The percentage of college freshmen who earn a degree varies depending on the institution and the field of study. However, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the overall six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students who started college in the fall of 2012 was 60%. This means that 60% of these students earned a bachelor's degree within six years of starting college.
The graduation rate varies significantly by institution type and student demographics. For example, the six-year graduation rate for students at public four-year institutions was 65%, compared to 49% for students at private four-year institutions. Additionally, the graduation rate for white students was 68%, compared to 41% for black students and 50% for Hispanic students.