For a strong economy, the skills gap must be closed. 7% 39% 3% By 22, jobs requiring a career certificate or college degree Skills gap Too few students make it through college. MEMBER Washington 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 4 6 39 4 Return as sophomores 24 6 32 Graduate on time (% time) 6 23 Additional graduates 5% time 5 2 2% time 2 Total graduates 3 2 25 Graduate in 4 years 5 26 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. America n
We re making great progress in providing access to more students. Total public college enrollment: 36,239 Attending Pursuing Degrees & Certificates 88,827 4-year 48,792 57,447 7,42 2-year colleges colleges Total State Population, 8-24 White 7% Enrollment White 62% Graduation White 68% Hispanic 2% Hispanic 7% Hispanic 6% 4% Other races 3% 4% Other races 27% Data: Fall 29 enrollment from IPEDS; population data from Census ACS PUMS 6-8; degrees by race from 27- state submissions Now we must have more success from all students. 4% Other races 22% For states to compete, their students must earn more degrees and certificates. Overall Credentials Awarded 2,347 2,37 Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Credentials Awarded 2,463 4,55 5,392,7,5 5,44 4,23 653 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. = The state did not provide data for this metric. Data: 27 8 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 28.% On-time ( year) Within /2 years Within 2 years Within year Within /2 years Within 2 years 2.6% 25 and Over 2 24 Directly from HS (age 7 9) Pell Grant Recipients (at entry) Remedial 6.5% 7.3% 6.5%.6% 2.4% 7.5% 2.9% 5.8% 9.8% 24.2% 25.6% 3.% 4.% 25.6% 23.% 23.7% 24.7% 2.% 28.% 29.6% 7.3% 5.3% 27.6% 26.6% 29.4% 28.3% 26.2% 4.% 3.6% 2.3% 7.8% 3.3% 6.% 3.9% 8.6% 3.3% 8.4% 7.9% 5.7% 7.8% 7.5% 9.8% 9.% 5.7% 7.8% 2.6% 2.8% 8.% 3.7%.4% 4.2% 3.8% 25.4% 3.5% In most states, very few students seeking certificates ever graduate. Associate Degree- Seeking Students All White Hispanic 24 24 33.% On-time (2 years) Within 3 years Within 4 years Within 2 years Within 3 years Within 4 years 24.6% 8.5% 25 and Over 2 24 Directly from HS (age 7 9) Pell Grant Recipients (at entry) Remedial 3.6% 5.% 8.4% 8.% 3.9%.5% 4.% 2.% 9.% 26.3% 28.% 2.4% 4.9% 23.8% 2.3% 27.6% 23.7% 22.7% 3.2% 33.% 24.6% 8.5% 27.% 24.5% 33.% 28.6% 28.5% 4.4% 4.5% 2.% 7.% 4.6% 8.7% 4.8% 3.9% 2.3%.3%.5% 4.8%.2%.% 26.2%.2% 2.% 8.8% 5.3% 5.7% 9.3% 6.% 4.4% 29.7% 6.% 8.4% 4.9% 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 59.6% 6.6% 5.3% 43.5% 44.% 52.3% 62.% 53.2% 63.2% 64.5% 56.% 47.4% 44.7% 54.% 66.% 56.6% 63.5% 64.9% 56.5% 48.5% 44.7% 54.6% 66.5% 57.% 3.7% 33.8% 29.7% 27.3% 27.5% 47.6% 33.9% 48.5% 33.7% 36.4% 29.7% 27.3% 29.% 49.3% 38.4% 5.9% 34.% 36.7% 29.7% 27.3% 29.3% 49.3% 38.8% 5.5% 44.7% 29.% 66.% 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. = The state did not provide data for this metric. 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 % % 57.2% 29.3% 4.7% 26.6% Students in 4-year colleges who return to campus % 8.9% 69.4% 62.8% % 22.5% 5.% 9.8% after falling off track early. Students who earn expected first-year credits (24 credits) Associate Bachelor s (2 credits) Associate Bachelor s 49.6% 38.6% Staying enrolled is particularly tough for part-time students, who must often balance jobs and school. Remediation. 53.4% 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 of those 4-Year s 45.9% 4.7% of freshmen require of those 9.5% and associated college-level courses in two years 22.7% Graduate within 3 years (projected) Current approaches almost always guarantee failure. and associated college-level courses in two years Graduate within 6 years (projected) Data: Fall 26 = The state did not provide data for this metric. 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 2.2 years 4. years Should take year for full-time students 3. years 4.7 years Should take 2 years for full-time students 4. years 4.4 years Should take 4 years for full-time students and too many credits. Certificate Associate Bachelor s 63 credits 63 credits 7 credits 68 credits Should take 2 credits Should take 3 credits Should take 6 credits More students must graduate on time. Data: 27 8 = The state did not provide data for this metric. 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 6.5% 24.2% 8.4% 28.% 2.6% 3.6% 26.3%.3% 3.2% 5.3% 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 59.6% 63.2% 63.5% 33.7% 34.% 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. America n 6
Graduation rates by campus Public two-year colleges (In 3 years) Public four-year colleges (In 6 years) Bellingham Technical 55% University of Washington-Seattle Campus 8% Renton Technical 53% Washington State University 69% Walla Walla Community 36% Western Washington University 69% Highline Community 35% The Evergreen State 58% Lower Columbia 35% Clover Park Technical 34% Central Washington University Eastern Washington University 47% 56% Centralia 33% Bellevue 26% Bates Technical 3% Seattle Community -Central Campus 26% Green River Community 3% Northwest Indian 2% Big Bend Community 29% Peninsula 2% Wenatchee Valley 28% Olympic 9% Grays Harbor 27% Columbia Basin 6% Spokane Community 27% Whatcom Community 27% Lake Washington Technical Seattle Community -South Campus % 8% Cascadia Community 26% Everett Community 25% South Puget Sound Community 25% Edmonds Community 24% Pierce at Fort Steilacoom 24% Shoreline Community 23% Yakima Valley Community 22% Pierce at Puyallup 2% Seattle Community -North Campus 2% Clark 2% Spokane Falls Community 2% Skagit Valley 9% Tacoma Community 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 America n 7