For a strong economy, the skills gap must be closed. 63% 36% 27% By 22, jobs requiring a career certificate or college degree Skills gap Too few students make it through college. MEMBER North Carolina adults who currently have an associate degree or higher Data: See the Sources and Methodology section on our website. Of students who enroll in a public college or university 2-Year Public 4-Year Public Enroll 28 28 43 Return as sophomores 4 8 36 Graduate on time (% time) 4 6 Additional graduates 5% time 2 2% time 5 Total graduates 3 29 Graduate in 4 years 3 29 Graduate in 8 years Key to measuring time Associate Bachelor s % time 2 years 4 years 5% time 3 years 6 years 2% time 4 years 8 years Data: 2-year cohort started in fall 24; 4-year cohort started in fall 22 For too many students, the path through college ends with no degree and often lots of debt. Note: This report presents data only from public colleges and universities. Complete America n
We re making great progress in providing access to more students. Total public college enrollment: 424,9 Attending Pursuing Degrees & Certificates 255,43 248,58 68,76 4-year 76,33 2-year colleges colleges Hispanic 8% Total State Population, 8-24 White 62% Hispanic 4% Enrollment White 62% Hispanic 2% Graduation White 69% 25% Other races 5% 24% Other races 9% Data: Fall 29 enrollment from IPEDS; population data from Census ACS PUMS 6-8; enrollment and degrees by race from 27- state submissions Now we must have more success from all students. 22% Other races 7% For states to compete, their students must earn more degrees and certificates. Overall Credentials Awarded Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Credentials Awarded 24,777 29,462 5,368 5,793 4,57 2,63 5,925 6,964 79 4 33 229 23 28 23 28 23 28 23 28 23 28 23 28 Certificate Associate Bachelor s Certificate Associate Bachelor s And all credentials should provide clear pathways to success. Data: 27 8 Complete America n 2
Graduation rates are very low, especially if you re poor, part time,, Hispanic, or older. Certificate-Seeking Students All White Hispanic 25 25 43.% On-time ( year) Within /2 years Within 2 years Within year Within /2 years Within 2 years 6.4% 25 and Over 2 24 Directly from HS (age 7 9) Pell Grant Recipients (at entry) Remedial 4.9% 39.9% 46.8% 44.9% 5.% 42.5% 22.8% 25.% 7.5% 42.9% 4.9% 47.9% 45.7% 5.5% 43.% 23.% 25.5% 9.% 43.% 4.2% 47.9% 45.7% 5.7% 43.2% 23.5% 25.5% 9.6% 4.3% 4.2% 4.3% 3.6% 6.7%.6%.5%.8% 6.% 5.4% 5.3% 5.6% 4.5% 7.3%.6% 3.7% 4.% 6.4% 6.4% 6.4% 6.9% 5.2% 8.3%.6% 5.5% 5.4% 7.6% In most states, very few students seeking certificates ever graduate. Associate Degree- Seeking Students All White Hispanic 24 24 9.8% On-time (2 years) Within 3 years Within 4 years Within 2 years Within 3 years Within 4 years 6.4%.3% 25 and Over 2 24 Directly from HS (age 7 9) Pell Grant Recipients (at entry) Remedial 8.8%.% 7.% 4.8% 6.4% 9.9% 6.6% 7.% 4.5% 3.9% 5.9% 2.7% 7.7% 2.6% 3.2% 2.2%.8% 9.7% 7.5% 9.8% 6.4%.3% 24.4% 5.2% 6.6% 5.5% 3.9% 3.9% 4.6% 3.7% 2.2% 6.% 4.3% 2.3% 3.%.4% 6.8% 8.% 5.% 3.8% 9.3% 5.6% 5.8% 5.5% 3.9%.%.7% 8.8% 6.% 2.2% 7.7% 9.9% 9.3% 6.9% Associate degree graduation rates are abysmal across the country for Hispanic and students, they re tragic. Bachelor s Degree- Seeking Students All White Hispanic 22 22 On-time (4 years) Within 6 years Within 8 years Within 4 years Within 6 years Within 8 years 25 and Over 2 24 Directly from HS (age 7 9) Pell Grant Recipients (at entry) Remedial 36.5% 4.% 3.2% 24.% 8.4% 25.4% 37.% 25.4% 2.8% 63.5% 68.5% 6.3% 5.% 3.5% 45.% 64.3% 5.8% 49.4% 66.7% 7.5% 63.5% 53.5% 36.2% 49.6% 67.4% 55.7% 53.4% 5.6% DS* DS* DS* DS* DS* DS* DS* DS* 23.% 29.9% DS* 4.8% 4.3% DS* 3.4% 25.% DS* 26.9% 33.6% DS* 5.9% 9.% DS* 32.4% 3.% DS* 3.5% 4.3% 64.3% Almost no one over the age of 25 graduates; students fresh out of high school are most likely to succeed. Data: Certificate cohort started in 25 6, associate cohort started in 24 5, bachelor's cohort started in 22 3 Given changing demographics, our country will not have enough skilled s to compete unless many more students from all backgrounds and walks of life graduate. Complete America n 3
Retention rates drop from year to year. Many get discouraged and drop out Students in 2-year colleges who return to campus Start Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Start Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 % % 49.3% 25.% 29.7% 7.% Students in 4-year colleges who return to campus % 84.% 76.2% 72.% % 49.5% 47.2% 4.3% after falling off track early. Students who earn expected first-year credits (24 credits) Associate Bachelor s (2 credits) Associate Bachelor s 7.% 76.5% 35.7% 27.2% Staying enrolled is particularly tough for part-time students, who must often balance jobs and school. Remediation. 5.4% Complete remediation Data: Associate cohort started in 24 5, bachelor's cohort started in 22 3; earned credits from fall 26 2-Year s of freshmen require remediation of those Complete remediation and associated college-level courses in two years Graduate within 3 years (projected) Complete remediation Current approaches almost always guarantee failure. 4-Year s 3.8% 5.3% 2.% 9.7% 86.8% of freshmen require remediation of those 69.8% Complete remediation and associated college-level courses in two years 49.4% Graduate within 6 years (projected) Data: Fall 26 Complete America n 4
