,800	9,896	12,492	12,538	13,564	14,621	52.7	59.7	62.8	62.6	61.7	62.6	61.3
Open admissions	16,799	19,206	10,035	8,883	9,494	10,227	11,073	12,480	8,325	5,487	5,210	5,111	5,483	6,052	6,660	49.6	54.7	58.7	53.8	53.6	54.7	53.4
90 percent or more accepted	3,337	717	803	409	1,384	411	424	471	1,650	560	214	851	294	298	345	49.4	69.7	52.3	61.5	71.5	70.3	73.2
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	1,880	2,920	2,900	3,537	6,395	7,472	7,447	8,980	1,224	1,852	2,316	4,649	5,136	5,153	6,267	65.1	63.9	65.5	72.7	68.7	69.2	69.8
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	6,268	3,690	2,344	2,120	1,696	919	1,474	1,458	3,613	1,639	1,525	1,122	681	1,152	1,026	57.6	69.9	71.9	66.2	74.1	78.2	70.4
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	2,908	419	300	624	940	1,165	1,071	352	1,554	240	497	737	838	746	226	53.4	80.0	79.6	78.4	71.9	69.7	64.2
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	0	0	0	3	1	1	161	91	†	†	1	1	1	145	71	†	†	33.3	100.0	100.0	90.1	78.0
Information not available	1,593	2,096	30	170	34	140	32	33	918	22	133	21	105	18	26	57.6	73.3	78.2	61.8	75.0	56.2	78.8
2-year institutions	756,567	738,559	627,048	613,816	604,806	503,834	476,950	489,044	454,379	390,757	386,855	369,651	308,197	301,354	317,616	60.1	62.3	63.0	61.1	61.2	63.2	64.9
Public institutions	679,809	668,861	582,729	570,925	560,549	460,067	434,368	445,789	403,096	360,869	356,964	339,978	281,128	272,625	287,442	59.3	61.9	62.5	60.7	61.1	62.8	64.5
Private nonprofit institutions	7,738	7,180	10,737	10,580	11,002	6,821	7,114	7,017	4,555	7,712	7,817	7,264	4,459	5,140	5,064	58.9	71.8	73.9	66.0	65.4	72.3	72.2
Private for-profit institutions	69,020	62,518	33,582	32,311	33,255	36,946	35,468	36,238	46,728	22,176	22,074	22,409	22,610	23,589	25,110	67.7	66.0	68.3	67.4	61.2	66.5	69.3
Part-time students
All institutions	515,589	490,124	403,410	381,599	373,752	334,302	344,298	357,015	222,328	182,673	171,570	156,558	145,066	152,970	160,860	43.1	45.3	45.0	41.9	43.4	44.4	45.1
Public institutions	482,851	461,943	379,770	359,608	349,948	310,381	319,823	331,942	209,042	172,723	162,005	146,160	134,943	142,186	150,431	43.3	45.5	45.1	41.8	43.5	44.5	45.3
Private nonprofit institutions	9,858	9,340	13,898	12,289	12,956	14,348	15,159	17,621	3,971	5,965	5,350	5,748	6,033	6,123	6,835	40.3	42.9	43.5	44.4	42.0	40.4	38.8
Private for-profit institutions	22,880	18,841	9,742	9,702	10,848	9,573	9,316	7,452	9,315	3,985	4,215	4,650	4,090	4,661	3,594	40.7	40.9	43.4	42.9	42.7	50.0	48.2
4-year institutions	53,711	49,304	50,249	48,795	57,265	64,016	66,445	67,429	23,665	24,708	23,959	28,487	31,256	32,580	33,385	44.1	49.2	49.1	49.7	48.8	49.0	49.5
Public institutions	27,479	26,473	29,463	29,077	35,608	42,008	43,926	44,886	13,790	16,153	15,578	19,202	22,140	23,013	24,400	50.2	54.8	53.6	53.9	52.7	52.4	54.4
Open admissions	5,515	5,250	4,176	4,152	9,965	4,926	6,218	6,922	1,978	1,654	1,694	4,597	1,913	2,576	2,808	35.9	39.6	40.8	46.1	38.8	41.4	40.6
90 percent or more accepted	2,223	2,098	2,509	2,511	3,938	6,552	11,572	8,221	1,005	1,089	1,160	1,863	2,827	5,192	3,916	45.2	43.4	46.2	47.3	43.1	44.9	47.6
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	5,226	7,424	9,642	11,111	10,608	17,031	12,830	15,623	2,595	5,319	6,068	5,905	8,906	7,108	8,641	49.7	55.2	54.6	55.7	52.3	55.4	55.3
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	10,671	9,042	10,892	9,379	9,404	11,407	11,346	11,928	5,840	6,629	5,348	5,657	7,027	6,743	7,356	54.7	60.9	57.0	60.2	61.6	59.4	61.7
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	2,854	2,553	2,176	1,788	1,435	2,013	1,566	2,039	1,774	1,414	1,208	1,015	1,407	1,142	1,551	62.2	65.0	67.6	70.7	69.9	72.9	76.1
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	49	51	58	80	77	79	118	153	38	44	63	60	60	97	128	77.6	75.9	78.8	77.9	75.9	82.2	83.7
Information not available	941	55	10	56	181	0	276	0	560	4	37	105	†	155	†	59.5	40.0	66.1	58.0	†	56.2	†
Private nonprofit institutions	9,118	8,501	13,352	11,648	12,502	13,963	14,801	17,144	3,603	5,755	5,123	5,571	5,889	5,952	6,625	39.5	43.1	44.0	44.6	42.2	40.2	38.6
Open admissions	4,433	2,434	1,757	1,988	1,615	1,630	1,910	2,830	1,400	758	862	684	676	728	1,133	31.6	43.1	43.4	42.4	41.5	38.1	40.0
