* Type of institution: Highly selective private universities might have more lenient attendance policies (or none at all) compared to larger public universities or community colleges, where attendance might be more strictly enforced or tied to a significant portion of the grade.
* Course level: Introductory courses often have stricter attendance policies than upper-level courses, especially those in smaller departments.
* Course format: Online courses naturally have less emphasis on in-person attendance, while lab courses or studio art classes necessitate regular presence.
* Instructor preference: Even within the same institution and course type, individual professors have considerable autonomy in setting attendance policies. Some instructors might take attendance daily, others weekly, while some may not take attendance at all, relying instead on other assessment methods.
* Student characteristics: Factors like student motivation, commute distance, work schedules, and overall academic preparedness influence individual attendance habits.
While some universities might track attendance data internally, there isn't a centralized, publicly accessible database showing overall attendance rates across all US universities. Research on college student attendance typically focuses on specific demographics, institutions, or courses rather than producing a national average.
In short, while attendance is often *expected* at US universities, the extent of that expectation and the actual attendance rates are highly variable and depend on a multitude of factors.