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The report provides summary and breakdown tables by institutional type, degree level/control, and admission selectivity categories, along with definitions and notes on changes to IDQ format, collection, and reporting beginning in 2004.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/","Research & Report",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/national-collegiate-retention-and-persistence-to-degree-rates-summary-tables/529327/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/national-collegiate-retention-and-persistence-to-degree-rates-summary-tables/529327.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Blitz","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-12","2026-10-09",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",8,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What data sources are used to compile the retention and persistence rates?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"The rates are compiled by ACT from the ACT Institutional Data Questionnaire, an annual survey of information collected from two-year and four-year postsecondary institutions.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How are the admission selectivity categories defined?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Selectivity categories are grouped into Highly Selective, Selective, Traditional, Liberal, and Open, using ACT and SAT middle 50% ranges plus definitions based on the share of admitted students from specific high school class percentiles.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What changed in the IDQ starting with the 2004 questionnaire?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Beginning with the 2004 IDQ, changes affected the format, online collection method, and reporting of key data elements. The report also notes that earlier tables used “freshman to sophomore dropout rates,” which are now reported as “first-to second-year retention rates,” and that these tables reflect data accumulated through 7/1/10.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},529327,1791635588,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,111,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":108,"show_sort_weight":109,"slug":110},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":131},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":55,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":123,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":143,"read_time":144},24464137899374,"https://us-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2","National Collegiate Retention and Persistence to Degree Rates  \nSince 1983, ACT has collected a comprehensive database of first-to second-year retention rates and persistence to degree rates. These rates provide national benchmarks for institution type and level of selectivity. Data are compiled by ACT from the ACT Institutional Data Questionnaire, an annual survey of information collected from two-year and four-year postsecondary institutions.  \nFirst-to Second-Year Retention Rates  \nTable 1: Summary Table: National First-to Second-Year Retention Rates by Institutional Type Table 2: First-to Second-Year Retention Rates for Two-Year Colleges by Admission Selectivity Table 3: First-to Second-Year Retention Rates for Four-Year Public Colleges by Admission Selectivity Table 4: First-to Second-Year Retention Rates for Four-Year Private Colleges by Admission Selectivity  \nPersistence to Degree Rates  \nTable 5: Summary Table: National Persistence to Degree Rates by Institutional Type  \nTable 6: Persistence to Degree Rates for Two-Year Colleges by Admission Selectivity  \nTable 7: Persistence to Degree Rates for Four-Year Public Colleges by Admission Selectivity Table 8: Persistence to Degree Rates for Four-Year Private Colleges by Admission Selectivity  \nFor more information, contact ACT Educational Services at 319/341-2275 or go to our [website: www.act.org](website: www.act.org)  \n© 2010 by ACT, Inc. All rights reserved. 15109  \nImportant Information About These Tables  \nBeginning with the 2004 ACT Institutional Data Questionnaire (IDQ), several changes took place in the format, collection, and reporting of these data.  \n1. The definitions of two important data elements were modified: institutional selectivity and level of degree offerings.  \n2. The IDQ information was collected online rather than in traditional paper format.  \n3. Previous tables published by ACT featured “freshman to sophomore dropout rates.”Those rates are now reported as “first-to second-year retention rates.” Individuals who compare these results with previous reports or monitor trends in these data should keep this change in mind.  \n4. These reports are based on data accumulated through 7/1/10.  \nMany of the tables are reported by institutional admission selectivity. The selectivity categories used are based on the general descriptions below.  \n\n| Selectivity Level | ACT\u003Cbr>Middle\u003Cbr>50% | SAT\u003Cbr>Middle\u003Cbr>50%* | Definition |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Highly Selective | 25-30 | 1710-2000 | Majority admitted from top 10% of H.S. class |\n| Selective | 21-26 | 1470-1770 | Majority admitted from top 25% of H.S. class |\n| Traditional | 18-24 | 1290-1650 | Majority admitted from top 50% of H.S. class |\n| Liberal | 17-22 | 1230-1530 | Majority admitted from bottom 50% of H.S. class |\n| Open | 16-21 | 1170-1480 | Generally open to all with H.S. diploma or equivalent |\n\n* SAT score ranges are a point-to-point concordance with ACT scores based on a joint study by ACT and the College Board. Selectivity ranges may vary from one institution to another.  \nTable 1  \nSummary Table: National First-to Second-Year Retention Rates by Institutional Type  \n\n| Degree Level/Control | N | SD* | Mean % |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Two-year Public | 806 | 12.0 | 55.7 |\n| Two-year Private | 84 | 26.4 | 58.6 |\n| BA/BS Public | 84 | 13.1 | 67.6 |\n| BA/BS Private | 394 | 18.9 | 68.7 |\n| MA/1st Professional Public | 222 | 11.5 | 67.3 |\n| MA/1st Professional Private | 505 | 14.5 | 71.4 |\n| PhD Public | 241 | 9.2 | 78.6 |\n| PhD Private | 245 | 13.0 | 80.3 |\n| Total | 2,581 | N/A | 66.7 |\n\n* Standard Deviation  \nSource: ACT Institutional Data File, 2010  \nTable 2  \nFirst-to Second-Year Retention Rates for Two-Year Colleges by Admission Selectivity  \n\n|  | Two-Year Private |  |  | Two-Year Public |  |  | All Institutions |  |  |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Admissions Selectivity* | Institutions |  |  | Institutions |  |  | in Row |  |  |\n|  | Mean | N | SD*","cbCaiaNRRxm8uFY9","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiaNRRxm8uFY9","pdf",128978,"English","# First-to Second-Year Retention Rates\n## Summary Table by Institutional Type\n## Retention Rates by Admission Selectivity (Two-Year Colleges)\n## Retention Rates by Selectivity and Degrees Offered (Four-Year Public)\n## Retention Rates by Selectivity and Degrees Offered (Four-Year Private)\n# Persistence to Degree Rates\n## Summary Table by Institutional Type\n## Persistence Rates by Admission Selectivity (Two-Year Colleges)\n## Persistence Rates by Selectivity (Four-Year Public and Private)\n# Important Information About These Tables\n## Changes to IDQ Format, Collection, and Reporting","[{\"question\":\"What data sources are used to compile the retention and persistence rates?\",\"answer\":\"The rates are compiled by ACT from the ACT Institutional Data Questionnaire, an annual survey of information collected from two-year and four-year postsecondary institutions.\"},{\"question\":\"How are the admission selectivity categories defined?\",\"answer\":\"Selectivity categories are grouped into Highly Selective, Selective, Traditional, Liberal, and Open, using ACT and SAT middle 50% ranges plus definitions based on the share of admitted students from specific high school class percentiles.\"},{\"question\":\"What changed in the IDQ starting with the 2004 questionnaire?\",\"answer\":\"Beginning with the 2004 IDQ, changes affected the format, online collection method, and reporting of key data elements. The report also notes that earlier tables used “freshman to sophomore dropout rates,” which are now reported as “first-to second-year retention rates,” and that these tables reflect data accumulated through 7/1/10.\"}]","National Collegiate Retention and Persistence to Degree Rates - Summary Tables | PDF",1791520942,25]