National Collegiate Dropout and Graduation Rates - 2001 - Compiled by ACT

Oct 9, 2026

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National Collegiate Dropout and Graduation Rates (2001) compiles ACT’s graduation and freshman-to-sophomore dropout benchmarks across two-year and four-year institutions. Using the ACT Institutional Data Questionnaire completed annually by more than 2,500 institutions, it reports national dropout rates and graduation rates with breakdowns by degree level/control, admissions selectivity, and public versus private sector. Tables summarize mean percentages, sample sizes, and standard deviations for 2001.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

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 by Type and Selectivity

Table 4: Private Institutions 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

National Collegiate Dropout 2001 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 2001 Freshman to Sophomore Year by Type of Institution | Degree Level/Control | N | Mean % | | --- | --- | --- | | Two-year Public | 737 | 48.2 | | Two-year Private | 130 | 33.1 | | BA/BS Public | 81 | 31.9 | | BA/BS Private | 476 | 28.8 | | MA/1st Professional Public | 220 | 30.8 | | MA/1st Professional Private | 494 | 24.4 | | PhD Public | 204 | 23.8 | | PhD Private | 165 | 16.8 | | Total | 2507 | 32.9 | Source: Compiled from ACT Institutional Data File, 2001. Table 2 National Dropout Rates 2001 Freshman to Sophomore Year by Admissions Selectivity | Typical Test Scores | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Selectivity Level | ACT | SAT | N | SD* | Mean % | | Highly Selective | 27–31 | 1220–1380 | 127 | 5.0 | 8.4 | | Selective | 22–27 | 1030–1220 | 405 | 8.1 | 18.6 | | Traditional | 20–23 | 950–1070 | 712 | 9.8 | 27.6 | | Liberal | 18–21 | 870– 990 | 381 | 14.5 | 35.0 | | Open | 17–20 | 830– 950 | 886 | 16.0 | 46.4 | | Number of Institutions 2511 | | | | | | * Standard deviation Source: Compiled from ACT Institutional Data File, 2001. Table 3 National Dropout Rates 2001 Public Institutions: Freshman to Sophomore Year by Type and Selectivity | Self-Reported
Admissions Selectivity | | Associate | BA | MA | PhD | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Highly Selective Mean % = N =*SD = | | NA | 11.4
5
5.6 | 11.5
4
4.8 | 8.4
18
4.0 | | Selective | Mean % = | NA | 22.4 | 21.8 | 19.6 | | | N = | 2 | 5 | 37 | 77 | | | *SD = | | 8.2 | 6.5 | 7.1 | | Traditional | Mean % = | 42.3 | 28.5 | 28.6 | 28.0 | | | N = | 3 | 40 | 105 | 81 | | | *SD = | 6.8 | 9.4 | 7.3 | 6.6 | | Liberal | Mean % = | 45.1 | 32.8 | 34.6 | 31.8 | | | N = | 42 | 12 | 39 | 21 | | | *SD = | 14.5 | 10.9 | 8.7 | 8.5 | | Open | Mean % = | 48.4 | 44.7 | 45.1 | 36.0 | | | N = | 692 | 19 | 35 | 7 | | | *SD = | 14.8 | 11.8 | 12.8 | 5.5 | | Number of | Institutions | 737 | 81 | 220 | 204 | * Standard deviation Source: Compiled from ACT Institutional Data File, 2001. Table 4 National Dropout Rates 2001 Private Institutions: Freshman to Sophomore Year by Type and Selectivity | Self-Reported
Admissions Selectivity | Associate | BA | MA | PhD | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Highly Selective Mean % = | NA | 7.3 | 10.2 | 7.7 | | N = | 1 | 30 | 23 | 46 | | *SD = | | 3.8 | 5.8 | 5.2 | | Selective Mean % = | 28.0 | 18.2 | 18.3 | 14.9 | | N = | 3 | 93 | 128 | 60 | | *SD = | 34.0 | 7.5 | 6.6 | 5.1 | | Traditional Mean % = | 27.3 | 29.5 | 26.4 | 22.9 | | N = | 24 | 162 | 252 | 45 | | *SD = | 18.1 | 11.7 | 9.3 | 7.0 | | Liberal Mean % = | 32.3 | 36.7 | 28.8 | 34.9 | | N = | 62 | 130 | 61 | 14 | | *SD = | 16.5 | 14.6 | 13.9 | 11.2 | | Open Mean % = | 38.2 | 36.5 | 36.1 | NA | | N = | 41 | 61 | 30 | 1 | | *SD = | 22.7 | 19.1 | 17.4

FAQs

What dataset and collection process are used for the 2001 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 and graduation rates organized in the report?

Dropout rates focus on freshman to sophomore year and are broken down by institution type and admissions selectivity. Graduation rates are broken down by degree level/control and also by public versus private institutions and selectivity.

What does the report specify about graduation timing?

It defines graduation as within 3 years for associate’s degrees and within 5 years for BA/BS programs.

Oct 9, 2026

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