For a strong economy, the skills gap must be closed. 7% 53% 7% By 22, jobs requiring a career certificate or college degree Skills gap Too few students make it through college. MEMBER Massachusetts 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 7 42 Return as sophomores 2 7 3 Graduate on time (% time) 2 4 Additional graduates 5% time 4 2% time 2 Total graduates 8 2 26 Graduate in 4 years 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: 92,38 Attending Pursuing Degrees & Certificates 8,28 2,32 74,63 4-year 9,6 2-year colleges colleges Total State Population, 8-24 White 74% Enrollment White 66% Graduation White 77% Hispanic % Hispanic 9% Hispanic 5% 7% Other races 9% 9% Other races 6% 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. 7% Other races % For states to compete, their students must earn more degrees and certificates. Overall Credentials Awarded Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Credentials Awarded 3,76 4,63 2,77 2,259 7,677 8,258,27 85 2,3 2,32 25 236 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 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 28.2% On-time ( year) Within /2 years Within 2 years Within year Within /2 years Within 2 years 8.2% 25 and Over 2 24 Directly from HS (age 7 9) Pell Grant Recipients (at entry) Remedial 27.8% 34.4%.7% 25.9% 5.% 39.3% 22.% 25.% DS* 28.2% 34.4%.7% 25.9% 53.% 39.3% 22.% 26.6%.% 28.2% 34.4%.7% 25.9% 53.% 39.3% 22.% 26.6%.% DS* 5.6% DS* 6.7% 2.%.% 6.3% DS* 5.3% DS* 25.% DS* 6.7% 24.% 5.4% 6.3% 6.7% 5.3% 8.2% 28.% DS* 6.7% 24.% 23.% 6.3% 6.7% 5.3% In most states, very few students seeking certificates ever graduate. Associate Degree- Seeking Students All White Hispanic 24 24 2.5% On-time (2 years) Within 3 years Within 4 years Within 2 years Within 3 years Within 4 years.7%.% 25 and Over 2 24 Directly from HS (age 7 9) Pell Grant Recipients (at entry) Remedial 4.4% 5.% 2.3%.9% 7.3% 4.9% 4.% 3.%.8% 4.3% 6.2% 7.2% 7.6% 4.9%.8% 4.7%.7%.3% 9.3% 2.5%.7%.% 7.9% 5.7% 2.% 5.3% 5.4%.%.%.3%.%.7%.9%.2%.7%.2% 4.3% 4.8%.3% 4.% 5.2% 4.3% 3.4% 4.4% 2.8% 8.9%.% 3.8% 7.4%.3% 7.8% 7.3% 8.% 6.% 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 32.8% 34.7% 8.9% 8.5% 27.6% 6.2% 33.2% NP* 22.3% 57.8% 59.9% 4.7% 43.4% 43.% 37.8% 58.4% NP* 5.2% 6.8% 62.7% 44.5% 47.2% 44.8% 4.6% 6.4% NP* 53.8% 6.3% 6.% 3.%.% 8.% 6.7% 5.9% NP* 5.7% 9.9% 8.6% 2.7% 25.9% 3.5% 3.3% 22.9% NP* 24.5% 24.3% 24.% 26.% 29.6% 8.9% 2.% 26.6% NP* 26.4% 43.% 3.5% 58.4% 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. NP* = The state did not provide data for this metric. DS* = Fewer than students, so data were suppressed. 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 % % 53.% 27.7% 39.8% 2.8% Students in 4-year colleges who return to campus % 75.% 6.% 54.7% % 5.9% 33.6% 29.% after falling off track early. Students who earn expected first-year credits (24 credits) Associate Bachelor s (2 credits) Associate Bachelor s 8.4% 69.4% 25.2% 5.2% Staying enrolled is particularly tough for part-time students, who must often balance jobs and school. Remediation. 53.% 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 and associated college-level courses in two years Graduate within 3 years (projected) Current approaches almost always guarantee failure. 4-Year s 6.7% 26.6% 3.3%.3% 79.6% of freshmen require of those 5.8% and associated college-level courses in two years 5.2% Graduate within 6 years (projected) Data: Fall 26 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.8 years 2.2 years Should take year for full-time students 3. years 3.3 years Should take 2 years for full-time students 4.3 years 4.7 years Should take 4 years for full-time students and too many credits. Certificate Associate Bachelor s 6 credits 52 credits Should take 3 credits 74 credits 79 credits Should take 6 credits 28 credits 28 credits Should take 2 credits More students must graduate on time. Data: 27 8 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 27.8% 28.2% 28.2% DS* 8.2% 4.4% 4.3% 4.3% 9.3% 8.9% 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 57.8% 6.8% 32.8% 9.9% 24.3% 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. DS* = Fewer than students, so data were suppressed. America n 6
Graduation rates by campus Public two-year colleges (In 3 years) Public four-year colleges (In 6 years) Massachusetts Bay Community 27% Quincy 26% Holyoke Community 23% Springfield Technical Community 2% Berkshire Community 8% Greenfield Community 8% Mount Wachusett Community North Shore Community 8% 7% Massachusetts of Art and Design 65% Massachusetts-Amherst 65% Massachusetts Maritime Academy 64% Westfield State 58% Bridgewater State 54% Massachusetts-Lowell 53% Fitchburg State 52% Framingham State 52% Quinsigamond Community 6% Bristol Community 4% Massachusetts of Liberal Arts Massachusetts-Dartmouth 5% 48% Bunker Hill Community 3% Worcester State 44% Middlesex Community 3% Salem State 43% Northern Essex Community 3% Massachusetts-Boston 38% Massasoit Community 2% Cape Cod Community 9% Roxbury Community 9% 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