Precious time and money are lost when students don t graduate on schedule. Students are taking too much time Certificate Associate Bachelor s 2. years 2.4 years Should take year for full-time students 3. years 3.6 years Should take 2 years for full-time students 4.8 years 7.2 years Should take 4 years for full-time students and too many credits. Certificate Associate Bachelor s 32 credits 3 credits Should take 3 credits 78 credits 7 credits Should take 6 credits 27 credits 2 credits Should take 2 credits More students must graduate on time. Data: 27 8 Complete America n 5
More time isn t giving us enough success. For certificate and associate degree students, graduation rates are very low even when more time. Certificate Associate 4.9% 42.9% 43.% 5.4% 6.4% 8.8% 3.9% 6.8% 7.5%.% In year In.5 years In 2 years In 2 years In 3 years In 4 years On-time graduation rates for bachelor s degree students are shockingly low. And adding time beyond six years produces little additional success. Bachelor s 63.5% 66.7% 36.5% 23.% 26.9% In 4 years In 6 years In 8 years Data: Certificate cohort started in 25 6; associate cohort started in 24 5; bachelor's cohort started in 22 3 Even modest progress provides little comfort when overall graduation rates are so low. Complete America n 6
Graduation rates by campus Public two-year colleges (In 3 years) Public four-year colleges (In 6 years) Carolinas of Health Sciences % Mercy School of Nursing % Pamlico Community 79% at Chapel Hill North Carolina State University at Raleigh at Wilmington 73% 69% 85% Southeastern Community 77% Edgecombe Community 45% Davidson County Community 42% Rowan-Cabarrus Community 42% Appalachian State University 64% School of the Arts 62% at Asheville 59% East Carolina University 57% Haywood Community 4% Stanly Community 4% at Charlotte at Greensboro 54% 52% Tri-County Community 38% Brunswick Community 36% Johnston Community 34% Mayland Community 3% of the Albemarle 29% James Sprunt Community 29% Beaufort County Community 27% Western Carolina University 49% Elizabeth City State University 46% North Carolina Central University 44% North Carolina A & T State University 37% Winston-Salem State University 36% at Pembroke 34% Fayetteville State University 32% Montgomery Community 27% Piedmont Community 27% Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community 25% Halifax Community 25% Surry Community 25% Bladen Community 24% Caldwell Community and Technical Institute 24% Wilkes Community 24% Central Carolina Community Western Piedmont Community 23% 22% Blue Ridge Community 2% South Piedmont Community 2% Data: Reported by institutions to NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Graduation rates are for first-time, full-time students completing certificate or degree within 5 percent of normal program time. Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 29 Graduation Rates Complete America n 7
Graduation rates by campus Public two-year colleges (In 3 years) Public four-year colleges (In 6 years) Wayne Community 2% Alamance Community 9% Rockingham Community 9% Sandhills Community 9% Wilson Community 9% Gaston 8% Sampson Community 8% Cape Fear Community 7% McDowell Technical Community Vance-Granville Community 7% 6% Cleveland Community 5% Craven Community 5% Forsyth Technical Community 5% Mitchell Community 5% Randolph Community 5% Richmond Community 5% Wake Technical Community Guilford Technical Community 5% 4% Robeson Community 4% Southwestern Community Coastal Carolina Community 4% 3% Isothermal Community 3% Catawba Valley Community 2% Pitt Community 2% Carteret Community % Martin Community % Central Piedmont Community Durham Technical Community 8% 8% Data: Reported by institutions to NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Graduation rates are for first-time, full-time students completing certificate or degree within 5 percent of normal program time. Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 29 Graduation Rates Complete America n 8
Graduation rates by campus Public two-year colleges (In 3 years) Public four-year colleges (In 6 years) Fayetteville Technical Community 7% Nash Community 6% Lenoir Community 5% Roanoke-Chowan Community 4% Data: Reported by institutions to NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Graduation rates are for first-time, full-time students completing certificate or degree within 5 percent of normal program time. Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 29 Graduation Rates Complete America n 9