National Collegiate Dropout 2000 and Graduation Rates - ACT TM - An ACT Program for Educational Planning

Oct 9, 2026

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Report compiled by ACT TM presenting national benchmarks for freshman-to-sophomore dropout and graduation outcomes for 2000. It draws on ACT Institutional Data Questionnaire responses from more than 2,500 two-year and four-year institutions to produce national estimates by institution type, degree level/control, and admissions selectivity. Tables summarize dropout rates (two-year and BA/BS, MA/first professional, and PhD) and graduation rates (with time-to-degree definitions) for both public and private institutions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

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National Dropout Rates

Freshman to Sophomore Year by Type of Institution

Freshman to Sophomore Year by Admissions Selectivity

Public Institutions: By Type and Selectivity

Private Institutions: By Type and Selectivity

National Graduation Rates

By Type of Institution

Public Institutions by Type and Selectivity

Private Institutions by Type and Selectivity

National Collegiate Dropout 2000 and Graduation Rates Compiled by ACT TM Since 1983, ACT has collected a comprehensive database of graduation rates and freshman to sophomore dropout rates. These dropout and graduation rates provide national benchmarks for institution type and level of selectivity. Data are compiled by ACT from the ACT Institutional Data Questionnaire, which is completed annually by more that 2,500 two-year and four-year institutions. National Dropout Rates Table 1: Freshman to Sophomore Year by Type of Institution Table 2: Freshman to Sophomore Year by Admissions Selectivity Table 3: Public Institutions: Freshman to Sophomore Year by Type and Selectivity Table 4: Private Institutions: Freshman to Sophomore Year by Type and Selectivity National Graduation Rates Table 5: By Type of Institution Table 6: Public Institutions by Type and Selectivity Table 7: Private Institutions by Type and Selectivity For more information, contact ACT Office for the Enhancement of Educational Practices,(319) 341-2275 An ACT Program for Educational Planning © 2003 by ACT, Inc. All rights reserved. 4018 Table 1 National Dropout Rates 2000 Freshman to Sophomore Year by Type of Institution | Degree Level/Control | N | SD* | Mean % | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Two-year Public | 741 | 15.2 | 48.0 | | Two-year Private | 139 | 19.7 | 31.5 | | BA/BS Public | 80 | 12.0 | 31.8 | | BA/BS Private | 476 | 14.8 | 28.2 | | MA/1st Professional Public | 229 | 11.8 | 30.7 | | MA/1st Professional Private | 490 | 11.5 | 24.4 | | PhD Public | 204 | 9.4 | 23.5 | | PhD Private | 166 | 9.9 | 16.6 | | Total | 2525 | | 32.7 | * Standard deviation Source: Compiled from ACT Institutional Data File, 2000. Table 2 National Dropout Rates 2000 Freshman to Sophomore Year by Admissions Selectivity | Typical Test Scores | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Selectivity Level | ACT | SAT | N | SD* | Mean % | | Highly Selective | 27–31 | 1220–1380 | 122 | 4.5 | 8.1 | | Selective | 22–27 | 1030–1220 | 416 | 7.9 | 18.8 | | Traditional | 20–23 | 950–1070 | 706 | 9.9 | 27.3 | | Liberal | 18–21 | 870– 990 | 386 | 14.5 | 34.7 | | Open | 17–20 | 830– 950 | 891 | 16.4 | 45.8 | | Number of Institutions 2521 | | | | | | * Standard deviation Source: Compiled from ACT Institutional Data File, 2000. Table 3 National Dropout Rates 2000 Public Institutions: Freshman to Sophomore Year by Type and Selectivity | Self-Reported
Admissions Selectivity | | Associate | BA | MA | PhD | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Highly Selective Mean % = N =*SD = | | NA | 11.5
4
4.7 | 10.3
4
3.4 | 8.8
19
4.5 | | Selective | Mean % = | NA | 22.4 | 21.9 | 19.8 | | | N = | 1 | 5 | 42 | 78 | | | *SD = | | 10.0 | 7.7 | 7.1 | | Traditional | Mean % = | 37.5 | 29.0 | 29.2 | 27.7 | | | N = | 4 | 37 | 110 | 80 | | | *SD = | 11.2 | 8.2 | 7.9 | 6.6 | | Liberal | Mean % = | 47.4 | 31.6 | 33.1 | 31.6 | | | N = | 43 | 13 | 35 | 20 | | | *SD = | 13.7 | 11.1 | 9.1 | 9.3 | | Open | Mean % = | 48.1 | 43.0 | 43.4 | 34.3 | | | N = | 693 | 21 | 37 | 7 | | | *SD = | 15.2 | 9.7 | 11.3 | 3.8 | | Number of | Institutions | 741 | 80 | 228 | 204 | * Standard deviation Source: Compiled from ACT Institutional Data File, 2000. Table 4 National Dropout Rates 2000 Private Institutions: Freshman to Sophomore Year by Type and Selectivity | Self-Reported
Admissions Selectivity | Associate | BA | MA | PhD | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Highly Selective Mean % = | NA | 6.9 | 9.0 | 7.6 | | N = | 1 | 26 | 23 | 45 | | *SD = | | 3.1 | 4.2 | 5.2 | | Selective Mean % = | 26.5 | 18.3 | 19.0 | 14.9 | | N = | 4 | 99 | 130 | 57 | | *SD = | 38.1 | 6.7 | 7.3 | 5.2 | | Traditional Mean % = | 24.7 | 28.7 | 26.3 | 22.2 | | N = | 24 | 158 | 243 | 50 | | *SD = | 18.4 | 10.8 | 9.9 | 7.3 | | Liberal Mean % = | 31.3 | 36.1 | 29.8 | 34.7 | | N = | 68 | 130 | 65 | 12 | | *SD = | 16.8 | 13.9 | 13.5 | 11.3 | | Open M

FAQs

What data source does ACT use for the 2000 dropout and graduation rates?

ACT compiles the rates from the ACT Institutional Data Questionnaire, completed annually by more than 2,500 two-year and four-year institutions.

How are dropout rates defined in this report?

Dropout rates are reported for the freshman to sophomore year, organized by institution type and admissions selectivity.

How are graduation rates defined and compared across institutions?

Graduation rates are provided by institution type and control, with time-to-degree definitions: associate’s degrees in 3 years and BA/BS in 5 years.

Oct 9, 2026

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