Federal College Graduation & Completion Rates (2025)

Choosing a college is a big call, and the numbers you see online can feel confusing. “Graduation rate” looks like one score, but it’s actually a few different measures that capture different students and timelines. This page explains what each number means and how to use them to compare colleges fairly.

• If you’re a student, this will help you spot the difference between a school where first-time freshmen finish fast and a school that serves lots of transfers and part-time students.
• If you’re a parent, you’ll get a clear way to read the data behind the marketing.
• If you’re a counselor, you’ll find a quick framework you can use with families and in classroom visits.

The goal is simple: understand what the federal data is really saying so you can make choices that fit your goals, budget, and timeline. Numbers matter. Context matters more. So let's get started.

Understanding graduation rates

The U.S. Department of Education publishes several ways to track whether students finish college. The classic “graduation rate” refers to the percentage of first-time, full-time students who graduate from the same college within a specified timeframe. 

Newer “outcome measures” include part-time and transfer students, showing who graduates within eight years, who remain enrolled, and who transfers.

Overview:

• “Graduation rate” (GR) counts only first-time, full-time students and reports completion within 150% of normal time.
• “Graduation rate 200%” (GR200) extends the window for the same cohort to 200% of normal time.
• “Outcome measures” (OM) include first-time and non-first-time students, as well as full-time and part-time students, with results reported at 4, 6, and 8 years, along with Pell vs. non-Pell splits. OM also records if students are still enrolled or enrolled at another institution.

What each federal measure means

Graduation rates (GR). Tracks first-time, full-time, degree/certificate-seeking students and reports whether they finished within 100% and 150% of normal time at the same institution where they started. Intended to satisfy the Student Right-to-Know Act requirement. 

Graduation rates 200% (GR200). Uses the same cohort as GR but allows up to 200% of normal time to complete. Helpful for students who require more than 150% of the standard time. 

Outcome measures (OM). Builds a fuller picture. Institutions report four cohorts (first-time and non-first-time, each full-time and part-time), disaggregated by Pell-eligible status versus non-Pell-eligible status. At 4, 6, and 8 years, OM indicates the highest credential earned, or, if no credential is held, whether students are still enrolled at the institution, enrolled elsewhere, or the status is unknown.

Quick comparison

Where to find the numbers

College Navigator (NCES). Search for a school, then open “Graduation Rates” and “Outcome Measures.” Navigator displays GR, GR200, and OM with Pell breakdowns. 

College Scorecard. School pages surface graduation and completion metrics for consumers. This glossary defines how each metric is calculated. 

Why one “graduation rate” can be misleading

Many colleges serve large numbers of working adults, transfer students, and part-time learners. Because GR counts only first-time, full-time starters who complete their degree at the same institution, it can understate success at those colleges. 

Use outcome measures to track 8-year completion rates, as well as whether students are still enrolled or have transferred to another institution. 

National context for graduation rates in 2025

• Among first-time, full-time bachelor’s seekers who started in fall 2014, 64% completed a bachelor’s at the same institution within six years.
• System-wide (across all institutions, not just the starting college), the six-year completion rate for the 2017 cohort was approximately 62.2%.
• For the 2018 cohort, the six-year completion rate reached 61.1%, the highest in the series at that time. So you’ll want to clarify that Clearinghouse counts completion anywhere, not necessarily at the first college.

How to look up a school’s data (step by step)

1. Start by visiting the school on Appily for a quick snapshot of graduation rates, student-to-faculty ratio, number of in-state and out-of-state students, and tuition and financial aid data.
2. Then you can open College Navigator and search for the college.
3. Select the profile. Review Graduation Rates for the first-time, full-time snapshot (GR and GR200).
4. Scroll to Outcome Measures for the inclusive picture at 4, 6, and 8 years, and compare Pell vs. non-Pell.
5. Cross-check on College Scorecard and use the glossary if a term is unclear.

How this data applies to you

Are you planning to transfer after earning an associate's degree?
Expect GR to miss your completion if you finish at a different college. Check Outcome Measures for “enrolled elsewhere” and 8-year completion. 

Working part-time while enrolled part-time. 
The graduation rate often appears low for part-time-heavy campuses, like community colleges. Outcome Measures is a better guide because it includes part-time cohorts and longer timelines. 

Comparing support for lower-income students?
Use the Pell vs. non-Pell split in Outcome Measures to identify equity gaps at 4, 6, and 8 years.

Grad Rate FAQs