While many students stress about getting into college, the real challenge for some is finishing their education.
The six-year graduation rate was 59 percent for first-time, full-time undergraduate students who started working toward a bachelor’s degree in 2009, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Financial troubles, a failed class or two, or a change in major, among other reasons, can prevent students from graduating in four or even six years. Students at some schools, however, are especially keen on sticking to the traditional four-year plan.
[Avoid an extra year of college.]
Pomona College in California had a 92 percent four-year graduation rate among first-time, full-time bachelor’s-degree-seeking students who started school in 2010. It had the highest four-year graduation rate among 1,242 ranked schools that submitted these data to U.S. News in an annual survey.
At 89 percent, Princeton University in New Jersey is the highest-ranked school and only Ivy League institution on the list of 11 schools, including ties, with the highest graduation rates. Six other schools — including Bowdoin College in Maine and Hamilton College in New York — also had this graduation rate.
[Know the risk factors for delaying graduation and accumulating debt.]
The average four-year graduation rate among all schools that submitted these data is 42 percent. For the top 11 schools, the average is 90 percent.
Below are the 11 colleges and universities with the highest four-year graduation rates among first-time, full-time students who started school in fall 2010. Unranked schools, which did not meet certain criteria required by U.S. News to be numerically ranked, were not considered for this report.
| School name (state) | 4-year graduation rate | U.S. News rank and category |
| Pomona College (CA) | 92% | 6 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Davidson College (NC) | 90% | 10 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Georgetown University (DC) | 90% | 20, National Universities |
| University of Notre Dame (IN) | 90% | 18 (tie), National Universities |
| Boston College | 89% | 32 (tie), National Universities |
| Bowdoin College (ME) | 89% | 3 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| College of the Holy Cross (MA) | 89% | 33 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Hamilton College (NY) | 89% | 18 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Kenyon College (OH) | 89% | 26 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Princeton University (NJ) | 89% | 1, National Universities |
| University of Chicago | 89% | 3 (tie), National Universities |
Don’t see your school in the top 10? Access the U.S. News College Compass to find graduation rate data, complete rankings and much more. Sign up for the U.S. News Extra Help: College Admissions free email newsletter to receive expert advice twice a month.
U.S. News surveyed more than 1,800 colleges and universities for our 2017 survey of undergraduate programs. Schools self-reported myriad data regarding their academic programs and the makeup of their student body, among other areas, making U.S. News’ data the most accurate and detailed collection of college facts and figures of its kind. While U.S. News uses much of this survey data to rank schools for our annual Best Colleges rankings, the data can also be useful when examined on a smaller scale. U.S. News will now produce lists of data, separate from the overall rankings, meant to provide students and parents a means to find which schools excel, or have room to grow, in specific areas that are important to them. While the data come from the schools themselves, these lists are not related to, and have no influence over, U.S. News’ rankings of Best Colleges, Best Graduate Schools or Best Online Programs. The graduation rate data above are correct as of Dec. 12, 2017.
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Colleges With the Best 4-Year Graduation Rates originally appeared on usnews.com
