Children And Education

Decreasing


College Graduation Rates

What does this measure?

The percent of the students in local colleges and universities that graduate within 3 years for students at 2-year colleges and within 6 years for students at 4-year colleges.

Why is this important?

College is a primary, though not the only, gateway to a productive and independent adult life. Both employment rates and earnings have tended to be higher among degree holders.

How does our county compare?

In 2023, 67% of Lancaster County students attending 2- and 4-year colleges graduated within 3 and 6 years, respectively. This rate is similar to the state (66%) and slightly higher than the national rate of 61%.

The college graduation rate among colleges in Lancaster was lower than Lebanon (73%) but higher than rates in Chester and Cumberland (both 66%), York (49%), Berks (46%) and Dauphin (32%).

Notes about the data

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) only includes full-time, first-time students in the graduation rates data. Transfer students and non-traditional students are excluded from these data.

College Graduation Rates
20002001200220032004200520062007200820092011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Pennsylvania62%62%62%63%63%64%65%65%66%66%66%66%65%66%66%66%66%68%69%69%69%66%66%
Lancaster County69%68%68%70%65%67%68%71%66%69%71%71%70%69%71%69%69%68%66%67%66%68%67%
Berks County51%51%51%53%53%53%55%56%56%55%55%54%55%55%56%55%55%56%56%55%54%51%46%
Chester County46%53%52%55%54%55%54%55%53%55%56%52%56%61%64%65%68%69%71%71%68%65%66%
Cumberland County67%68%67%68%69%70%68%71%71%70%68%67%64%66%66%65%64%65%68%65%68%64%66%
Lebanon County74%74%68%69%67%73%70%70%68%75%73%72%73%75%74%76%73%73%78%75%68%68%73%
York County58%55%55%57%57%57%59%59%59%62%59%57%57%58%56%57%57%57%63%65%66%52%49%
Dauphin County100%50%0%44%78%68%57%56%59%64%60%59%53%59%31%25%32%26%32%

Source: Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS)




Number of College Graduates
20002001200220032004200520062007200820092011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Pennsylvania40,14043,40644,67746,88747,79649,15251,45352,64754,05855,45257,91559,77059,80461,84861,46362,53062,37962,29963,15563,32962,76560,10259,836
Lancaster County1,5081,5021,4121,5131,4331,6121,6431,7311,6221,7421,8681,8331,8301,8531,9841,9211,8361,8451,7791,8451,8111,8441,815
Berks County1,2711,1911,3201,3901,4031,5461,6431,7351,8151,8271,9011,9521,9852,0352,0502,0662,0632,0081,5991,4801,4961,7001,447
Chester County8361,0651,1521,2621,2951,2931,2991,3731,4641,4471,8631,8211,8181,7792,0621,8502,0242,1952,1722,1192,1552,1772,354
Cumberland County1,5631,8681,7731,8891,9532,1082,1582,1692,1782,1272,0131,9892,1242,0982,0392,1072,0321,8481,9441,8701,9621,7681,684
Lebanon County218219195209283299271292287323330324329298281350342294320309309290335
York County582642623651681709717746734900889865954930848955823819675709587612624
Dauphin County53041438142211271308306352335446332536294363

Source: Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
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