90 percent or more accepted	915	1,159	911	980	1,738	7,471	8,949	10,400	377	565	516	835	2,870	3,473	3,732	41.2	62.0	52.7	48.0	38.4	38.8	35.9
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	1,174	1,332	4,522	997	6,239	1,465	1,315	1,604	520	1,967	438	2,791	721	596	641	44.3	43.5	43.9	44.7	49.2	45.3	40.0
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	1,786	1,515	1,985	7,178	2,285	2,647	1,951	1,787	847	872	3,026	970	1,179	848	884	47.4	43.9	42.2	42.5	44.5	43.5	49.5
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	582	606	1,026	372	504	505	498	404	276	427	171	198	259	170	134	47.4	41.6	46.0	39.3	51.3	34.1	33.2
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	126	115	99	126	104	234	154	95	106	84	110	89	181	128	85	84.1	84.8	87.3	85.6	77.4	83.1	89.5
Information not available	102	1,340	3,052	7	17	11	24	24	77	1,082	0	4	3	9	16	75.5	35.5	0	23.5	27.3	37.5	66.7
Private for-profit institutions	17,114	14,330	7,434	8,070	9,155	8,045	7,718	5,399	6,272	2,800	3,258	3,714	3,227	3,615	2,360	36.6	37.7	40.4	40.6	40.1	46.8	43.7
Open admissions	9,561	10,395	5,667	5,999	6,647	6,677	6,372	3,877	3,909	2,227	2,528	2,730	2,650	3,100	1,736	40.9	39.3	42.1	41.1	39.7	48.7	44.8
90 percent or more accepted	360	126	204	205	1,371	74	131	159	137	47	55	504	27	43	72	38.1	23.0	26.8	36.8	36.5	32.8	45.3
75.0 to 89.9 percent accepted	854	1,232	1,065	1,315	1,024	990	951	1,054	250	382	501	428	413	364	429	29.3	35.9	38.1	41.8	41.7	38.3	40.7
50.0 to 74.9 percent accepted	1,820	2,471	487	494	26	29	22	88	596	141	146	8	9	5	46	32.7	29.0	29.6	30.8	31.0	22.7	52.3
25.0 to 49.9 percent accepted	2,537	73	6	33	76	262	239	210	727	3	14	40	124	103	75	28.7	50.0	42.4	52.6	47.3	43.1	35.7
Less than 25.0 percent accepted	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	†	†	†	1	†	†	†	†	†	†	100.0	†	†	†
Information not available	1,982	33	5	24	10	13	3	11	653	0	14	3	4	0	2	32.9	0	58.3	30.0	30.8	0	18.2
2-year institutions	461,878	440,820	353,161	332,804	316,487	270,286	277,853	289,586	198,663	157,965	147,611	128,071	113,810	120,390	127,475	43.0	44.7	44.4	40.5	42.1	43.3	44.0
Public institutions	455,372	435,470	350,307	330,531	314,340	268,373	275,897	287,056	195,252	156,570	146,427	126,958	112,803	119,173	126,031	42.9	44.7	44.3	40.4	42.0	43.2	43.9
Private nonprofit institutions	740	839	546	641	454	385	358	477	368	210	227	177	144	171	210	49.7	38.5	35.4	39.0	37.4	47.8	44.0
Private for-profit institutions	5,766	4,511	2,308	1,632	1,693	1,528	1,598	2,053	3,043	1,185	957	936	863	1,046	1,234	52.8	51.3	58.6	55.3	56.5	65.5	60.1
†Not applicable.
¹Adjusted entry cohort counts exclude students who died or were totally and permanently disabled, served in the armed forces (including those called to active duty), served with a foreign aid service of the federal government (e.g., Peace Corps), or served on official church missions.
NOTE: Data in this table represent the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Data are for degree-granting institutions that participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs and U.S. service academies. Degree-granting institutions grant associate's or higher degrees. For 4-year institutions, entry cohorts are based on first-time bachelor’s degree-seeking students. For 2-year institutions, entry cohorts are based on first-time degree/certificate-seeking students. Retained students include those who re-enrolled at the institution in the following fall term or completed their degree/certificate by the following fall term (e.g., short-term certificate program) at 2-year institutions or their bachelor’s degree by the following fall term at 4-year institutions. Some data have been revised from previously published figures.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall Enrollment component, selected years, Spring 2013 through Spring 2022 (final data) and Spring 2023 (provisional data); IPEDS, Institutional Characteristics component, selected years, Fall 2012 through Fall 2022 (final data); and IPEDS, Admissions component, Winter 2021-22 and Winter 2022-23 (final data). (This table was prepared December 2024.)

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