The U.S. News Short List, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that magnifies individual data points in hopes of providing students and parents a way to find which undergraduate or graduate programs excel or have room to grow in specific areas. Be sure to explore The Short List: College, The Short List: Grad School and The Short List: Online Programs to find data that matter to you in your college or graduate school search.
For some college graduates, a bachelor’s degree marks the end of their educational path, while others may have their sights set on additional degrees or certificates.
Some recent grads will get a few years of work experience under their belt before furthering their education, while others proceed quickly from an undergraduate program to the next phase of their schooling.
[Read: How to Find Free Money for Grad School.]
In addition to graduate degree programs, college grads may go on to pursue certificates required for their profession, such as one that leads to becoming a certified public accountant, or CPA.
Among the 305 ranked colleges and universities that submitted these data to U.S. News in an annual survey, the average proportion of 2016 graduates who went on to further their education within six months was about 15 percent.
That average jumps to around 37 percent at the 11 schools that topped the list. At Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama, 42 percent of 2016 grads hit the books again within six months, more than at any other school that reported these data.
[Read: Plot Out Graduate School Applications as a College Student.]
Of the 11 schools atop the list, seven are Regional Universities, institutions that offer a range of undergraduate and some master’s programs but few doctoral programs.
There are some colleges and universities where very few 2016 grads went on to quickly pursue continuing education. Alverno College in Wisconsin reported the lowest proportion: just 1 percent. Six other institutions — including National Universities, which offer a range of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs and emphasize research — indicated only 2 percent.
Below are the 11 schools, including ties, where the highest percentage of 2016 graduates pursued continuing education within six months. Schools that reported postgraduate data on fewer than 250 graduates as well as 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) | Percentage of graduates pursuing continuing education within six months | U.S. News rank and category |
| Birmingham-Southern College (AL) | 42% | 123 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Sacred Heart University (CT) | 39% | 41 (tie), Regional Universities (North) |
| Henderson State University (AR) | 38% | 95 (tie), Regional Universities (South) |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 38% | 5 (tie), National Universities |
| Springfield College (MA) | 38% | 25 (tie), Regional Universities (North) |
| St. Francis University (PA) | 38% | 18 (tie), Regional Universities (North) |
| Adelphi University (NY) | 37% | 151 (tie), National Universities |
| Gannon University (PA) | 36% | 48 (tie), Regional Universities (North) |
| SUNY College–Potsdam | 36% | 91 (tie), Regional Universities (North) |
| Centre College (KY) | 35% | 46 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Truman State University (MO) | 35% | 8, Regional Universities (Midwest) |
Don’t see your school in the top 10? Access the U.S. News College Compass to find continuing education 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 continuing education data above are correct as of July 10, 2018.
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11 Colleges Where Graduates Pursue Continuing Education originally appeared on usnews.com
