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 2024, 67% of students attending 2- and 4-year colleges in Lancaster County graduated within 3 and 6 years, respectively. This rate is the same as the state and slightly higher than the national rate of 61%.
The graduation rate among colleges in Lancaster was higher than all comparison counties. Cumberland and Chester counties were similar at 66%, followed by Lebanon (65%), York (54%), Berks (49%) and Dauphin (27%).
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.
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 66% | 66% | 65% | 66% | 66% | 66% | 66% | 68% | 69% | 69% | 69% | 66% | 66% | 67% |
| Lancaster County | 71% | 71% | 70% | 69% | 71% | 69% | 69% | 68% | 66% | 67% | 66% | 68% | 67% | 67% |
| Berks County | 55% | 54% | 55% | 55% | 56% | 55% | 55% | 56% | 56% | 55% | 54% | 51% | 46% | 49% |
| Chester County | 56% | 52% | 56% | 61% | 64% | 65% | 68% | 69% | 71% | 71% | 68% | 65% | 66% | 66% |
| Cumberland County | 68% | 67% | 64% | 66% | 66% | 65% | 64% | 65% | 68% | 65% | 68% | 64% | 66% | 66% |
| Dauphin County | 57% | 56% | 59% | 64% | 60% | 59% | 53% | 59% | 31% | 25% | 32% | 26% | 32% | 27% |
| Lebanon County | 73% | 72% | 73% | 75% | 74% | 76% | 73% | 73% | 78% | 75% | 68% | 68% | 73% | 65% |
| York County | 59% | 57% | 57% | 58% | 56% | 57% | 57% | 57% | 63% | 65% | 66% | 52% | 49% | 54% |
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 57,915 | 59,770 | 59,804 | 61,848 | 61,463 | 62,530 | 62,379 | 62,299 | 63,155 | 63,329 | 62,765 | 60,102 | 59,836 | 59,290 |
| Lancaster County | 1,868 | 1,833 | 1,830 | 1,853 | 1,984 | 1,921 | 1,836 | 1,845 | 1,779 | 1,845 | 1,811 | 1,844 | 1,815 | 1,794 |
| Berks County | 1,901 | 1,952 | 1,985 | 2,035 | 2,050 | 2,066 | 2,063 | 2,008 | 1,599 | 1,480 | 1,496 | 1,700 | 1,447 | 1,597 |
| Chester County | 1,863 | 1,821 | 1,818 | 1,779 | 2,062 | 1,850 | 2,024 | 2,195 | 2,172 | 2,119 | 2,155 | 2,177 | 2,354 | 2,367 |
| Cumberland County | 2,013 | 1,989 | 2,124 | 2,098 | 2,039 | 2,107 | 2,032 | 1,848 | 1,944 | 1,870 | 1,962 | 1,768 | 1,684 | 1,771 |
| Dauphin County | 142 | 211 | 271 | 308 | 306 | 352 | 335 | 446 | 33 | 25 | 36 | 294 | 363 | 319 |
| Lebanon County | 330 | 324 | 329 | 298 | 281 | 350 | 342 | 294 | 320 | 309 | 309 | 290 | 335 | 304 |
| York County | 889 | 865 | 954 | 930 | 848 | 955 | 823 | 819 | 675 | 709 | 587 | 612 | 624 | 666 |
| INDICATORS | TREND |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten Participation | Increasing |
| Student Performance on Grade 3 English | Not Applicable |
| Student Performance on Grade 8 Math | Not Applicable |
| High School Cohort Graduation Rate | Increasing |
| Per-Student Spending | Maintaining |
| Students Receiving Special Education Services | Increasing |
| Rate of Foster Care Admissions | Maintaining |
| Disengaged Youth | Decreasing |
| Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| Plans of High School Graduates | Not Applicable |
| Enrollment in Local Colleges | Decreasing |
| College Graduation Rates | Decreasing |
| Brain Drain/Gain | Increasing |
| Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
