Study: Hoosier Graduation Rates Continue to Rise

Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers (file photo)

A new report from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education says graduation rates among Hoosier college students are higher than ever. The 2018 College Completion Report says 38.5 percent of students graduated on time, up 4 percent from the previous year and nearly 14 percent over the past five years.

The report says 59.2 percent of Hoosier college students are graduating within an extended time frame, up 5 percent from last year and 2.8 percent over the past five years. The commission says Purdue University Northwest, Ball State University, Indiana University South Bend, IU East, and the University of Southern Indiana have seen the most improvement in on-time graduation rates.

"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."

Additionally, the commission says on-time graduation rates for students in the 21st Century Scholars programs are improving more than any other student population. Since the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation in 2013 requiring students to complete at least 30 credit hours each year, the on-time graduation rate has risen by 13.8 percent.

"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 commission says it will release a supplemental report this summer on the performance of Indiana’s minority students. You can view the full 2018 College Completion Report below: