Descriptive Summary

of 1995–96 Beginning

Postsecondary

Students: 

Six Years Later

Statistical Analysis Report

U.S. Department of Education

Institute of Education Sciences

NCES 2003–151
U.S. Department of Education 

Institute of Education Sciences 

NCES 2003–151 

Descriptive Summary 

of 1995–96 Beginning 

Postsecondary 

Students: 

Six Years Later 

Statistical Analysis Report 

December 2002 

Lutz Berkner 

Shirley He 

Emily Forrest Cataldi 

MPR Associates, Inc. 

Paula Knepper 

Project Officer 

National Center for 

Education Statistics 
U.S. Department of Education 

Rod Paige 

Secretary 

Institute of Education Sciences 

Grover J. Whitehurst 

Director 

National Center for Education Statistics 

Gary W. Phillips 

Deputy Commissioner 

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for collecting, analyzing, and 

reporting data related to education in the United States and other nations. It fulfills a congressional mandate 

to collect, collate, analyze, and report full and complete statistics on the condition of education in the United 

States; conduct and publish reports and specialized analyses of the meaning and significance of such 

statistics; assist state and local education agencies in improving their statistical systems; and review and report 

on education activities in foreign countries. 

NCES activities are designed to address high priority education data needs; provide consistent, reliable, 

complete, and accurate indicators of education status and trends; and report timely, useful, and high quality 

data to the U.S. Department of Education, the Congress, the states, other education policymakers, 

practitioners, data users, and the general public. 

We strive to make our products available in a variety of formats and in language that is appropriate to a 

variety of audiences. You, as our customer, are the best judge of our success in communicating information 

effectively. If you have any comments or suggestions about this or any other NCES product or report, we would 

like to hear from you. Please direct your comments to: 

 National Center for Education Statistics 

 Office of Educational Research and Improvement 

 U.S. Department of Education 

 1990 K Street NW 

 Washington, DC 20006-5651 

December 2002 

The NCES World Wide Web Home Page is: http://nces.ed.gov

The NCES World Wide Web Electronic Catalog is: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch

Suggested Citation 

U.S. Department of Education. National Center for Education Statistics. Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 

Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later, NCES 2003–151, by Lutz Berkner, Shirley He, and Emily Forrest 

Cataldi. Project Officer: Paula Knepper. Washington, DC: 2002. 

For ordering information on this report, write: 

U.S. Department of Education 

ED Pubs 

P.O. Box 1398 

Jessup, MD 20794-1398 

or call toll free 1-877-4ED-PUBS 

Content Contact: 

Aurora D’Amico 

(202) 502-7334 

Aurora.D’Amico@ed.gov
iii 

Executive Summary 

Introduction 

This report describes the enrollment, 

persistence, and degree attainment of students 

who began postsecondary education for the first 

time in the 1995–96 academic year. It covers the 

experiences of these first-time beginners over a 

period of 6 academic years, from 1995–96 to 

2000–01, and provides information about the rates 

at which students attained degrees, transferred to 

other institutions, and left postsecondary 

education without attaining degrees. 

The report is based on the 1996/01 Beginning 

Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study 

(BPS:96/01), a National Center for Education 

Statistics (NCES) survey that provides data 

describing a nationally representative sample of 

first-time students who entered postsecondary 

education during the 1995–96 academic year. The 

students were initially interviewed in 1996, at the 

end of their first year in postsecondary education; 

interviewed again in 1998, 3 years after they had 

started; and interviewed for the last time in 2001, 

6 years after they had started. 

Types of Institutions Attended 

When they first entered postsecondary 

education in 1995–96, the largest proportion of 

beginning students (46 percent) enrolled at public 

2-year institutions (community colleges). About 

one-fourth (26 percent) started at public 4-year 

institutions, 15 percent at private not-for-profit 4-

year institutions, 10 percent at private for-profit 

institutions offering vocational programs of less 

than 4 years, and 3 percent at all other types of 

institutions. 

However, over the 6 years covered in this 

report, 40 percent of students who began in 1995–

96 were also enrolled in at least one 

postsecondary institution other than the institution 

at which they started. About one-third (32 percent) 

of the beginners transferred from their first 

institution to a different one, and 11 percent were 

sometimes coenrolled, taking courses at more than 

one institution at the same time. About one-fourth 

of the students who began at 4-year institutions 

and 42 percent of those who began at public 2-

year institutions transferred during the 6 years. 

Degree Completion Among Students 

Beginning at Public 2-Year 

Institutions 

Public 2-year institutions serve a diverse body 

of students who enroll with a variety of 

educational goals. Associate’s degree completion 

rates are only partially valid as a measure of 

student success at public 2-year institutions, 

because it is not necessary to complete an 

associate’s degree before transferring to a 4-year 

institution. During their first year, about one-half 

of the beginning students at public 2-year colleges 

said that they intended to attain an associate’s 

degree, and another one-fourth intended to 

transfer to a 4-year institution and complete a 

bachelor’s degree. In the following years, about 
Executive Summary

iv 

one-fourth of the beginners at public 2-year 

institutions did transfer to a 4-year institution. 

Of the three-fourths of beginners at public 2-

year institutions who intended to complete either 

an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree, 31 percent 

did so within 6 years: 23 percent completed an 

associate’s degree, and 13 percent completed a 

bachelor’s degree (these percentages include the 5 

percent who completed both). Among those 

students who actually did transfer to a 4-year 

institution, 36 percent attained a bachelor’s degree 

within 6 years of starting community college. 

Types of Bachelor’s Degree 

Completion Rates for Students 

Beginning at 4-Year Institutions 

Rates of completion at the first institution 

attended versus at any 4-year institution 

When 4-year colleges and universities report 

their graduation rates, they are reporting the 

percentage of first-time freshmen who completed 

a bachelor’s degree at that institution within a 

certain time period. Institutions usually do not 

know what happened to the students who left 

without a degree. When students leave an 

institution, they may either leave postsecondary 

education permanently or transfer somewhere 

else. From the institutional perspective, all 

students who leave before completing a degree at 

that institution are considered to be dropouts. 

From the perspectives of students as well as of the 

postsecondary education system as a whole, 

transfers are not dropouts: they are persisting 

students who have decided to attend a different 

institution. In this report, the term institutional 

completion rate is used to describe bachelor’s 

degree attainment of students at the first 

institution they attended, and the term student 

completion rate is used to describe bachelor’s 

degree attainment anywhere, regardless of 

whether or not students stayed at the original 

institution. 

Among all beginners at 4-year institutions in 

1995–96, 51 percent completed a bachelor’s 

degree within 6 years at the first institution 

attended (table A). However, when those who 

transferred out of the first institution are also 

included, the percentage of beginners who 

actually completed a bachelor’s degree within 6 

years (at any 4-year institution) increases to 58 

percent. 

Rates based on different subcategories of 

students 

Bachelor’s degree completion rates not only 

differ by whether they reflect the institutional or 

student perspective, but also by which 

subcategories of beginning students are included 

when calculating the rates (table A). For example, 

if the calculation includes only those beginners 

with a bachelor’s degree goal (90 percent of all 

beginners at 4-year institutions), then the rate of 

completion at the first 4-year institution attended 

was 55 percent. Including only first-time 

beginners who were enrolled full time when they 

started and also had a bachelor’s degree goal (83 

percent of all beginners), the bachelor’s degree 

completion rate at the first 4-year institution was 

58 percent. 

Sometimes interest centers on recent high 

school graduates (those who started college 

immediately after high school, who made up 83 

percent of the beginners at 4-year institutions). 

Among all the beginners at 4-year institutions who 

were recent high school graduates, the rate of 

bachelor’s degree completion at the first 

institution was 55 percent, while it was 64 
 Executive Summary 

v 

percent at any 4-year institution. But including 

only those first-time beginners who were recent 

high school graduates, had a bachelor’s degree 

goal, and also started as full-time students (73 

percent of all beginners at 4-year institutions), the 

6-year completion rate at the first institution 

attended was 61 percent, and it was 69 percent at 

any 4-year institution. 

Focus on Students With a Bachelor’s 

Degree Goal at 4-Year Institutions 

This section describes only the beginners at 4-

year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal 

(90 percent of the total), including those who 

started as part-time students and those who did not 

start college immediately after finishing high 

school. 

Degree completion and transfer from the 

first institution attended 

Among students beginning at 4-year 

institutions with a bachelor’s degree goal, the 

cumulative percentage who had left their first 

institution and transferred to a different one was 

10 percent by the end of the first year, 18 percent 

by the end of the second year (including the 10 

percent who had already left by the end of the first 

year), 22 percent by the end of the third year, and 

then about 23 percent through the end of the sixth 

year (since there were few additional transfers in 

the fifth and sixth years) (figure A). 

The cumulative percentage of beginning 

students who were not enrolled at the first 

institution at the end of the academic year and 

never enrolled anywhere else by June 2001 was 3 

percent at the end of the first year, 6 percent at the 

end of the second year (including the 3 percent 

who were not enrolled at the end of the first year), 

9 percent at the end of the third year, and so on. 

By June 2001, at the end of the sixth academic 

year, 13 percent had left postsecondary education 

directly from the first institution without a degree, 

a smaller percentage than the 23 percent who had 

transferred elsewhere. 

Table A.—Percentage of students beginning at 4-year institutions in 1995–96 who had completed a bachelor’s degree at

Table A.—the first institution attended or at any 4-year institution by June 2001, by subcategories of beginning students

Institutional Student 

completion rate completion rate 

Percent of at first 4-year at any 4-year 

total institution institution 

 Total beginners at 4-year institutions 100.0 50.7 58.2 

Subcategories of beginners

 Enrolled full time first year 90.4 54.1 62.0 

 Had a bachelor’s degree goal 90.3 55.3 62.7 

 Had a bachelor’s degree goal and enrolled full time first year 82.9 58.0 65.6 

 Recent high school graduates (did not delay entry) 83.2 55.1 63.7 

 Recent high school graduates with a bachelor’s degree goal 76.5 59.2 67.4 

 Recent high school graduates with a bachelor’s degree goal

 and enrolled full time first year 73.0 60.6 68.8 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1996/01 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal

Study (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion

rates after 6 years
Executive Summary

vi 

Some students who transferred from their first 

institution later left postsecondary education 

without a degree, while others were still enrolled 

in June 2001 or had already attained a degree at 

another institution. In figure B, the numbers in the 

arrows indicate the percentages of students who 

transferred and then had various outcomes at any 

postsecondary institution. For example, 6 percent 

of students who began at a 4-year institution with 

a bachelor’s degree goal transferred from their 

first institution and then left postsecondary 

education without a degree after attending the 

transfer institution. Seven percent, however, 

transferred and then completed a bachelor’s 

degree at a different 4-year institution. 

Number of years to complete a degree at 

different types of institutions 

Thirty-four percent of beginners with a 

bachelor’s degree goal completed that degree at 

their first institution within 4 years, and another 

21 percent finished in 5 to 6 years, for a total of 55 

percent completing a bachelor’s degree at the first 

institution within 6 years of starting there (table 

B). Those who began at a private not-for-profit 

institution were more likely to complete their 

bachelor’s degree at that institution than those 

who began at a public institution (65 percent vs. 

50 percent) and were more likely to have finished 

in 4 years (52 percent vs. 24 percent). 

Figure A.—Percentage distribution of students with a bachelor’s degree goal who were first-time beginners at a 4-year

Figure A.—institution in 1995–96, by their enrollment status or degree attainment at the first institution attended, at the

Figure A.—end of each academic year through 2000–01

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Students who transferred after attaining a degree are only included in the 

attainment categories.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1996/01 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal

Study (BPS:96/01).

86

30

11

18

22 23 23 23

6 9 11 12 13

0 0 2

33

50 55

1 2

2

2

2

73 65

7

0

2

1

1 1 0

10

3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01

End of academic year

Percent

Had left postsecondary education

Had transferred from first institution

Not enrolled, returned later

Still enrolled, no degree

Had attained associate’s degree or certificate

Had attained bachelor’s degree

Status at first institution at end of year:
 Executive Summary 

vii 

Differences in completion rates by 

enrollment patterns and student 

characteristics 

Among beginners with a bachelor’s degree 

goal, student rates of completion at any 4-year 

institution varied by enrollment patterns (table B).

Students who did not transfer, were always 

enrolled full time, or were continuously enrolled 

without a break had higher 6-year completion 

rates (72–74 percent) than other students, and 

about 45 percent graduated within 4 years. 

Students who entered college with good 

academic preparation—those who received mostly 

A’s in high school, took two or more Advanced 

Placement (AP) tests, or had high SAT scores—

also had higher completion rates than others. 

About 80 percent completed a bachelor’s degree 

within 6 years, and more than one-half (55–61 

percent) graduated within 4 years. 

Among beginners with a bachelor’s degree 

goal, women had higher completion rates than 

men and were more likely to finish in 4 years 

Figure B.—Percentage distribution of students with a bachelor’s degree goal who were first-time beginners at a 4-year

Figure B.—institution in 1995–96, by their enrollment status or degree attainment at the first institution attended and

Figure B.—anywhere in postsecondary education, as of June 2001

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Students who transferred after attaining a degree are only included in the 

attainment categories.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1996/01 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal

Study (BPS:96/01).

55 63

5

2

12

7

2

23

18 13

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Institutional retention at first

institution after 6 years

Student persistence at any

institution after 6 years

Percent

Had left postsecondary

education

Transferred from first

institution

Enrolled at less-than-4-

year institution

Enrolled at 4-year

institution

Had attained associate’s

degree or certificate

Had attained bachelor’s

degree

(6)

(2)

(5)

(3)

(7)

Status in June 2001:

Transfers
Executive Summary

viii 

Table B.—Percentage of students beginning at 4-year institutions in 1995–96 with a bachelor’s degree goal who

Table B.—completed a bachelor’s degree at the first institution attended or at any 4-year institution by June 2001,

Table B.—and the number of years to complete the degree, by type of first institution, enrollment patterns, academic

Table B.—preparation, and student characteristics

At first 4-year institution At any 4-year institution

 4 years More than 6-year 4 years More than 6-year 

or less 4 years* total or less 4 years* total 

 Total beginners with a bachelor’s degree goal 34.2 21.1 55.3 36.5 26.1 62.7

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year 24.3 25.7 50.0 26.3 31.0 57.3

 Non-doctorate-granting 18.6 21.7 40.3 20.9 28.0 48.9

 Doctorate-granting 27.4 27.8 55.2 29.2 32.6 61.8

Private not-for-profit 4-year 51.5 13.8 65.3 54.6 18.4 73.0

 Non-doctorate-granting 48.2 13.8 62.0 50.8 18.8 69.6

 Doctorate-granting 57.6 13.8 71.4 61.5 17.8 79.3

Enrollment patterns

 Never transferred 44.7 27.7 72.4 44.7 27.7 72.4

 Always full time 42.2 22.8 65.0 45.0 27.8 72.8

 Continuously enrolled 41.7 24.4 66.1 44.2 29.4 73.6

Good academic preparation

 Mostly A’s in high school 52.3 21.5 73.8 55.3 26.8 82.0

 Took two or more Advanced Placement tests 57.3 17.5 74.8 60.9 21.4 82.3

 SAT combined score in high quartile (1030–1600) 53.0 19.0 72.0 56.5 23.1 79.6

Gender

 Male 29.5 22.5 52.0 31.0 27.7 58.7

 Female 38.1 20.0 58.0 41.1 24.9 66.0

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 37.8 21.2 59.0 40.5 26.3 66.8

 Black, non-Hispanic 19.8 21.1 40.9 20.8 24.9 45.7

 Hispanic 22.7 18.6 41.3 24.7 22.6 47.3

 Asian/Pacific Islander 40.0 23.8 63.8 41.5 28.9 70.5

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 23.5 23.3 46.8 25.6 28.1 53.7

 $25,000–44,999 32.1 20.2 52.3 33.8 25.4 59.1

 $45,000–69,999 36.8 23.0 59.7 38.8 28.8 67.6

 $70,000 or more 45.9 21.5 67.5 49.7 27.0 76.6

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 36.3 22.9 59.2 38.9 28.4 67.4

 Delayed 22.9 11.3 34.2 23.5 13.4 36.8

*Up to 6 years.

NOTE: These completion rates are based on the number of months between the date of first enrollment and bachelor’s degree completion. The

4-year rate includes those who completed in 48 months or less after they first enrolled. These rates may differ slightly from bachelor’s degree

attainment percentages based on status at the end of an academic year, such as those in figure A. Detail may not sum to totals because of 

rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1996/01 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal

Study (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion rate
 Executive Summary 

ix 

(table B). Hispanic and Black, non-Hispanic 

students had lower completion rates than 

Asian/Pacific Islander and White, non-Hispanic 

students. Low-income dependent students had 

lower completion rates than high-income 

dependent students. 

Profile of 1995–96 Beginners Who 

Completed a Bachelor’s Degree by 

June 2001 

A number of factors have been shown to put 

students at risk of not completing their degree 

programs. Two of the most important ones are 

part-time enrollment and delaying entry into 

postsecondary education after high school. Other 

factors are not having a regular high school 

diploma, having children, being a single parent, 

being financially independent of parents, and 

working full time while enrolled. In prior studies, 

a persistence risk index was developed based on 

the number of these adverse characteristics (Horn 

1996). All of these risk factors are also associated 

with “nontraditional” students, and the more risk 

factors a student has, the more nontraditional the 

student may be considered to be. Conversely, 

students with none of the risk factors may be 

considered to be highly traditional students: they 

enroll immediately after receiving a high school 

diploma, attend full time in the first year, are 

financially dependent on their parents, and work 

part time or not at all while enrolled. 

Beginners who started at 4-year institutions in 

1995–96 were predominantly traditional students: 

most of them had entered college without delay 

after high school, and most had none of the 

characteristics associated with a high risk of not 

completing a degree. This pattern is reflected in 

the profile of those college graduates who started 

at a 4-year institution in 1995–96 and had 

completed a bachelor’s degree by June 2001: 91 

percent had entered college immediately after high 

school, and 86 percent had no persistence risk 

factors when they first enrolled in 1995–96. 

Students who graduated with a bachelor’s 

degree within 4 years were well prepared when 

they entered college. More than one-half had 

received mostly A’s in high school (62 percent) or 

had SAT test scores in the highest quartile among 

college freshmen (56 percent), and 30 percent had 

taken two or more AP tests. Women represented a 

majority (62 percent) of the college graduates who 

started at a 4-year institution in 1995–96 and 

completed a bachelor’s degree in the expected 4-

year period. 

Students who began at public 2-year 

institutions were more likely to be nontraditional 

students than those who began at 4-year 

institutions. Almost one-half of the beginners at 

public 2-year institutions had delayed starting 

college after high school, and about one-half had 

two or more persistence risk factors when they 

started. Traditional students (those with no risk 

factors when they began) represented about onehalf (56 percent) of the bachelor’s degree 

recipients who had transferred from public 2-year 

institutions. The other half were nontraditional 

students who began their education in 1995–96 

with a higher risk of not completing a degree at 

all, but had been able to enter a bachelor’s degree 

program via a community college. 

Summary and Conclusion 

Differences in the bachelor’s degree 

completion rates of students who began at 

community colleges and those who began at 4-

year colleges and universities reflect differences 

in the degree goals, academic preparation, 

enrollment patterns, and demographic 
Executive Summary

x 

characteristics of these students. Compared with 

students who started at 4-year institutions, those 

who started at public 2-year institutions were less 

well prepared for college and were less likely to 

be continuously enrolled. Beginners at public 2-

year institutions were also more likely to enroll 

part time, to have delayed enrolling after high 

school, and to be nontraditional students starting 

postsecondary education with one or more 

persistence risk factors. 

Beginners at 4-year institutions were 

predominantly traditional students with no 

persistence risk factors when they started college, 

and they were usually enrolled full time. Among 

those with a bachelor’s degree goal, 55 percent of 

the beginners at 4-year institutions completed a 

bachelor’s degree at the institution where they had 

started. When transfer students who completed 

their degrees at a different institution are also 

included, a total of 63 percent of the students who 

began at a 4-year institution with a bachelor’s 

degree goal completed that degree within 6 years. 

Although the expected length of time required 

to complete a bachelor’s degree is 4 years, 37 

percent of the students with a bachelor’s degree 

goal who started at a 4-year institution in 1995–96 

actually finished their degree in that period of 

time. The characteristics of the students who were 

most likely to graduate within 4 years with a 

bachelor’s degree fit a commonly held perception 

of what a college student looks like—he or she 

receives good academic preparation in high 

school, enters college immediately after high 

school, enrolls in college full time, and is 

continuously enrolled. 
xi 

Foreword 

This report describes the enrollment, persistence, and degree attainment of a nationally 

representative sample of students who began postsecondary education for the first time in the 

1995–96 academic year. It covers the experience of these students over 6 academic years, from 

1995–96 to 2000–01, and provides information about rates of degree completion, transfer, and 

attrition for students who first enrolled at various types of postsecondary institutions. A particular 

focus of this report is on the rates at which students who began at public 2-year, public 4-year, 

and private not-for-profit 4-year institutions completed the bachelor’s degree. The analysis and 

the supplementary tables examine both the degree completion rates at the first institution 

attended and the completion rates at any postsecondary institution attended during the 6 years. 

The report uses the data from the 1996/01 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal 

Study (BPS:96/01). The BPS survey is the longitudinal component of the 1996 National 

Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:96), a nationally representative sample that includes 

students enrolled in all types of postsecondary institutions. The BPS:96/01 cohort consists of 

students in the NPSAS:96 sample who were identified as having enrolled in postsecondary 

education for the first time during the 1995–96 academic year. These first-time beginning 

students were interviewed in 1996, at the end of their first year in postsecondary education; 

interviewed again in 1998, 3 years after they had started; and interviewed for the last time in 

2001, 6 years after they had started. The BPS:96/01 study consists of the data gathered in all 

three of these survey years. 

The BPS:96/01 Data Analysis System (DAS), an NCES microcomputer application that 

allows users to generate tables for many NCES surveys and produces design-adjusted standard 

errors to allow researchers to perform tests of statistical significance, was used to produce the 

estimates presented in this report. The DAS for BPS:96/01 and other NCES surveys, as well as 

many descriptive and methodology reports, can be accessed and downloaded from the NCES 

web site (nces.ed.gov). Consult appendix B for more information. 
xii 

Acknowledgments 

The authors want to thank the many individuals who contributed to this report. Jennifer 

Wine and her colleagues at the Research Triangle Institute were responsible for designing the 

student interview instrument, collecting the data, and preparing the data files. At MPR, Kathryn 

Rooney ran the tables for the report, and Stephen Lew, Xianglei Chen, and Katharin Peter helped 

with the analysis. Barbara Kridl, Andrea Livingston, Francesca Tussing, Patti Gildersleeve, 

Renee Macalino, and Wes Nations of the MPR production group prepared the report for 

publication. 

We are particularly grateful to Paula Knepper at NCES for her guidance and assistance on 

all aspects of the BPS project, and her careful technical review of the report. We also received 

many helpful technical and editorial suggestions from Karen O’Conor, Lisa Hudson, James 

Griffith, Bernard Greene, and Dennis Carroll at NCES; Elise Miller of the National Association 

of Independent Colleges and Universities; and David Bergeron and Daniel Goldenberg at the 

U. S. Department of Education.
xiii 

Table of Contents 

Page 

Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. iii

Foreword.................................................................................................................................... xi

Acknowledgments...................................................................................................................... xii

List of Tables ............................................................................................................................. xv

List of Figures...................................................................................................................... xxxiii

Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later 

Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 

Organization of the Report.................................................................................................... 2 

Types of Institutions Attended .............................................................................................. 4 

Degree Goals, Attendance Patterns, and Persistence Risk Factors ....................................... 6 

Student Degree Attainment and Persistence After Six Years ............................................... 10 

Attainment Rates Among Students Beginning at Public 2-year Institutions ........................ 13 

Bachelor’s Degree Completion at 4-year Institutions After Six Years ................................. 14 

Bachelor’s Degree Completion Rates, Enrollment Patterns, and Student Characteristics.... 22 

Profile of the 1995–96 Beginners Who Had Completed a Bachelor’s Degree and 

Graduated by June 2001..................................................................................................... 28 

Summary and Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 31 

References.................................................................................................................................. 33 

Table Compendium................................................................................................................... 35

Section 1: Percentage Distributions (by Columns) of the Variables Used as Rows ............. 37 

Section 2: Persistence and Attainment Anywhere in Postsecondary Education After 

Six Years ............................................................................................................................ 47 

Section 3: Retention and Attainment at the First Institution Attended After Six Years ....... 71

Section 4: Persistence and Attainment After Six Years by Initial Degree Goals in 

1995–96.............................................................................................................................. 93 

Section 5: Last Year Enrolled in Postsecondary Education Without a Degree..................... 115 

Section 6: Transfer Patterns .................................................................................................. 137 

Section 7: Retention and Attainment at the First Institution at the End of Each Year 

(Beginners at 4-Year Institutions) ...................................................................................... 149 

Section 8: Student Persistence and Attainment Anywhere at the End of Each Year 

(Beginners at 4-Year Institutions) ...................................................................................... 165 
Table of Contents

xiv 

Page 

Section 9: Persistence Track Status at the End of Each Academic Year 

(Beginners at 4-Year Institutions) ...................................................................................... 181 

Section 10: Student and Institutional Bachelor’s Degree Completion Rates ....................... 203 

Section 11: Student Characteristics and Experiences .......................................................... 217 

Appendix A—Glossary ............................................................................................................. 241

Appendix B—Technical Notes and Methodology .................................................................. 267
xv 

List of Tables 

Table Page 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TABLES 

A Percentage of students beginning at 4-year institutions in 1995–96 who had completed 

a bachelor’s degree at the first institution attended or at any 4-year institution by June 

2001, by subcategories of beginning students................................................................. v 

B Percentage of students beginning at 4-year institutions in 1995–96 with a bachelor’s 

degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first institution attended or at 

any 4-year institution by June 2001, and the number of years to complete the degree, 

by type of first institution, enrollment patterns, academic preparation, and student 

characteristics .................................................................................................................. viii 

ESSAY TABLES 

1 Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who attended more than 

one institution through June 2001, by first type of institution attended.......................... 5 

2 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

destination of first transfer, by first type of institution attended ..................................... 6 

3 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

initial degree goal, by first type of institution attended................................................... 7 

4 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

attendance intensity and enrollment continuity through June 2001, by first type of 

institution attended .......................................................................................................... 8 

5 Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who delayed enrollment 

after high school, and percentage distribution by number of risk factors when first 

enrolled, by first type of institution attended................................................................... 9 

6 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

degree attainment and persistence through June 2001, by initial degree goal................. 12 

7 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

degree attainment and persistence through June 2001, by first type of institution 

attended ........................................................................................................................... 12 
List of Tables

xvi 

Table Page 

8 Percentage of students beginning at public 2-year institutions in 1995–96 with an 

associate’s or a bachelor’s degree goal who had completed an associate’s or a 

bachelor’s degree by June 2001, and the number of years to complete the degree, by 

enrollment characteristics and risk factors ...................................................................... 15 

9 Percentage of students beginning at 4-year institutions in 1995–96 who had completed 

a bachelor’s degree at the first institution attended or at any 4-year institution by June 

2001, by subcategories of beginning students................................................................. 16 

10 Percentage of students beginning at 4-year institutions in 1995–96 with a bachelor’s 

degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first institution attended or at 

any 4-year institution by June 2001, and the number of years to complete the degree, 

by type of first institution, enrollment patterns, academic preparation, and student 

characteristics .................................................................................................................. 23 

11 Percentage distribution of students who began at 4-year institutions or public 2-year 

institutions in 1995–96 and completed a bachelor’s degree by June 2001, according to 

type of institution granting the bachelor’s degree, academic preparation, and student

characteristics .................................................................................................................. 29 

COMPENDIUM TABLES 

Section 1: Percentage Distributions (by Columns) of the Variables Used as Rows 

1.0 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students by degree plans 

at the first institution attended, according to characteristics of the first institution and 

degrees attained by June 2001......................................................................................... 42 

1.1-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students by the level and 

type of the first institution attended, according to degree goal in 1995–96, program, 

and academic preparation................................................................................................ 43 

1.1-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students by the level and 

type of the first institution attended, according to attendance patterns, GPA, and last 

institution type................................................................................................................. 44 

1.1-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students by the level and 

type of the first institution attended, according to demographic characteristics ............. 45 

1.1-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students by the level and 

type of the first institution attended, according to persistence risk factors when they 

first enrolled .................................................................................................................... 46
 List of Tables 

xvii 

Table Page 

Section 2: Persistence and Attainment Anywhere in Postsecondary Education After 

Six Years 

All Beginning Students 

2.0-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the 

highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and attainment status anywhere as of 

June 2001, by first institution attended and first degree plans ........................................ 55 

2.0-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the 

highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and attainment status anywhere as of 

June 2001, by attendance patterns, GPA, and last institution type.................................. 56 

2.0-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the 

highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and attainment status anywhere as of 

June 2001, by demographic characteristics..................................................................... 57 

2.0-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the 

highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and attainment status anywhere as of 

June 2001, by persistence risk factors when they first enrolled ...................................... 58 

Public 2-Year Institutions 

2.1-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in 

public 2-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by degree plans and first 

degree attained................................................................................................................. 59 

2.1-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in 

public 2-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by attendance patterns, 

GPA, and last institution type ......................................................................................... 60 

2.1-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in 

public 2-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by demographic 

characteristics .................................................................................................................. 61 

2.1-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in 

public 2-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by persistence risk 

factors when they first enrolled ....................................................................................... 62 
List of Tables

xviii 

Table Page 

Public 4-Year Institutions 

2.2-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in 

public 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by degree goal, first 

degree attained, and academic preparation...................................................................... 63 

2.2-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in 

public 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by attendance patterns, 

GPA, and last institution type ......................................................................................... 64 

2.2-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in 

public 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by demographic 

characteristics .................................................................................................................. 65 

2.2-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in 

public 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by persistence risk 

factors when they first enrolled ....................................................................................... 66 

Private Not-For-Profit 4-Year Institutions 

2.3-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in 

private not-for-profit 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 

6-year persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by degree goal, 

first degree attained, and academic preparation .............................................................. 67 

2.3-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in 

private not-for-profit 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 

6-year persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by attendance 

patterns, GPA, and last institution type........................................................................... 68 

2.3-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in 

private not-for-profit 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 

6-year persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by demographic 

characteristics .................................................................................................................. 69 

2.3-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in 

private not-for-profit 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 

6-year persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by persistence risk 

factors when they first enrolled ....................................................................................... 70 
 List of Tables 

xix 

Table Page 

Section 3: Retention and Attainment at the First Institution Attended After Six Years 

All Beginning Students 

3.0-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the 

highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status at first institution 

attended as of June 2001, by first institution type and first degree plans........................ 77 

3.0-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the 

highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status at first institution 

attended as of June 2001, by attendance patterns and GPA............................................ 78 

3.0-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the 

highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status at first institution 

attended as of June 2001, by demographic characteristics.............................................. 79 

3.0-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the 

highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status at first institution 

attended as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors when they first enrolled............... 80 

Public 2-Year Institutions 

3.1-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year 

institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer 

status at first institution attended as of June 2001, by first institution type and first 

degree plans..................................................................................................................... 81 

3.1-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year 

institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer 

status at first institution attended as of June 2001, by attendance patterns and GPA ..... 82 

3.1-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year

institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer 

status at first institution attended as of June 2001, by demographic characteristics ....... 83 

3.1-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year 

institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer 

status at first institution attended as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors when 

they first enrolled............................................................................................................. 84 
List of Tables

xx 

Table Page 

Public 4-Year Institutions 

3.2-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year 

institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer 

status at first institution attended as of June 2001, by first institution type and 

academic preparation....................................................................................................... 85 

3.2-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year 

institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer 

status at first institution attended as of June 2001, by attendance patterns and GPA ..... 86 

3.2-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year 

institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer 

status at first institution attended as of June 2001, by demographic characteristics ....... 87 

3.2-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year 

institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer 

status at first institution attended as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors when 

they first enrolled............................................................................................................. 88 

Private Not-For-Profit 4-Year Institutions 

3.3-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private notfor-profit 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

retention and transfer status at first institution attended as of June 2001, by first 

institution type and academic preparation....................................................................... 89 

3.3-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private notfor-profit 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

retention and transfer status at first institution attended as of June 2001, by attendance 

patterns and GPA ............................................................................................................ 90

3.3-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private notfor-profit 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

retention and transfer status at first institution attended as of June 2001, by 

demographic characteristics ............................................................................................ 91 

3.3-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private notfor-profit 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

retention and transfer status at first institution attended as of June 2001, by persistence 

risk factors when they first enrolled ................................................................................ 92 
 List of Tables 

xxi 

Table Page 

Section 4: Persistence and Attainment After Six Years by Initial Degree Goals 

in 1995–96 

Certificate Goal 

4.1-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of 

attaining a certificate when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained 

anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by first institution type and 

degree plans..................................................................................................................... 99 

4.1-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of 

attaining a certificate when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained 

anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by attendance patterns and 

GPA................................................................................................................................. 100 

4.1-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of 

attaining a certificate when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained 

anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by demographic 

characteristics .................................................................................................................. 101 

4.1-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of 

attaining a certificate when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained 

anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors 

when they first enrolled................................................................................................... 102 

Associate’s Degree Goal 

4.2-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of 

attaining an associate’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest 

degree attained anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by first 

institution type and degree plans ..................................................................................... 103 

4.2-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of 

attaining an associate’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest 

degree attained anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by attendance 

patterns and GPA ............................................................................................................ 104

4.2-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of 

attaining an associate’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest 

degree attained anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by 

demographic characteristics ............................................................................................ 105 
List of Tables

xxii 

Table Page 

4.2-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of 

attaining an associate’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest 

degree attained anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by 

persistence risk factors when they first enrolled ............................................................. 106 

Bachelor’s Degree Goal 

4.3-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of 

attaining a bachelor’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree 

attained anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by first institution 

type and academic preparation ........................................................................................ 107 

4.3-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of 

attaining a bachelor’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree 

attained anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by attendance 

patterns and GPA ............................................................................................................ 108

4.3-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of 

attaining a bachelor’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree 

attained anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by demographic 

characteristics .................................................................................................................. 109 

4.3-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of 

attaining a bachelor’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree 

attained anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by persistence risk 

factors when they first enrolled ....................................................................................... 110 

Bachelor’s Degree Goal—Recent High School Graduates 

4.4-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were 

recent high school graduates with a goal of attaining a bachelor’s degree when they 

first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained anywhere and 6-year 

persistence status as of June 2001, by first institution type and academic preparation... 111 

4.4-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were 

recent high school graduates with a goal of attaining a bachelor’s degree when they 

first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained anywhere and 6-year 

persistence status as of June 2001, by attendance patterns and GPA.............................. 112 

4.4-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were 

recent high school graduates with a goal of attaining a bachelor’s degree when they 

first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained anywhere and 6-year 

persistence status as of June 2001, by demographic characteristics................................ 113 
 List of Tables 

xxiii 

Table Page 

4.4-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were 

recent high school graduates with a goal of attaining a bachelor’s degree when they 

first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained anywhere and 6-year 

persistence status as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors when first enrolled ........ 114 

Section 5: Last Year Enrolled in Postsecondary Education Without a Degree 

All Beginning Students 

5.0-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not attain, the year 

they left postsecondary education, by first institution type and first degree plans.......... 121 

5.0-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not attain, the year 

they left postsecondary education, by attendance patterns, GPA, and last institution 

type .................................................................................................................................. 122 

5.0-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not attain, the year 

they left postsecondary education, by demographic characteristics ................................ 123 

5.0-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not attain, the year 

they left postsecondary education, by persistence risk factors when they first 

enrolled............................................................................................................................ 124 

Public 2-Year Institutions 

5.1-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year 

institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they 

did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by first degree plans and 

degree goal ...................................................................................................................... 125 

5.1-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year 

institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they 

did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by attendance patterns, 

GPA, and last institution type ......................................................................................... 126 

5.1-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year 

institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they 

did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by demographic 

characteristics .................................................................................................................. 127 
List of Tables

xxiv 

Table Page 

5.1-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year 

institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they 

did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by persistence risk factors 

when they first enrolled................................................................................................... 128 

Public 4-Year Institutions 

5.2-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year 

institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they 

did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by first institution type and 

academic preparation....................................................................................................... 129 

5.2-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year 

institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they 

did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by attendance patterns, 

GPA, and last institution type ......................................................................................... 130 

5.2-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year 

institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they 

did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by demographic 

characteristics .................................................................................................................. 131 

5.2-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year 

institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they 

did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by persistence risk factors 

when they first enrolled................................................................................................... 132 

Private Not-For-Profit 4-Year Institutions 

5.3-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private notfor-profit 4-year institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 

2001, or if they did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by first 

institution type and academic preparation....................................................................... 133 

5.3-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private notfor-profit 4-year institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 

2001, or if they did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by 

attendance patterns, GPA, and last institution type......................................................... 134 

5.3-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private notfor-profit 4-year institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 

2001, or if they did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by 

demographic characteristics ............................................................................................ 135 
 List of Tables 

xxv 

Table Page 

5.3-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private notfor-profit 4-year institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 

2001, or if they did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by 

persistence risk factors when they first enrolled ............................................................. 136 

Section 6: Transfer Patterns 

All Beginning Students 

6.0-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

their transfer status as of June 2001, and if they transferred, according to the last year 

enrolled at the first institution attended, by first institution type and initial degree 

goal.................................................................................................................................. 140 

6.0-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

their transfer status as of June 2001, and if they transferred, according to the type of 

institution that was the destination of the first transfer, by first institution type and 

initial degree goal ............................................................................................................ 141 

Students Who Transferred 

6.1-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who transferred 

as of June 2001, according to the last year enrolled at the first institution attended, by 

first institution type, initial degree goal, and transfer type.............................................. 142 

6.1-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who transferred 

as of June 2001, according to the type of institution that was the destination of the 

first transfer, by first institution type, initial degree goal, and transfer type ................... 144 

6.1-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who transferred 

as of June 2001, according to the first year they enrolled at the destination institution 

of the first transfer, by first institution type, initial degree goal, transfer type, and last 

year enrolled at the first institution attended ................................................................... 146 

Section 7: Retention and Attainment at the First Institution at the End of Each Year 

(Beginners at 4-Year Institutions) 

7.1 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status 

at the first institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first 

type of 4-year institution and student characteristics: End of the first year, 1995–96 .... 152 
List of Tables

xxvi 

Table Page 

7.2 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment 

status at the first institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), 

by first type of 4-year institution and student characteristics: End of the second year, 

1996–97........................................................................................................................... 154 

7.3 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment 

status at the first institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), 

by first type of 4-year institution and student characteristics: End of the third year, 

1997–98........................................................................................................................... 156 

7.4 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment 

status at the first institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), 

by first type of 4-year institution and student characteristics: End of the fourth year, 

1998–99........................................................................................................................... 158 

7.5 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment 

status at the first institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), 

by first type of 4-year institution and student characteristics: End of the fifth year, 

1999–2000....................................................................................................................... 160 

7.6 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment 

status at the first institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), 

by first type of 4-year institution and student characteristics: End of the sixth year, 

2000–01........................................................................................................................... 162 

Section 8: Student Persistence and Attainment Anywhere at the End of Each Year 

(Beginners at 4-Year Institutions) 

8.1 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status 

anywhere at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

institution and student characteristics: End of the first year, 1995–96............................ 168 

8.2 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status 

anywhere at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

institution and student characteristics: End of the second year, 1996–97....................... 170 
 List of Tables 

xxvii 

Table Page 

8.3 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status 

anywhere at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

institution and student characteristics: End of the third year, 1997–98 .......................... 172 

8.4 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status 

anywhere at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

institution and student characteristics: End of the fourth year, 1998–99 ........................ 174 

8.5 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status 

anywhere at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

institution and student characteristics: End of the fifth year, 1999–2000 ....................... 176 

8.6 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status 

anywhere at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

institution and student characteristics: End of the sixth year, 2000–01 .......................... 178 

Section 9: Persistence Track Status at the End of Each Academic Year (Beginners at 4-

Year Institutions) 

9.1 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to whether they stayed on the persistence track or 

the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the first 

type of 4-year institution and student characteristics: End of first year, 1995–96 .......... 183 

9.2 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to whether they stayed on the persistence track or 

the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the first 

type of 4-year institution and student characteristics: End of second year, 1996–97...... 186 

9.3 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to whether they stayed on the persistence track or 

the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the first 

type of 4-year institution and student characteristics: End of third year, 1997–98 ......... 189 

9.4 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to whether they stayed on the persistence track or 

the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the first 

type of 4-year institution and student characteristics: End of fourth year, 1998–99....... 192 
List of Tables

xxviii 

Table Page 

9.5 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to whether they stayed on the persistence track or 

the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the first 

type of 4-year institution and student characteristics: End of fifth year, 1999–2000...... 195 

9.6 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to whether they stayed on the persistence track or 

the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the first 

type of 4-year institution and student characteristics: End of sixth year, 2000–01......... 198 

9.7 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had 

a bachelor’s degree goal, according to whether they stayed on the persistence track or 

the first type of exit from the persistence track, by the first type of 4-year institution 

and student characteristics: Status in June 2001 ............................................................. 201 

Section 10: Student and Institutional Bachelor’s Degree Completion Rates 

Public 4-Year Institutional Rates 

10.1-A Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at public 4-year institutions with a 

bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first institution 

attended in 4 years or less, in 5 years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage 

completing a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 at the first institution attended, by 

academic preparation and attendance patterns ................................................................ 204 

10.1-B Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at public 4-year institutions with a 

bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first institution 

attended in 4 years or less, in 5 years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage 

completing a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 at the first institution attended, by 

demographic characteristics ............................................................................................ 205 

10.1-C Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at public 4-year institutions with a 

bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first institution 

attended in 4 years or less, in 5 years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage 

completing a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 at the first institution attended, by 

persistence risk factors when they first enrolled ............................................................. 206 

Private Not-For-Profit 4-Year Institutional Rates 

10.2-A Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions 

with a bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first 

institution attended in 4 years or less, in 5 years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage 

completing a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 at the first institution attended, by 

academic preparation and attendance patterns ................................................................ 207 
 List of Tables 

xxix 

Table Page 

10.2-B Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions 

with a bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first 

institution attended in 4 years or less, in 5 years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage 

completing a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 at the first institution attended, by 

demographic characteristics ............................................................................................ 208 

10.2-C Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions 

with a bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first 

institution attended in 4 years or less, in 5 years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage 

completing a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 at the first institution attended, by 

persistence risk factors when they first enrolled ............................................................. 209 

Public 4-Year Student Rates 

10.3-A Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at public 4-year institutions with a 

bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree in 4 years or less, in 5 

years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s degree anywhere 

by June 2001, by academic preparation and attendance patterns .................................... 210 

10.3-B Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at public 4-year institutions with a 

bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree in 4 years or less, in 5 

years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s degree anywhere 

by June 2001, by demographic characteristics ................................................................ 211 

10.3-C Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at public 4-year institutions with a 

bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree in 4 years or less, in 5 

years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s degree anywhere 

by June 2001, by persistence risk factors when they first enrolled ................................. 212 

Private Not-For-Profit 4-Year Student Rates 

10.4-A Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions 

with a bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree in 4 years or less, in 

5 years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s degree 

anywhere by June 2001, by academic preparation and attendance patterns.................... 213 

10.4-B Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions 

with a bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree in 4 years or less, in 

5 years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s degree 

anywhere by June 2001, by demographic characteristics................................................ 214 
List of Tables

xxx 

Table Page 

10.4-C Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions 

with a bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree in 4 years or less, in 

5 years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s degree 

anywhere by June 2001, by persistence risk factors when they first enrolled................. 215 

Section 11: Student Characteristics and Experiences 

Education 

11.1-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

distance education participation and, of those who participated, the number of courses 

taken as of June 2001, by selected demographic and institutional characteristics.......... 223 

11.1-B Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to postsecondary 

academic performance, by selected demographic and institutional characteristics ........ 224 

11.1-C Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who completed a bachelor’s 

degree, according to post-baccalaureate enrollment and graduate degree program, by 

selected demographic and institutional characteristics ................................................... 225 

Employment 

11.2-A Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were 

employed full time as of June 2001 (and, if enrolled, were primarily employees), 

according to student-reported relationship between their current job and 

postsecondary education, by selected demographic and institutional characteristics ..... 226 

11.2-B Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were 

employed full time and were not self-employed as of June 2001 (and, if enrolled, were 

primarily employees), according to student-reported autonomy in their current job, by 

selected demographic and institutional characteristics ................................................... 227 

11.2-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were 

employed full time and were not self-employed as of June 2001 (and, if enrolled, were 

primarily employees), according to whether the student relocated for the current job, 

by selected demographic and institutional characteristics............................................... 228 

11.2-D Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were employed full 

time as of June 2001 (and, if enrolled, were primarily employees), according to the 

employer-provided benefits in the current job, by selected demographic and 

institutional characteristics.............................................................................................. 229 
 List of Tables 

xxxi 

Table Page 

11.2-E Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were employed full 

time as of June 2001 (and, if enrolled, were primarily employees), according to 

occupational licensure and professional certification, by selected demographic and 

institutional characteristics.............................................................................................. 231 

Community Service 

11.3-A Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to participation in 

community service activities in 2001 and, of those who participated, hours per month 

volunteered, by selected demographic and institutional characteristics.......................... 232 

11.3-B Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who participated in 

community service in 2001, according to type of volunteer activity, by selected 

demographic and institutional characteristics ................................................................. 233 

11.3-C Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to voting and 

political participation in 2001, by selected demographic and institutional 

characteristics .................................................................................................................. 235 

Education Finance 

11.4-A Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to undergraduate 

borrowing status, average undergraduate loan amount, and distribution of loan 

amounts as of June 2001, by selected demographic and enrollment characteristics....... 236 

11.4-B Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to undergraduate 

student loan repayment status and average monthly loan payment in 2001, by selected 

demographic and enrollment characteristics ................................................................... 237 

11.4-C Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

number of credit cards in 2001, by selected student characteristics................................ 238 

11.4-D Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

credit card balance in 2001, by selected student characteristics...................................... 239 

11.4-E Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

lifetime learning tax credit claims, by selected student characteristics........................... 240 
List of Tables

xxxii 

Table Page 

APPENDIX B TABLES 

B1-A Standard errors for table 2.0-A: Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning 

postsecondary students according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence 

and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by first institution attended and first 

degree plans..................................................................................................................... 270 

B1-B Standard errors for table 2.0-B: Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning 

postsecondary students according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence 

and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by attendance patterns, GPA, and last 

institution type................................................................................................................. 271 

B1-C Standard errors for table 2.0-C: Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning 

postsecondary students according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence 

and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by demographic characteristics ......... 272 

B1-D Standard errors for table 2.0-D: Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning 

postsecondary students according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence 

and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors when they 

first enrolled .................................................................................................................... 273 
xxxiii 

List of Figures 

Figure Page 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FIGURES 

A Percentage distribution of students with a bachelor’s degree goal who were first-time 

beginners at a 4-year institution in 1995–96, by their enrollment status or degree 

attainment at the first institution attended, at the end of each academic year through 

2000–01........................................................................................................................... vi 

B Percentage distribution of students with a bachelor’s degree goal who were first-time 

beginners at a 4-year institution in 1995–96, by their enrollment status or degree 

attainment at the first institution attended and anywhere in postsecondary education, 

as of June 2001................................................................................................................ vii 

TEXT FIGURES 

1 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

first and last types of institutions attended ...................................................................... 4 

2 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to 

initial degree goal in 1995–96 and highest degree attainment as of June 2001 .............. 11 

3 Percentage distribution of students with a bachelor’s degree goal who were first-time 

beginners at a 4-year institution in 1995–96, by their persistence and degree 

attainment anywhere in postsecondary education, at the end of each academic year 

through 2000–01 ............................................................................................................. 19

4 Percentage distribution of students with a bachelor’s degree goal who were first-time 

beginners at a 4-year institution in 1995–96, by institutional retention and degree 

attainment at the first institution attended, at the end of each academic year through 

2000–01........................................................................................................................... 20 

5 Percentage distribution of students with a bachelor’s degree goal who were first-time 

beginners at a 4-year institution in 1995–96, by their enrollment status or degree 

attainment at the first institution attended and anywhere in postsecondary education, 

as of June 2001................................................................................................................ 21 
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
1 

Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary 

Students: Six Years Later 

Introduction 

Approximately 3 million undergraduates entered postsecondary education for the first time 

during the 1995–96 academic year, enrolling in a wide variety of institutions, including 4-year 

colleges and universities, community colleges, and private for-profit institutions offering 

vocational programs. A sample of these first-time beginning students was surveyed in 1996, at 

the end of their first year in postsecondary education.1 They were interviewed again in 1998, 

three years after they had started, and interviewed for the last time in 2001, six years later. The 

Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study of 1996–2001 (BPS:96/01) consists of the 

data gathered in all three of these survey years. This report summarizes some of the major 

findings from the BPS:96/01 study data that relate to the persistence and degree attainment of 

this cohort of beginning postsecondary students during the six academic years from 1995–96 to 

2000–2001. 

A previous report described the 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students as of 1998 and 

focused on those enrolled in certificate or associate’s degree programs that could have been 

completed in three years or less.2 After three years, about one-half (58 percent) of the students 

who began vocational certificate programs at less-than-2-year (primarily private for-profit) 

institutions had attained a certificate, and less than 10 percent of them were still enrolled 

anywhere. Among those who had started an associate’s degree program at a public 2-year 

college, however, 7 percent had completed an associate’s degree, and more than one-half were 

still enrolled in postsecondary education, including many transfers to 4-year institutions. Very 

few students who had started at a 4-year college or university had completed a bachelor’s degree 

by 1998; after three years, however, 64 percent were still enrolled at the same college where they 

had started, and another 20 percent were still enrolled in postsecondary education—but had 

transferred to a different institution. 

 

1See Kojaku and Nunez (1998) for a detailed description of the beginning students during their first year (1995–96) in 

postsecondary education. 

2See Berkner, Horn, and Clune (2000) for a full description of the beginning students after three years (1998). 
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

2 

The role of transfers is critical in understanding student persistence and interpreting degree 

completion rates. Institutions do not know what happens to students once they have left—

whether they have really dropped out of postsecondary education or have transferred to another 

institution. As this report will show, rates of institutional retention and completion are 

substantially lower than rates of persistence and degree completion in the postsecondary 

education system as a whole.3 Using data from longitudinal studies of high school students, 

Adelman (1999) has shown that because so many students attend more than one institution, 

college students are actually more successful in completing bachelor’s degrees than the average 

completion rates reported by institutions seem to suggest.4 

This report focuses on the difference in degree completion and enrollment outcomes when 

viewed from the student (or systemwide) perspective as opposed to the institutional perspective. 

The terms institutional retention and institutional completion rates are used only when 

describing what happened to the students at the first institution they attended. The terms student 

persistence and student completion rates are used when describing what happened to them 

anywhere in postsecondary education, regardless of whether or not they stayed at the original 

institution. 

Organization of the Report 

A number of studies describing the 1995–96 beginning students in 1998, three years after 

they started postsecondary education, have already explored topics that will not be covered here. 

The completion rates of students in short-term vocational certificate programs, comparing 

beginning students at private for-profit and at public 2-year institutions, have already been 

described in detail (Berkner, Horn, and Clune 2000). The relationship of academic preparation in 

high school and student persistence at 4-year institutions during the first three academic years has 

also been analyzed, demonstrating the importance of completing a rigorous high school 

curriculum (Horn and Kojaku 2001). In addition, two recent reports have examined the 

relationship of financial aid and persistence during the first three years: a study of students who 

received Pell Grants (Wei and Horn 2002) and a study of the reasons for early departure from 

postsecondary education (Bradburn 2002). 

 

3This difference is stressed by both Tinto (1993) and Adelman (1999). 

4Institutional completion rates are reported annually by ACT, based on a survey of institutions (available at http://www.act.org), 

and by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for its member institutions (available at http://www.ncaa.org). They 

are also reported to the U. S. Department of Education through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). 

For 4-year institutions, ACT reports five-year bachelor’s degree completion rates, while the NCAA and IPEDS report six-year 

rates. ACT and IPEDS also report three-year associate’s degree completion rates for 2-year institutions. 
 Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later 

3 

This report begins with a brief description of the types of institutions that the beginning 

students first attended in 1995–96, their transfer patterns during the six years under study, and 

where they were last enrolled as undergraduates. It then describes the beginners5 in terms of their 

initial degree goals, their attendance patterns, and the extent to which they possess characteristics 

associated with a higher risk of not completing a degree. This section is followed by a description 

of students’ persistence in postsecondary education and their attainment of various degrees after 

six years, both by their initial degree goals and by the type of institution first attended. 

The next section examines the rates at which students who began at public 2-year 

institutions with an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree goal attained these two types of degrees, 

and the number of years they took to complete them. For the beginners at 4-year institutions with 

a bachelor’s degree goal, this section shows their enrollment and degree attainment outcomes at 

the end of each of the six years under study, with a direct comparison of outcomes from the 

perspective of both the institution and the student. 

The report then covers in more detail the bachelor’s degree completion rates of students 

who began at 4-year institutions with a bachelor’s degree goal and describes the percentage of 

beginners who completed a bachelor’s degree in the expected four years and those who took 

longer to finish. The report concludes with a profile of the 1995–96 beginning students who had 

completed a bachelor’s degree and graduated by June 2001 (within six years of starting); this 

section compares selected characteristics of graduates who started at 4-year institutions and 

completed the bachelor’s degree in four years with those of graduates who took longer to finish, 

as well as compares the graduates who had started at community colleges with those who had 

started at 4-year colleges. 

The rest of the report consists of a compendium of tables that provide more detail and 

additional information about the 1995–96 beginning students, including sections describing 

student persistence anywhere (section 2), institutional retention and transfers (section 3), and 

annual attrition (section 5) for those starting at public 2-year, public 4-year, and private not-forprofit 4-year institutions. The report also contains tables showing rates of persistence and degree 

attainment among beginners starting at any type of institution according to whether their initial 

degree goal was a certificate, an associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree (section 4), and tables 

that provide more information about transfer patterns (section 6). Tables in other sections show 

the annual enrollment or attainment status of students beginning at 4-year institutions with a 

bachelor’s degree goal at the end of each of the six years from the perspective of institutional 

retention (section 7), student persistence anywhere (section 8), and staying on the persistence 

 

5For ease of presentation the report uses the term beginners to describe the 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students. 
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

4 

track to the bachelor’s degree (section 9). Bachelor’s degree completion rates for beginners at 

public and private not-for-profit 4-year institutions are shown in section 10, which includes rates 

of completion in four, five, and six years. Finally, section 11 provides additional information 

about distance education, academic performance, graduate school enrollment, employment, 

community service, student borrowing, and the use of credit cards and tuition tax credits. 

Types of Institutions Attended 

When they first entered postsecondary education in 1995–96, the largest proportion of 

beginning students (46 percent) enrolled at public 2-year institutions (also called community 

colleges), and about one-fourth (26 percent) started at public 4-year institutions, 15 percent at 

private not-for-profit 4-year institutions and 10 percent at private for-profit institutions offering 

vocational programs of two years or less (figure 1). However, over the six years covered in this 

report, 40 percent of all the beginning students were also enrolled in at least one other 

Figure 1.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to first and last

Figure 1.—types of institutions attended

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Numbers are based on compendium tables 1.0 and 1.1-B.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

First institution type

Public 2-

year

Private notfor-profit 4-

year

Public 4-

year

Private forprofit lessthan-4-year

Other

3

46

10 15

26

Last institution type

Private notfor-profit 4-

year

Public 4-

year

Public 2-

year

Private forprofit lessthan-4-year

Other

5

34

11 16

35
 Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later 

5 

postsecondary institution (table 1). About one-third (32 percent) of the beginners transferred6

from their first institution to a different one, and 11 percent were sometimes coenrolled, taking 

courses at more than one institution at the same time. About one-fourth of the students who 

began at a public or private not-for-profit 4-year institution transferred to a different institution 

(27 and 24 percent, respectively), most frequently by the end of their first year.7 Beginners at 

public 2-year institutions were even more likely to transfer (42 percent) than those beginning at 

4-year institutions. 

No difference could be detected in the percentage of students beginning at public 4-year 

institutions who transferred to either another public 4-year institution or a public 2-year 

institution (table 2). Similarly, no difference could be detected in the percentage of students 

beginning at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions who transferred to either a public 4-year 

institution or a public 2-year institution. Those who began at public 2-year institutions, however, 

were more likely to transfer to public 4-year institutions than anywhere else (20 percent), 

although 11 percent transferred from one public 2-year institution to another. Overall, students 

were most likely to transfer to a public 4-year institution (14 percent) or to transfer to a public 2-

year institution (10 percent). 

 

6In this study, a transfer is defined as occurring when a student is no longer enrolled in one institution (the origin) and 

subsequently enrolls in a different institution for at least four months (the destination). This definition is intended to exclude 

short summer school or occupational courses at a different institution. This transfer definition is not based on whether course

credits were accepted at the destination institution because this is not always known. 

7See compendium table 6.1-A. Among those who transferred from 4-year institutions, 49 percent left the first institution after the 

first year, and another 31 percent left after the second year. 

Table 1.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who attended more than one institution

Table 1.—through June 2001, by first type of institution attended

Ever Ever 

One Two or more coenrolled transferred 

 Total 59.7 40.3 10.8 32.1 

First type of institution

 Public 2-year 52.8 47.2 11.4 41.5 

 Public 4-year 61.2 38.8 12.4 27.0 

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 62.8 37.2 13.1 23.7 

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 78.2 21.8 2.9 17.2 

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Number of institutions attended
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

6 

The ways in which the beginners were redistributed among the types of institutions as a 

result of their transfers over the six years are also shown in figure 1, which compares the 

distribution of the beginners at the first type of institution attended and at the last type of 

institution attended as undergraduates.8 For the 68 percent of students who never transferred, the 

last institution is the same as the first. The last type of institution where students were enrolled 

may represent any of the following: where they had completed a degree;9 the institution from 

which they left postsecondary education without a degree; or where they were still enrolled in 

2001. When comparing the distribution of students at the first type of institution attended with 

that at the last type attended as undergraduates, the proportion of students at the last type 

decreased for public 2-year institutions and increased for public 4-year institutions. When they 

were last enrolled, about one-third of the students were in public 4-year institutions, and about 

one-third of the students were in public 2-year institutions. 

Degree Goals, Attendance Patterns, and Persistence Risk Factors 

Degree Goals 

Students begin their postsecondary education for a variety of reasons, but they usually 

intend to complete a program and earn a degree, although not necessarily at the institution where 

 

8Ten percent of the students attended three or more institutions (see compendium table 1.1-B), so the last type of institution 

attended is not always the same as the first transfer destination. 

9Although vocational certificates are not considered to be degrees in the strictest sense of the term, in this report they are 

considered as such, in the generic sense of a credential awarded to recognize the completion of an educational program. 

Table 2.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to destination of 

Table 2.—first transfer, by first type of institution attended

Private not- Private forPublic Public for-profit profit less- Other Never 

2-year 4-year 4-year than-4-year institutions transferred 

 Total 9.9 14.1 3.7 2.7 1.7 67.9 

First type of institution

 Public 2-year 11.1 20.4 4.4 3.7 1.9 58.5 

 Public 4-year 9.8 11.3 3.3 1.1 1.5 73.1 

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 7.7 10.0 4.4 1.1 0.6 76.3 

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 8.3 1.7 0.8 3.8 2.7 82.8 

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Type of institution of first transfer destination
 Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later 

7 

they first enrolled. At the 4-year institutions, most of the beginners (about 90 percent) said that 

they intended to complete a bachelor’s degree (table 3). A small proportion (1 to 3 percent) of the 

beginners intended to complete a certificate or an associate’s degree, which are also offered by 

some 4-year institutions.10 Five percent said that they did not expect to complete any degree. 

At the public 2-year institutions, about one-half (49 percent) of the beginners expressed a 

goal of completing an associate’s degree, and one-fourth (25 percent) said that they intended to 

transfer to a 4-year institution and complete a bachelor’s degree. Eleven percent intended to 

complete a vocational certificate program, and 16 percent were enrolled with no particular degree 

goals. At the private for-profit institutions that offered less-than-4-year programs, about twothirds (65 percent) of the beginners intended to complete a vocational certificate program, 16 

percent wanted to complete an associate’s degree, and 17 percent had no degree goal. 

Attendance Patterns 

The likelihood of actually achieving a degree goal within a specified period of time 

depends partly on the length of the program and the student’s attendance intensity and enrollment 

continuity while in the program. Vocational certificate programs can usually be completed in less 

than two years, while associate’s degree programs usually require at least two years and 

bachelor’s degrees at least four years. Students who are always enrolled full time and are enrolled 

 

10Compendium table 1.0 shows the distribution of students by degree plans in the first year at the first type of institution. 

Table 3.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to initial degree 

Table 3.—goal, by first type of institution attended

Bachelor’s Associate’s 

degree degree Certificate None 

 Total 48.9 25.7 13.8 11.6 

First type of institution

 Public 2-year 24.8 48.9 10.8 15.6 

 Public 4-year 90.1 3.3 1.2 5.5 

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 91.4 2.7 0.8 5.0 

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 1.3 16.1 65.3 17.4 

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Degree goal in 1995–96
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

8 

continuously can be expected to complete any degree program more rapidly than those who are 

enrolled part time or who take a break and are not enrolled continuously.11 

Compared with beginners at other types of institutions, students who started at public 2-

year institutions were the least likely to be always enrolled full time (26 percent), the most likely 

to be always enrolled part time (22 percent), and the most likely not to be enrolled continuously 

(39 percent) (table 4). Among beginners at private for-profit less-than-4-year institutions (who 

were concentrated in vocational certificate programs), a majority were always enrolled full time 

(70 percent) and were continuously enrolled (77 percent) in their relatively short-term programs. 

At the 4-year institutions, beginners at private not-for-profit colleges were more likely than those 

who began at public colleges to be always enrolled full time (69 percent vs. 61 percent) and to be 

enrolled continuously (82 percent vs. 75 percent). 

Persistence Risk Factors 

Part-time enrollment increases the time to get a degree, and it is one factor that puts 

students at risk of not completing their degree programs at all.12 Another characteristic that has 

been linked to a decreased likelihood of attaining a degree is delaying entry into postsecondary 

 

11Continuous enrollment is defined as being enrolled without a break of more than four months, which allows for a summer 

vacation. Students who have an enrollment break of more than four months are also called stopouts. Students who transfer may 

be both transfers and stopouts if they delay more than four months before enrolling at the transfer destination institution. 

12The negative effect of the various risk factors discussed here has been documented in many NCES publications. See, for 

example, Carroll (1989); Horn and Premo (1995); Horn (1996); Berkner, Cuccaro-Alamin, and McCormick (1996); and Berkner, 

Horn, and Clune (2000). Adelman (1999) also includes some of these risk factors in his discussion of degree completion. 

Table 4.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to attendance 

Table 4.—intensity and enrollment continuity through June 2001, by first type of institution attended

Not 

Always Always Continuously continuously 

full-time Mixed part-time enrolled enrolled 

 Total 47.1 40.7 12.2 69.6 30.4 

First type of institution

 Public 2-year 26.0 51.8 22.2 60.8 39.2 

 Public 4-year 61.2 36.2 2.7 75.0 25.0 

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 69.4 28.9 1.7 82.3 17.7 

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 69.5 22.8 7.6 77.2 22.8 

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Attendance intensity through 2001

Enrollment continuity through 2001
 Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later 

9 

education immediately after high school. Recent high school graduates who do not start college 

within a year of high school graduation are less likely to complete a higher education degree 

program than those who enroll immediately. Other factors that have been identified as increasing 

the risk of not completing a college degree are not having a regular high school diploma, having 

children, being a single parent, being financially independent of parents, and working full time 

while enrolled. In prior studies, a persistence risk index was developed that is based on the 

number of these adverse characteristics associated with a student (Horn 1996). All of these risk 

factors are also associated with nontraditional students, and the higher the risk index, the more 

nontraditional the student may be considered to be. Conversely, students with none of the risk 

factors may be considered to be highly traditional students: they enroll immediately after 

receiving a high school diploma, attend full time in the first year, are financially dependent on 

their parents, and work part time or not at all while enrolled. 

Beginners at the 4-year institutions were predominantly traditional: a minority had delayed 

starting college immediately after high school, and the majority (72–80 percent) had no risk 

factors at all (table 5). Those students who started at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions 

were more likely to be traditional than those starting at any other type of institution. By contrast, 

almost one-half (46 percent) of the beginners at public 2-year institutions had delayed entry after 

high school, and about one-half (53 percent) had two or more risk factors when they enrolled. 

The students who started postsecondary education in private for-profit less-than-4-year 

institutions were the most nontraditional of all: about three-fourths (71 percent) had either 

delayed their enrollment after high school or had two or more risk factors. 

Table 5.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who delayed enrollment after high 

Table 5.—school, and percentage distribution by number of risk factors when first enrolled, by first type of 

Table 5.—institution attended

Delayed 

postsecondary Number of risk factors when first enrolled*

enrollment None One Two or more 

 Total 36.6 44.3 18.3 37.4 

First type of institution

 Public 2-year 45.6 25.1 22.4 52.5 

 Public 4-year 18.0 72.4 16.5 11.0 

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 13.3 80.2 11.8 8.1 

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 71.0 14.1 14.7 71.2 

*Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, financial

independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full time while enrolled.

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

10 

Institution Type 

In summary, most of the beginners at 4-year colleges and universities were traditional 

undergraduates pursuing a bachelor’s degree as full-time students, and at least three-fourths were 

continuously enrolled. Those who began at private not-for-profit institutions were somewhat 

more likely than those at public institutions to be traditional, to be always enrolled full time, and 

to be enrolled continuously. As will be discussed later, beginners at private not-for-profit 4-year 

institutions were also more likely than those beginning at public 4-year institutions to enter 

college with mostly A’s in high school, with more than one Advanced Placement test, and with 

SAT scores in the highest quartile.13

At the public 2-year institutions, on the other hand, about one-half of the beginners were 

nontraditional students, about three-fourths were not always enrolled full time, and about 40 

percent were not enrolled continuously. About one-half of them had an associate’s degree goal, 

one-fourth were pursuing a bachelor’s degree, and about one-fourth were intending to get a 

vocational certificate or had no degree goals. At the private for-profit institutions, the majority of 

beginners were highly nontraditional students and had a goal of completing a vocational 

certificate program. Most of them were always enrolled full time and always enrolled 

continuously, in part because their programs could be completed in a relatively short period of 

time and because many of these institutions require full-time enrollment.14

Student Degree Attainment and Persistence After Six Years 

The distribution of all the undergraduates who began postsecondary education in 1995–96 

according to their initial degree goals is compared with their distribution by degree attainment or 

enrollment status after six years in figure 2. About one-half (49 percent) of all postsecondary 

beginners initially had a bachelor’s degree goal (including those starting in less-than-4-year 

institutions), one-fourth (26 percent) had an associate’s degree goal, and 14 percent had a 

certificate goal. Six years later in June 2001, 29 percent had actually attained a bachelor’s degree, 

10 percent had attained an associate’s degree, and 12 percent had completed a certificate 

program. Fourteen percent had not attained any degree, but were still enrolled in postsecondary 

education. Of all 1995–96 beginning students, about one-third (35 percent) had left without 

attaining any type of degree and were no longer enrolled anywhere in June 2001.15

 

13See compendium table 1.1-A. 

14Berkner, Horn, and Clune (2000) describe beginning students at less-than-4-year institutions in detail. 

15Some of the students who had left without a degree may return and complete a program after June 2001, however. 
 Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later 

11 

Among those with an initial bachelor’s degree goal (including students who began at lessthan-4-year institutions), about one-half (53 percent) had attained a bachelor’s degree by 2001, 7 

percent had attained a lower-level degree, and about one-fourth (23 percent) had not attained any 

degree and were no longer enrolled (table 6). Among those with an initial associate’s degree goal, 

about one-fourth (24 percent) had attained an associate’s degree, 8 percent had earned a 

bachelor’s degree, and 8 percent had completed a vocational certificate program. Among those 

with an initial certificate goal, about one-half (53 percent) had completed a certificate program, 

and a few (4 percent) had attained an associate’s degree. Students with no degree goals when 

they started were the least likely to have attained any degree at all (28 percent) and the most 

likely to have left postsecondary education without a degree (56 percent). 

Compared with the beginners at the other types of institutions, undergraduates who began 

at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions in 1995–96 had the highest rates of attainment and the 

lowest rates of attrition without a degree (table 7). Among all undergraduates who began at 

private not-for-profit 4-year institutions, 69 percent had attained a bachelor’s degree within six 

years, although not necessarily at the institution where they had first enrolled. A small percentage 

Figure 2.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to initial degree

Figure 2.—goal in 1995–96 and highest degree attainment as of June 2001

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Numbers are based on tables 3 and 6.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Initial degree goal in 1995–96

Bachelor’s 

degree

Associate’s 

degree

Certificate

No degree

49

12

14

26

Highest degree attained by 2001

Bachelor’s 

degree

Associate’s 

degree

Certificate

No degree, 

not 

enrolled

No degree, 

still 

enrolled

29

35

12

10

14
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

12 

(about 5 percent) had attained associate’s degrees or certificates, 9 percent had not attained any 

degree but were still enrolled somewhere, and 17 percent had left postsecondary education by 

June 2001 without attaining any degree. Undergraduates who began at public 4-year institutions 

were not as successful: 53 percent had attained a bachelor’s degree, 17 percent were still enrolled 

somewhere but had not attained a degree, and 23 percent had attained no degree and were no 

longer enrolled. 

Table 6.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to degree 

Table 6.—attainment and persistence through June 2001, by initial degree goal

Six-year student

persistence summary

At At less- Attained 

Bachelor’s Associate’s Certi- 4-year than-4-year Not any Still Total 

degree degree ficate institution institution enrolled degree enrolled persisted* 

 Total 28.8 10.0 12.0 8.8 5.6 34.8 50.8 14.4 65.2 

Degree goal in 1995–96

 Bachelor’s degree 53.3 4.6 3.0 12.5 3.6 23.0 60.9 16.1 77.0 

 Associate’s degree 8.3 23.9 8.4 6.7 8.8 43.9 40.6 15.6 56.2 

 Certificate 0.5 3.7 52.6 0.9 4.6 37.9 56.7 5.4 62.1 

 None 7.6 9.2 10.8 7.9 8.3 56.3 27.6 16.1 43.7 

*Attained any degree or still enrolled.

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree anywhere

 attained anywhere

Highest degree Still enrolled

Table 7.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to degree 

Table 7.—attainment and persistence through June 2001, by first type of institution attended

Six-year student

persistence summary

At At less- Attained 

Bachelor’s Associate’s Certi- 4-year than-4-year Not any Still Total 

degree degree ficate institution institution enrolled degree enrolled persisted* 

 Total 28.8 10.0 12.0 8.8 5.6 34.8 50.8 14.4 65.2 

First type of institution

 Public 2-year 10.3 15.7 9.7 8.4 9.1 46.9 35.7 17.4 53.1 

 Public 4-year 53.0 4.4 2.8 14.5 2.8 22.5 60.2 17.3 77.5 

 Private not-for-profit 

 4-year 68.8 2.8 1.8 7.1 2.3 17.2 73.5 9.4 82.9 

 Private for-profit less-

 than-4-year 0.6 8.4 51.3 0.8 2.2 36.7 60.3 3.0 63.3 

*Attained any degree or still enrolled.

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

 attained anywhere

Highest degree Still enrolled

No degree anywhere
 Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later 

13 

Sixty percent of those who began at private for-profit less-than-4-year institutions had 

attained some type of degree, primarily certificates in short-term programs (51 percent). As 

shown in previous reports, students’ failure to complete short-term certificate programs at private 

for-profit or any less-than-2-year institutions was not related to the number of risk factors they 

had.16 The majority of beginners at private for-profit institutions were nontraditional students, but 

the majority were also enrolled full time and were able to complete their short-term programs at 

relatively high rates. The beginners at private for-profit institutions were concentrated in two 

categories: they had either completed a program (60 percent) or had left postsecondary education 

without a degree (37 percent); 3 percent were still enrolled at some institution without a degree 

by June 2001. 

The types of degrees attained by the students who began at public 2-year institutions 

reflected the diversity of their degree goals and their background characteristics, as well as their 

high transfer rates. After six years, 10 percent of the beginners at public 2-year institutions had 

attained a certificate, 16 percent had attained an associate’s degree, and another 10 percent had 

completed a bachelor’s degree after transferring to a 4-year institution. However, after six years, 

the beginners at public 2-year institutions were less likely to have attained a degree anywhere (36 

percent) than those beginning at the other types of institutions. They were also more likely to 

have left postsecondary education without any degree (47 percent), although 17 percent were still 

enrolled somewhere without a degree in 2001. In part, this high rate of attrition reflects the high 

rates of part-time attendance and discontinuous enrollment noted earlier among the beginners at 

community colleges. 

Attainment Rates Among Students Beginning at Public 2-Year Institutions 

Public 2-year institutions serve a diverse body of students who enroll with a variety of 

educational goals. Two important missions of community colleges, among others, are to offer 

associate’s degree programs in applied fields and in the liberal arts, either as terminal degrees or 

as the first two years of for-credit courses that the students can use to transfer to a 4-year 

institution and complete a bachelor’s degree program. As shown earlier, about one-half of the 

beginning students at public 2-year colleges intended to attain an associate’s degree, and another 

one-fourth intended to transfer to a 4-year institution and complete a bachelor’s degree. As also 

shown earlier, about one-fourth of the beginners at public 2-year institutions did transfer to a 4-

year institution. Because it is not necessary to complete an associate’s degree before transferring 

 

16See Berkner, Cuccaro-Alamin, and McCormick (1996) and Berkner, Horn, and Clune (2000). Attainment rates of beginners 

with a certificate goal are shown in compendium table 4.1-D. 
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

14 

to a 4-year institution, the associate’s degree attainment rates are only partially valid as a measure 

of student success at public 2-year institutions. 

Those students who began at public 2-year institutions and had expressed an associate’s or 

bachelor’s degree goal in 1995–96 represented about three-fourths of the beginners at those 

institutions.17 After six years, 31 percent of these students had attained either an associate’s or a 

bachelor’s degree: 23 percent had completed an associate’s degree, and 13 percent had completed 

a bachelor’s degree, including 5 percent who had completed both (table 8). Those with an initial 

bachelor’s degree goal were more likely to attain a bachelor’s degree (23 percent) than those with 

an associate’s degree goal (8 percent), but about 5 percent of both groups earned both degrees. 

However, among those students who actually did transfer to a 4-year institution (regardless of 

their initial goals), 36 percent attained a bachelor’s degree within six years of starting community 

college. 

The low percentage of all beginners at public 2-year institutions who were always enrolled 

full time and the high percentage who were not enrolled continuously are reflected in the number 

of years that they took to attain an associate’s degree. Four percent of the beginners at public 2-

year institutions completed an associate’s degree in the expected two years; 10 percent took three 

years; and another 9 percent took more than three years. Among those who were always enrolled 

full time, 11 percent completed an associate’s degree in two years. Beginners who were always 

enrolled part time (about one-fifth of those starting at public 2-year institutions) were unlikely to 

attain any degree: 2 percent completed associate’s degrees in six years. The most traditional 

students (those with no persistence risk factors) were more likely than nontraditional students 

with two or more risk factors to complete their programs, both for associate’s degrees (35 percent 

vs. 16 percent) and for bachelor’s degrees (24 percent vs. 5 percent). 

Bachelor’s Degree Completion at 4-Year Institutions After Six Years 

Institutional Versus Student Completion Rates 

The attainment rates displayed so far reflect the persistence of students anywhere in 

postsecondary education, and not necessarily their degree attainment at the first institution 

attended. When 4-year colleges and universities report their graduation rates, they are reporting 

the percentage of first-time freshmen who completed a bachelor’s degree at that institution within 

 

17See compendium table 1.1-A. 
Table 8.—Percentage of students beginning at public 2-year institutions in 1995–96 with an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree g

Table 8.—an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree by June 2001, and the number of years to complete the degree, by enrollment chTable 8.—factors

Attained Combination of degrees attained

associate’s Associate’s, Associate’s Bachelor’s, More 

or bachelor’s no and no 2 years 2 to 3 than 3 6-year 4 ye

degree bachelor’s bachelor’s associate’s or less years years* total or l

 Total with associate’s or bachelor’s goal 31.1 18.2 5.0 7.9 4.0 10.0 9.2 23.2 2Degree goal in 1995–96 Associate’s goal 29.9 22.1 5.3 2.6 5.3 11.4 10.7 27.3  Bachelor’s goal 33.4 10.5 4.5 18.5 1.5 7.2 6.2 14.9 4Ever transferred to 4-year institution 56.9 20.5 14.4 22.0 8.1 18.0 8.8 34.9 6Attendance intensity through 2001 Always full-time 44.2 21.1 12.7 10.5 10.6 16.1 7.1 33.8 4

 Mixed 32.7 21.3 2.5 8.9 1.8 9.7 12.2 23.8 2 Always part-time 1.7 1.7 # # # # 1.7 1.7 

Enrollment continuity through 2001 Continuously enrolled 39.6 20.2 7.5 11.8 5.6 13.4 8.8 27.7 3 Not continuously enrolled 18.7 15.2 1.3 2.2 1.8 5.0 9.7 16.5 Delayed postesecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 37.0 19.3 6.3 11.3 5.7 9.9 10.1 25.6 3 Delayed 22.9 16.5 3.2 3.2 1.7 10.8 7.2 19.7 

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 49.3 25.5 9.4 14.4 9.7 16.1 9.1 34.9 4 One 32.7 17.3 5.9 9.6 1.4 11.4 10.3 23.1  Two or more 19.2 14.1 1.9 3.2 1.9 5.8 8.3 15.9 Students who attained degrees by 2001 Attained associate’s degree (or both) 100.0 78.5 21.5 † 17.3 43.2 39.5 100.0  Attained bachelor’s degree (or both) 100.0 † 38.6 61.4 17.5 18.5 2.5 38.6 1 Attained both associate’s and bachelor’s 100.0 † 100.0 † 45.4 48.1 6.5 100.0 2

†Not applicable.#Rounds to zero.*Up to 6 years.NOTE: This table excludes attainment of certificates. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Persistence risk factors include: Delayed postsecondadiploma, part-time enrollment, financial independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full-time while enrolled.SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, Second F

Years to complete associate’s degree Years to 

15
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

16 

a certain time period.18 Institutions usually do not know what happened to the students who left 

without a degree. When students leave an institution, they may either leave postsecondary 

education permanently or transfer somewhere else.19 From the institutional perspective, all of the 

students who leave before completing a degree at that institution are considered to be dropouts. 

From the perspectives of the students as well as of the postsecondary education system as a 

whole, transfers are not dropouts: they are persisting students who have decided to attend a 

different institution. 

This section of the report examines the bachelor’s degree completion rates after six years 

for the students who started at 4-year institutions in 1995–96. It compares students’ completion 

rates at the first institution attended (institutional completion rates) with students’ completion 

rates at any 4-year institution (student completion rates). Among all beginners at 4-year 

institutions in 1995–96, 51 percent completed a bachelor’s degree within six years at the first 

institution attended (table 9). However, when those who transferred out of the first institution are 

also included, the percentage of beginners who actually completed a bachelor’s degree within six 

years (at any 4-year institution) increases to 58 percent. 

 

18Institutional completion rates are reported to the U.S. Department of Education in IPEDS and to the NCAA, as well as in an 

annual ACT survey. See note 4 for more details. 

19They may also leave temporarily and return later as “stopouts.” These situations present a particular measurement problem that 

is discussed later. 

Table 9.—Percentage of students beginning at 4-year institutions in 1995–96 who had completed a bachelor’s

Table 9.—degree at the first institution attended or at any 4-year institution by June 2001, by subcategories

Table 9.—of beginning students

Institutional Student 

Percent of completion rate completion rate 

total at first institution at any institution 

 Total beginners at 4-year institutions 100.0 50.7 58.2 

Subcategories of beginners

 Enrolled full time first year 90.4 54.1 62.0 

 Had a bachelor’s degree goal 90.3 55.3 62.7 

 Had a bachelor’s degree goal and enrolled full time first year 82.9 58.0 65.6 

 Recent high school graduates (did not delay entry) 83.2 55.1 63.7 

 Recent high school graduates with a bachelor’s degree goal 76.5 59.2 67.4 

 Recent high school graduates with a bachelor’s degree goal

 and enrolled full time first year 73.0 60.6 68.8 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion

rates after six years
 Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later 

17 

Bachelor’s degree completion rates not only differ by whether they reflect the institutional 

or student perspective, but also by which subcategories of beginning students are being included 

when calculating the rates. Four-year institutions often report the completion rates only for 

entering first-time freshmen who were enrolled full time when they began postsecondary 

education (90 percent of the 1995–96 beginners): this group had an institutional completion rate 

of 54 percent. As shown earlier, about 10 percent of the beginners at 4-year institutions did not 

expect to attain a bachelor’s degree, sometimes because they were enrolled in associate’s degree 

or certificate programs also offered at the institution. Including only those beginners with a 

bachelor’s degree goal (90 percent), the institutional completion rate was 55 percent. Including 

only first-time beginners who were enrolled full time when they started and who also had a 

bachelor’s degree goal (83 percent of all beginners), then the bachelor’s degree completion rate at 

the first 4-year institution was 58 percent, and 66 percent for students at any 4-year institution. 

Sometimes interest centers on recent high school graduates who started college 

immediately after high school (83 percent of the beginners at 4-year institutions). As shown in 

table 9, the institutional completion rate for all the beginners at 4-year institutions who were 

recent high school graduates was 55 percent. If the focus is only on beginners who were recent 

high school graduates and who also had a bachelor’s degree goal (77 percent of the beginners), 

the bachelor’s degree completion rate was 59 percent at the first institution attended, and the 

comparable completion rate for these students anywhere was 67 percent. Finally, if only firsttime beginners who were recent high school graduates, had a bachelor’s degree goal, and also 

started as full-time students at 4-year institutions are included (73 percent of the beginners), then 

the six-year completion rate at the first institution attended was 61 percent, and the student 

completion rate anywhere was 69 percent. 

The bachelor’s degree completion rates reported by institutions are lower than the student 

completion rates because the institutions cannot include those who transferred and completed a 

bachelor’s degree at a different institution. In addition, both the institutional and student 

completion rates may differ according to which subcategories of beginners are included in the 

calculations. The institutional completion rates at the first 4-year institution could be stated as 

any of the following: 51 percent of all beginners; 55 percent of the beginners with a bachelor’s 

degree goal; 55 percent of the beginners who were recent high school graduates; or 61 percent of 

the beginners who were recent high school graduates, had a bachelor’s degree goal, and were 

enrolled full time the first year. Similarly, the student completion rate for beginners who 

completed a bachelor’s degree anywhere could be stated as 58 percent of all beginners at 4-year 

institutions; 63 percent of those with a bachelor’s degree goal; 64 percent of those who were 

recent high school graduates; or 69 percent of those who were recent high school graduates, had a 

bachelor’s degree goal, and began as full-time students. That is, of all the recent high school 
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

18 

graduates who started full time at any 4-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree goal 

in 1995–96, about two-thirds completed a bachelor’s degree within six years. 

Although any of the subcategories discussed above could have been chosen, the rest of 

this report focuses on the beginners at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal (90 

percent of the total). This proportion excludes those who had certificate or associate’s degree 

goals at 4-year institutions and those who had no degree goals, but it includes those who started 

as part-time students and those who had not started college immediately after finishing high 

school. 

Enrollment Status of Beginners With a Bachelor’s Degree Goal at the End of Each 

Year 

The attainment or enrollment status at the end of each of the six academic years for firsttime beginners who had a bachelor’s degree goal and started at any 4-year institution in 1995–96 

is displayed in figure 3. It presents the student perspective by focusing on the proportion of 

students who had attained a degree anywhere by the end of that academic year and the proportion 

who had left postsecondary education by then and had not re-enrolled anywhere else by June 

2001. The attrition rates shown at the end of each academic year at the top of each bar are 

cumulative: in June 1996, 3 percent of the beginners were no longer enrolled and had never reenrolled anywhere by 2001; at the end of the second year (June 1997), 6 percent of the beginners 

were not enrolled anywhere and had never returned (this number includes the 3 percent who left 

by the end of the first year), and so on. By the end of the sixth year (June 2001), a total of 18 

percent had left postsecondary education without a degree and had not returned to any institution. 

The percentages of stopouts who were not enrolled at any time during that academic year, 

but who returned in a following year and enrolled at some postsecondary institution, are also 

shown in figure 3. The percentages presented here are not cumulative because in each year 

stopouts are reclassified as enrolled or as having attained a degree. Stopouts who were not 

enrolled at all during the year represented 2 to 4 percent of the students in the second through 

fifth academic years. Because the survey period ended in June 2001, the percentage of stopouts in 

the last year cannot be known (because we do not know who might return in some future year); 

they are included with those who left postsecondary education (permanently, as far as we know). 

The inability to detect the proportion of stopouts means that the true rate of permanent attrition 

(leaving without a degree) from postsecondary education will always be somewhat lower than 

that measured at any particular point in time. 
 Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later 

19 

At the end of the fourth year (June 1999), 36 percent of the students had completed a 

bachelor’s degree (including the 2 percent who had already attained a bachelor’s degree by the 

end of the third year). At the end of the fifth year, 57 percent of the beginners at 4-year 

institutions with initial bachelor’s degree goals had attained a bachelor’s degree at some 4-year 

institution, and at the end of the sixth year, 63 percent had done so. 

The attainment and enrollment outcomes at the end of each academic year for the same 

students are presented in figure 4, but only at the first 4-year institution attended. From this 

institutional perspective of retention, beginning students who leave and do not return are counted 

as dropouts, whether they actually leave postsecondary education from that institution or transfer 

elsewhere. The cumulative percentage who had left but then transferred to a different institution 

Figure 3.—Percentage distribution of students with a bachelor’s degree goal who were first-time beginners

Figure 3.—at a 4-year institution in 1995–96, by their persistence and degree attainment anywhere in

Figure 3.—postsecondary education, at the end of each academic year through 2000–01

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Numbers are based on section 8 of the compendium tables.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

97

43

14

10 13 17 18

63 57

36

0 0 2

3

3

4

5

1

82

89

19

2 4

3

4

6 3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01

End of academic year

Percent

Had left postsecondary education

Not enrolled, returned later

Still enrolled, no degree

Had attained associate’s degree or certificate

Had attained bachelor’s degree

Status anywhere at end of year:
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

20 

was 10 percent by the end of the first year, 18 percent by the end of the second year (including 

the 10 percent at the end of the first year), 22 percent by the end of the third year, and about 23 

percent through the end of the sixth year (because there were few additional transfers in the fifth 

and sixth years). 

The cumulative percentage of beginning students who were not enrolled at the first 

institution at the end of the academic year and had never enrolled anywhere else by June 2001 

was 3 percent at the end of the first year, 6 percent at the end of the second year (including the 3 

percent at the end of the first year), 9 percent at the end of the third year, and so on. By the end of 

the sixth academic year (June 2001), 13 percent had left postsecondary education permanently (as 

far as we know) directly from the first institution, 23 percent had transferred somewhere else and 

Figure 4.—Percentage distribution of students with a bachelor’s degree goal who were first-time beginners

Figure 4.—at a 4-year institution in 1995–96, by institutional retention and degree attainment at the first

Figure 4.—institution attended, at the end of each academic year through 2000–01

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Numbers are based on section 7 of the compendium tables. Students

who transferred after attaining a degree are only included in the attainment categories.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

86

30

11

18

22 23 23 23

6 9 11 12 13

0 0 2

33

50 55

1 2

2

2

2

73 65

7

0

2

1

1 1 0

10

3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01

End of academic year

Percent

Had left postsecondary education

Had transferred from first institution

Not enrolled, returned later

Still enrolled, no degree

Had attained associate’s degree or certificate

Had attained bachelor’s degree

Status at first institution at end of year:
 Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later 

21 

therefore could not have completed a bachelor’s degree at the first institution, and 55 percent had 

completed a bachelor’s degree at the 4-year college where they had started in 1995–96. 

The relationship between the rates of institutional attainment and retention and the rates of 

student attainment and persistence anywhere in postsecondary education are illustrated in figure 

5. After six years, 13 percent of the beginners had left postsecondary education directly from the 

institution where they had started and never re-enrolled elsewhere. Another 23 percent were not 

retained at the first institution, but had transferred to a different institution. The percentages of 

Figure 5.—Percentage distribution of students with a bachelor’s degree goal who were first-time beginners

Figure 5.—at a 4-year institution in 1995–96, by their enrollment status or degree attainment at the first

Figure 5.—institution attended and anywhere in postsecondary education, as of June 2001

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Numbers are based on compendium tables 4.3-A and 7.6. Students

who transferred after attaining a degree are only included in the attainment categories.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

55 63

5

2

12

7

2

23

18 13

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Institutional retention at first

institution after 6 years

Student persistence at any

institution after 6 years

Percent

Had left postsecondary

education

Transferred from first

institution

Enrolled at less-than-4-

year institution

Enrolled at 4-year

institution

Had attained associate’s

degree or certificate

Had attained bachelor’s

degree

(6)

(2)

(5)

(3)

(7)

Status in June 2001:

Transfers
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

22 

students who transferred from the first institution and then either left postsecondary education or 

continued their studies are represented by the numbers in the arrows that point to their status 

anywhere in postsecondary education after six years. Six percent had transferred and then left 

postsecondary education without a degree after attending the transfer institution. Another 5 

percent had transferred and were still enrolled without a degree at a different 4-year institution, 

and 2 percent had transferred and were enrolled without a degree at a less-than-4-year institution. 

Three percent had transferred and then completed an associate’s degree or a certificate at a lessthan-4-year institution. Seven percent, however, had transferred and then completed a bachelor’s 

degree at a different 4-year institution. 

Bachelor’s Degree Completion Rates, Enrollment Patterns, and Student 

Characteristics 

This section of the report examines the bachelor’s degree completion rates of the 1995–96 

beginners at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal by student enrollment patterns, 

academic preparation, and demographic characteristics. It addresses both the institutional rates of 

completion at the first 4-year institution attended and the student completion rates for the same 

students at any 4-year institution, which includes the transfers. In addition to presenting the total 

bachelor’s degree attainment rates after six years, this section presents the percentage of 

beginners who completed a bachelor’s degree in the expected four-year period (48 months or less 

since beginning) and those who took five to six years to finish (49 to 72 months since 

beginning).20 

Institutional Completion Rates at Public and Private Not-for-Profit Institutions 

 By June 2001, 34 percent of the 1995–96 beginners with a bachelor’s degree goal had 

completed that degree at their initial institution within four years, and another 21 percent had 

finished in five to six years, for a total of 55 percent completing a bachelor’s degree at the initial 

institution within six years of starting there (table 10).21 Those who began at a private 

 

20The compendium tables in section 10 show the individual completion rates for four, five, and six years at public and at private

not-for-profit institutions. 

21These completion rates are based on the number of months between the date of first enrollment and bachelor’s degree 

completion. The four-year rate includes those who completed in 48 months or less after they first enrolled, and the five- to sixyear rate includes those who took more than 48 months to finish. Since some of the 1995–96 beginners did not start until spring

1996, these rates may differ slightly from the bachelor’s degree attainment percentages displayed in other tables in this report, 

which measure the rates of bachelor’s degree attainment at the end of the fourth or fifth academic years (as of June 1999 and June 

2000, respectively) rather than the percentage of students who completed the degree within 48 or 49–60 months after beginning. 

Students who started in spring 1996 and completed the degree in 48 months, for example, would have finished during the fifth 

academic year of this study (1999–2000). 
 Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later 

23 

Table 10.—Percentage of students beginning at 4-year institutions in 1995–96 with a bachelor’s degree goal

Table 10.—who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first institution attended or at any 4-year institution by

Table 10.—June 2001, and the number of years to complete the degree, by type of first institution,

Table 10.—enrollment patterns, academic preparation, and student characteristics

At first 4-year institution At any 4-year institution

 4 years More than 6-year 4 years More than 6-year 

or less 4 years* total or less 4 years* total 

 Total beginners with a bachelor’s degree goal 34.2 21.1 55.3 36.5 26.1 62.7 

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year 24.3 25.7 50.0 26.3 31.0 57.3 

 Non-doctorate-granting 18.6 21.7 40.3 20.9 28.0 48.9 

 Doctorate-granting 27.4 27.8 55.2 29.2 32.6 61.8 

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 51.5 13.8 65.3 54.6 18.4 73.0 

 Non-doctorate-granting 48.2 13.8 62.0 50.8 18.8 69.6 

 Doctorate-granting 57.6 13.8 71.4 61.5 17.8 79.3 

Transfer status

 Never transferred 44.7 27.7 72.4 44.7 27.7 72.4 

 Transferred to public 4-year † † † 13.5 31.7 45.2 

 Transferred to private 4-year † † † 23.7 26.9 50.6 

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 42.2 22.8 65.0 45.0 27.8 72.8 

 Mixed 19.9 18.8 38.8 21.5 24.2 45.7 

 Always part-time # # # # # # 

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 41.7 24.4 66.1 44.2 29.4 73.6 

 Not continuously enrolled 5.0 8.5 13.5 6.8 13.7 20.4 

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 26.9 22.1 49.0 28.9 27.4 56.3 

 One 42.5 22.3 64.8 44.9 27.2 72.1 

 Two or more 57.3 17.5 74.8 60.9 21.4 82.3 

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 16.8 21.4 38.2 18.5 27.0 45.5 

 B+ to A- 32.2 24.7 56.9 35.2 30.0 65.2 

 Mostly A’s 52.3 21.5 73.8 55.3 26.8 82.0 

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 13.2 19.6 32.9 14.2 23.2 37.4 

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 28.7 24.5 53.2 30.9 30.7 61.6 

 High quartile (1030–1600) 53.0 19.0 72.0 56.5 23.1 79.6 

See footnotes at end of table.

Bachelor’s degree completion rate
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

24 

Table 10.—Percentage of students beginning at 4-year institutions in 1995–96 with a bachelor’s degree goal

Table 10.—who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first institution attended or at any 4-year institution by

Table 10.—June 2001, and the number of years to complete the degree, by type of first institution,

Table 10.—enrollment patterns, academic preparation, and student characteristics—Continued

At first 4-year institution At any 4-year institution

 4 years More than 6-year 4 years More than 6-year 

or less 4 years* total or less 4 years* total 

Gender

 Male 29.5 22.5 52.0 31.0 27.7 58.7 

 Female 38.1 20.0 58.0 41.1 24.9 66.0 

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 37.8 21.2 59.0 40.5 26.3 66.8 

 Black, non-Hispanic 19.8 21.1 40.9 20.8 24.9 45.7 

 Hispanic 22.7 18.6 41.3 24.7 22.6 47.3 

 Asian/Pacific Islander 40.0 23.8 63.8 41.5 28.9 70.5 

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 23.5 23.3 46.8 25.6 28.1 53.7 

 $25,000–44,999 32.1 20.2 52.3 33.8 25.4 59.1 

 $45,000–69,999 36.8 23.0 59.7 38.8 28.8 67.6 

 $70,000 or more 45.9 21.5 67.5 49.7 27.0 76.6 

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 36.3 22.9 59.2 38.9 28.4 67.4 

 Delayed 22.9 11.3 34.2 23.5 13.4 36.8 

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 39.6 22.7 62.3 42.2 28.4 70.6 

 One 21.5 21.1 42.6 24.0 25.0 49.0 

 Two or more 11.1 8.1 19.2 11.4 9.6 20.9 

 Beginners who completed a bachelor’s degree 61.8 38.2 100.0 58.3 41.7 100.0 

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year 48.7 51.4 100.0 45.9 54.1 100.0 

 Non-doctorate-granting 46.2 53.8 100.0 42.8 57.3 100.0 

 Doctorate-granting 49.6 50.4 100.0 47.3 52.7 100.0 

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 78.9 21.1 100.0 74.8 25.2 100.0 

 Non-doctorate-granting 77.7 22.3 100.0 73.0 27.0 100.0 

 Doctorate-granting 80.7 19.3 100.0 77.6 22.4 100.0 

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

*Up to 6 years.

NOTE: These completion rates are based on the number of months between the date of first enrollment and bachelor’s degree

completion. The 4-year rate includes those who completed in 48 months or less after they first enrolled. These rates may differ slightly

from bachelor’s degree attainment percentages based on status at the end of an academic year. Persistence risk factors include: delayed 

postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, financial independence, having children, being a single parent, 

and working full time while enrolled. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion rate
 Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later 

25 

not-for-profit institution were more likely to have completed their bachelor’s degree at that 

institution within six years than those who began at a public institution (65 percent vs. 50 

percent) and to have completed in four years (52 percent vs. 24 percent). 

In both the public and the private not-for-profit sectors, those who began at a doctorategranting university were more likely to have completed their degrees at that institution within six 

years than those who began at a 4-year college that did not grant doctorates. The completion rates 

after six years at the first 4-year institution attended were about 40 percent at public colleges that 

did not have doctoral programs, about 60 percent at public universities that granted doctorates or 

at private not-for-profit colleges that did not have doctoral programs, and about 70 percent at 

private not-for-profit doctorate-granting universities.22 

At the public 4-year institutions, about one-fourth (24 percent) of the beginners completed 

a bachelor’s degree at their first institution within four years, and another one-fourth (26 percent) 

took five to six years to finish there. The percentage completing in four years was higher for 

beginners at public doctorate-granting institutions than for those at public institutions that did not 

offer doctoral programs (27 percent vs. 19 percent). Beginners at private not-for-profit colleges 

and universities were more likely than their counterparts at public institutions to complete a 

bachelor’s degree in four years instead of taking longer: about one-half (51 percent) of the 

beginners at private not-for-profit institutions completed a bachelor’s degree at the same 

institution where they had started in the expected four years, and 14 percent took longer. 

Student Completion Rates at Any Institution 

Transfer Status 

The bachelor’s degree completion rates of students at any institution include those who 

transferred out of their initial institution (about one-fourth of the beginners at 4-year institutions) 

(table 10). The beginners who stayed at their original college or university had higher completion 

rates than those who transferred to another 4-year institution: 72 percent of those who never 

transferred had completed a bachelor’s degree within six years, compared with 51 percent of 

those who transferred to a private not-for-profit institution and 45 percent of those who 

transferred to a public 4-year institution. Transfer students were also less likely to have 

completed a bachelor’s degree in four years than those who never transferred. One reason for the 

 

22No difference could be detected between the completion rates at public doctorate-granting and private not-for-profit nondoctorate-granting institutions (55 and 62 percent, respectively). 
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

26 

lower completion rates of students who transferred was that about 30 percent of them were also 

stopouts who delayed before enrolling in the second institution.23

Enrollment Patterns 

Full-time attendance and enrollment continuity were associated with high rates of 

bachelor’s degree completion for students. Among the beginners who were always enrolled full 

time and those who were continuously enrolled, about three-fourths (73–74 percent) had 

completed a bachelor’s degree at some 4-year institution within six years. By contrast, among 

those students who had a break in enrollment continuity of more than four months (not 

continuously enrolled), 20 percent had completed a bachelor’s degree by June 2001. The 

beginners who were always enrolled full time were more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree 

in four years than those with a mixed full-time and part-time enrollment pattern (45 percent vs. 

22 percent).24

Academic Preparation 

To measure their level of academic preparation before students started college, this analysis 

used three indicators: the number of Advanced Placement (AP) tests taken; their grade-point 

average in high school; and their combined SAT I test scores. All of these measures were related 

to completing a bachelor’s degree in the expected four-year period. The students who had taken 

two or more AP tests, who had mostly A’s in high school, or who had high SAT test scores were 

more likely than those who were less well prepared to complete a bachelor’s degree in four years. 

The better-prepared students completed bachelor’s degrees at relatively high rates: more than 

one-half (55–61 percent) graduated in four years, and about 80 percent graduated within six 

years. 

Demographic Characteristics 

Some demographic characteristics of the beginners were also related to differences in their 

completion rates. Women were more likely than men to have completed a bachelor’s degree after 

six years (66 percent vs. 59 percent) and to finish in four years (41 percent vs. 31 percent). 

Hispanic and Black, non-Hispanic beginners were less likely to have completed a bachelor’s 

degree by June 2001 (46–47 percent) than White, non-Hispanic or Asian/Pacific Islander 

beginners (67–71 percent). Completion of a bachelor’s degree within six years was also related to 

 

23BPS:96/01 Data Analysis System. Not shown in tables. 

24A mixed enrollment pattern includes students who were ever enrolled part time during the six years, even if they were 

primarily enrolled full time. 
 Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later 

27 

the family income of dependent students when they began: 54 percent of students in the lowest 

income group completed their degrees, compared with 77 percent of those in the highest income 

group. 

Persistence Risk Factors 

Recent high school graduates who went to college immediately were more likely to 

complete a bachelor’s degree in six years than the beginners who had delayed entry (67 percent 

vs. 37 percent). The six-year completion rate for traditional students who started college with no 

persistence risk factors was 71 percent, compared with 49 percent for those who had one risk 

factor and 21 percent for those who had two or more risk factors. Moreover, students with no 

persistence risk factors were more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree in four years than they 

were to finish in more than four years (42 percent vs. 28 percent); however, among those with 

one risk factor, no difference could be detected between the percentage who took more than four 

years to finish and the percentage who finished in four years (24–25 percent). 

Summary 

In summary, beginners at private not-for-profit colleges and universities had higher 

bachelor’s degree completion rates than those who began at public 4-year institutions and were 

also more likely to graduate in four years. Regardless of where they had started, students who did 

not transfer, who were always enrolled full time, or who were continuously enrolled without a 

break had relatively high six-year completion rates (72–74 percent), and about 45 percent 

graduated in four years. 

Students who entered college with good academic preparation had high completion rates. 

About 80 percent completed a bachelor’s degree within six years, and more than one-half (55–61 

percent) graduated in four years. Women had higher completion rates than men and were more 

likely to finish in four years. Hispanic and Black, non-Hispanic students had lower completion 

rates than Asian/Pacific Islander or White, non-Hispanic students, and low-income dependent 

students had lower completion rates than high-income dependent students. Finally, traditional 

students with no risk factors (who entered college immediately after high school, enrolled full 

time, and were dependent on their parents for support) had higher bachelor’s degree completion 

rates (71 percent within six years) than nontraditional students, who started college with one or 

more risk factors. 
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

28 

Profile of the 1995–96 Beginners Who Had Completed a Bachelor’s Degree 

and Graduated by June 2001 

This section provides a profile of the 1995–96 beginning students who had completed a 

bachelor’s degree by June 2001 and a comparison of the characteristics of graduates who began 

at a 4-year college or university and completed a bachelor’s degree in four years with the 

characteristics of their counterparts who took longer to finish. It also compares the characteristics 

of college graduates who started at a 4-year institution with those of graduates who transferred to 

a 4-year institution from a community college. 

Institution Type 

Among those who completed a bachelor’s degree in the expected four-year period, about 

one-half (54 percent) received their degrees at a private not-for-profit 4-year institution, and most 

(93 percent) had never left their original institution (table 11). Among those who took longer 

than four years to complete a bachelor’s degree, about three-fourths (77 percent) had graduated 

from a public institution and about one-fifth (21 percent) had transferred from a 4-year 

institution. Eighty percent of the transfers from public 2-year institutions who completed a 

bachelor’s degree within six years graduated from a public 4-year institution, reflecting the 

predominant transfer pattern from public 2-year institutions noted earlier. 

Academic Preparation 

The students who graduated in four years were well prepared when they entered college. 

More than one-half had received mostly A’s in high school (62 percent) and had SAT test scores 

in the highest quartile among college freshmen (56 percent), and 30 percent had taken two or 

more AP tests. Those who took longer than four years to complete a bachelor’s degree were less 

likely than those who finished in four years to have had all A’s in high school (44 percent), to 

have had SAT scores in the highest quartile (32 percent), and to have taken two or more AP tests 

(15 percent). Compared with the graduates who had started at 4-year institutions, those who had 

transferred from a public 2-year institution were less likely to have had A’s in high school (26 

percent), to have had high SAT scores (22 percent), and to have taken two or more AP tests (3 

percent). 
 Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later 

29 

Table 11.—Percentage distribution of students who began at 4-year institutions or public 2-year institutions

Table 11.—in 1995–96 and completed a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 according to type of institution

Table 11.—granting the bachelor’s degree, academic preparation, and student characteristics

Transfers from 

Total public 2-year 

bachelor’s 4 years or less More than 4 years* institutions 

 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Institution granting bachelor’s degree

 Public 4-year 58.9 45.7 76.7 79.8 

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 41.1 54.3 23.3 20.2 

Transfer status

 Never transferred 87.1 93.1 78.9 † 

 Transferred 12.9 6.9 21.1 100.0 

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 61.2 53.8 71.5 94.2 

 One 15.2 16.1 13.9 3.1 

 Two or more 23.6 30.1 14.6 2.7 

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 15.5 10.5 22.6 27.4 

 B+ to A- 29.7 27.0 33.5 46.3 

 Mostly A’s 54.8 62.4 43.9 26.3 

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 7.4 4.8 11.0 20.7 

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 47.0 39.8 57.1 57.2 

 High quartile (1030–1600) 45.6 55.5 31.9 22.1 

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 90.9 90.4 91.7 82.2 

 Delayed 9.1 9.6 8.3 17.8 

Gender

 Male 42.3 38.5 47.3 49.3 

 Female 57.8 61.5 52.7 50.7 

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 77.0 79.7 73.2 86.3 

 Black, non-Hispanic 7.9 6.1 10.3 3.7 

 Hispanic 8.1 7.1 9.4 7.1 

 Asian/Pacific Islander 7.1 7.1 7.0 2.9 

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 17.4 14.0 22.1 15.5 

 $25,000–44,999 18.5 18.0 19.3 29.6 

 $45,000–69,999 27.3 26.9 27.9 21.9 

 $70,000 or more 36.8 41.2 30.8 33.0 

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 85.8 87.9 82.9 55.9 

 One 11.3 9.4 13.9 27.2 

 Two or more 3.0 2.7 3.2 16.9 

†Not applicable

*Up to 6 years.

NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, financial 

independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full time while enrolled. Detail may not sum to totals because of 

rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Years to complete bachelor’s degree

Beginners at 4-year institutions
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

30 

Demographic Characteristics 

Women represented a majority (62 percent) of the college graduates who had started at a 4-

year institution in 1995–96 and completed a bachelor’s degree in four years. There were no 

detectable differences between men and women among the college graduates who began at 4-

year institutions and took longer than four years to complete their degrees, or among those who 

had started at public 2-year institutions. White, non-Hispanic beginners at 4-year institutions 

represented a higher proportion among those who graduated in four years (80 percent) than 

among those who took longer (73 percent). White, non-Hispanic students also represented a 

larger proportion (86 percent) of those receiving a bachelor’s degree among the beginners who 

had started at public 2-year colleges than among those who had started at 4-year institutions (77 

percent). 

Family Income 

Dependent students who were from high-income families when they began college 

(parental income of $70,000 or more in 1994) represented about one-third of the college 

graduates, both among those who had started at a 4-year institution and among those who had 

started at a community college (33–37 percent). Low-income dependent students (parental 

income under $25,000 in 1994) represented a smaller proportion of college graduates who had 

started at a 4-year institution (17 percent) than did high-income students (37 percent). No 

difference could be detected in the proportion of low-income students among college graduates 

who had started at a public 2-year institution and among those who had started at a 4-year 

institution. Dependent students from lower middle-income families (parental income of $25,000–

$44,999 in 1994) were the only income group that made up a larger proportion of college 

graduates among those who had started at community colleges than among those who had started 

at 4-year colleges (30 percent vs. 19 percent). 

Persistence Risk Factors 

As discussed earlier, the beginners who started at 4-year institutions in 1995–96 were 

predominantly traditional students: most of them had entered college without delay after high 

school, and most had none of the characteristics associated with a high risk of not completing a 

degree. This pattern is reflected in the profile of those who had started at a 4-year institution and 

had completed a bachelor’s degree by June 2001: 91 percent had entered college immediately 

after high school, and 86 percent had no persistence risk factors when they first enrolled in 1995–

96. Those with no persistence risk factors represented a higher proportion among the graduates 
 Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later 

31 

who completed a bachelor’s degree in four years (88 percent) than among those who took longer 

to finish (83 percent). 

The beginners at public 2-year institutions, on the other hand, were more likely to have 

been nontraditional students than those who began at 4-year institutions. As shown earlier, about 

one-half of the beginners at public 2-year institutions had delayed starting college after high 

school, and about one-half had two or more persistence risk factors when they started. Among 

those who had started at a community college and had completed a bachelor’s degree within six 

years, 18 percent had delayed entry after high school and 17 percent had two or more risk factors 

when they began (compared with 9 percent and 3 percent, respectively, among college graduates 

who began at 4-year institutions). Traditional students with no risk factors when they began 

represented about one-half (56 percent) of the bachelor’s degree recipients who had transferred 

from a public 2-year institution. The other half were nontraditional students who began their 

education with a higher risk of not completing any degree, but had been able to gain entry to a 

bachelor’s degree program through a community college. 

Summary and Conclusion 

The differences in the completion rates of students at community colleges and 4-year 

colleges and universities reflect the differences in the degree goals, academic preparation, 

enrollment patterns, and demographic characteristics of the students who began there. Compared 

with students who started at 4-year institutions, those who began at public 2-year institutions 

were less well prepared for college, more likely to enroll part time, and less likely to be 

continuously enrolled. Beginners at public 2-year institutions were also more likely to have 

delayed enrolling after high school and to be nontraditional students starting postsecondary 

education with one or more persistence risk factors. About one-fourth of the community college 

students with an associate’s degree goal completed an associate’s degree, but they rarely did so in 

the expected two years (4 percent). Among those who transferred from a public 2-year to a 4-year 

college 36 percent completed a bachelor’s degree, and it usually took them five or six years from 

the time they had first enrolled in 1995–96. Unlike the college graduates who had started at 4-

year institutions, about one-half of the students who completed a bachelor’s degree after 

transferring from a community college began postsecondary education as nontraditional students. 

The beginners at 4-year institutions were predominantly traditional students with no 

persistence risk factors when they started college, and they were usually enrolled full time. 

Among those with a bachelor’s degree goal, 55 percent of the beginners at 4-year institutions 

completed a bachelor’s degree within six years at the same institution where they had started. 

When transfer students who completed their degrees at a different institution are also included, a 
Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Six Years Later

32 

total of 63 percent of the students who began at a 4-year institution completed a bachelor’s 

degree within six years. The beginners at 4-year institutions who were always enrolled full time, 

who were enrolled continuously, or who never transferred from their college had bachelor’s 

degree completion rates of more than 65 percent. Those who started college with high SAT 

scores, who had received mostly A’s in high school, or who had taken two or more AP tests had 

bachelor’s degree completion rates of about 80 percent. 

Although the expected length of time required to complete a bachelor’s degree is four 

years, 37 percent of all students with a bachelor’s degree goal who started at a 4-year college or 

university in 1995–96 actually finished a bachelor’s degree in that period of time. The 

characteristics of these students who did graduate in four years fit the common popular 

perception of what a college student looks like—he or she receives good academic preparation in 

high school, enters college immediately after high school, enrolls in college full time, and is 

continuously enrolled. 
33 

References 

Adelman, C. (1999). Answers in the Toolbox: Academic Intensity, Attendance Patterns, and 

Bachelor’s Degree Attainment. U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: Office of 

Educational Research and Improvement. 

Berkner, L.K., Cuccaro-Alamin, S., and McCormick, A.C. (1996). Descriptive Summary of 

1989–90 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Five Years Later (NCES 96–155). U.S. 

Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. 

Government Printing Office. 

Berkner, L., Horn, L., and Clune, M. (2000). Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning 

Postsecondary Students: Three Years Later (NCES 2000–154). U.S. Department of 

Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. Government 

Printing Office. 

Bradburn, E. (2002). Short-Term Enrollment in Postsecondary Education: Student Background 

and Institutional Differences in Reasons for Early Departure, 1996–98 (NCES 2003–153). 

U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC: 

U.S. Government Printing Office. 

Carroll, C.D. (1989). College Persistence and Degree Attainment for 1980 High School 

Graduates: Hazards for Transfers, Stopouts, and Part-Timers (NCES 89–302). U.S. 

Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. 

Government Printing Office. 

Horn, L. (1996). Nontraditional Undergraduates, Trends in Enrollment From 1986 to 1992 and 

Persistence and Attainment Among 1989–90 Beginning Postsecondary Students (NCES 97–

578). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, 

DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. 

Horn, L.J., and Kojaku, L.K. (2001). High School Curriculum and the Persistence Path Through 

College (NCES 2001–163). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education 

Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. 
References

34 

Horn, L.J., and Premo, M.D. (1995). Profile of Undergraduates in U.S. Postsecondary Education 

Institutions: 1992–93, With an Essay on Undergraduates at Risk (NCES 96–237). U.S. 

Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. 

Government Printing Office. 

Kojaku, L.K., and Nuñez, A.-M. (1998). Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning 

Postsecondary Students, With Profiles of Students Entering 2- and 4-Year Institutions (NCES 

1999–030). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. 

Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. 

Tinto, V. (1993). Leaving College: Rethinking the Causes and Cures of Student Attrition (2nd 

ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 

Wei, C.C., and Horn, L. (2002). Persistence and Attainment of Beginning Students With Pell 

Grants (NCES 2002–169). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education 

Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. 

Wine, J.S., Heuer, R.E., Wheeless, S.C., Francis, T.L., Franklin, J.W., and Dudley, K.M. (2002). 

Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study 1996–2001 (BPS:1996/2001) 

Methodology Report (NCES 2002–171). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for 

Education Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. 

Wine, J.S., Whitmore, R.W., Heuer, R.E., Biber, M., and Pratt, D.J. (2000). Beginning 

Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study First Follow-Up 1996–98 (BPS:96/98) 

Methodology Report (NCES 2000–157). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for 

Education Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. 
35 

Table Compendium 

Section 1: Percentage Distributions (by Columns) of the Variables Used as Rows 

Section 2: Persistence and Attainment Anywhere in Postsecondary Education After Six 

Years 

Section 3: Retention and Attainment at the First Institution Attended After Six Years

Section 4: Persistence and Attainment After Six Years by Initial Degree Goals in 1995–96 

Section 5: Last Year Enrolled in Postsecondary Education Without a Degree 

Section 6: Transfer Patterns 

Section 7: Retention and Attainment at the First Institution at the End of Each Year 

(Beginners at 4-Year Institutions) 

Section 8: Student Persistence and Attainment Anywhere at the End of Each Year 

(Beginners at 4-Year Institutions) 

Section 9: Persistence Track Status at the End of Each Academic Year 

(Beginners at 4-Year Institutions) 

Section 10: Student and Institutional Bachelor’s Degree Completion Rates 

Section 11: Student Characteristics and Experiences 
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
37 

Section 1: Percentage Distributions (by Columns) of the 

Variables Used as Rows 

Table 1.0: Degree plans 

The distribution of the 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students among the types of institutions 

and within degree programs during their first year is displayed in Table 1.0. The degree programs 

are based primarily on institution reported data, and are not necessarily the same as the degree 

goals reported by students in 1995–96 (see table 1.1-A). 

• The percentage of beginners in certificate programs who were first enrolled in public 

2-year or in private for-profit less-than-2-year institutions was 38–39 percent. 

• Associate’s degree programs may either lead to a terminal degree in applied fields or 

may prepare to transfer to a 4-year institution for a bachelor’s degree. Most of the 

beginners in associate’s degree programs (89 percent) were enrolled in public 2-year 

institutions. 

• Some 4-year institutions also offer sub-baccalaureate degrees. Four percent of the 

beginners in certificate programs and 5 percent of those in associate’s degree programs 

attended 4-year institutions. 

• The largest group of beginners in bachelor’s degree programs (40 percent) were 

enrolled in public 4-year doctorate-granting universities. The percentage beginning in 

bachelor’s degree programs at non-doctorate-granting 4-year institutions was 22 

percent in public and 24 percent in private not-for-profit institutions. 

Table 1.1-A: Degree goals and academic preparation 

This table displays the percentage distribution of beginning students within first institution level 

and type by their initial degree goals in the first year, the highest degree they ever expected to 

attain, the sub-baccalaureate program or field of study at less-than-4-year institutions (not 

classified for the small proportions of sub-baccalaureate programs at 4-year institutions), and 

certain indicators of academic preparation when they first enrolled. 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students, 65 percent of those who started at private forprofit less-than-4-year institutions wanted to earn a certificate, compared with 11 

percent of those who started at public 2-year institutions. Conversely, students who 
Section 1: Percentage Distributions (by Columns) of the Variables Used as Rows

38 

started at public 2-year institutions were more likely to have an associate’s degree or a 

bachelor’s degree goal. 

• The percentage of beginning students at 4-year and at public 2-year institutions who 

did not know the highest degree they ever expected to pursue was about 10 percent. 

Students who began at 4-year institutions were more likely than those who began at 2-

year institutions to expect to earn an advanced degree (68 vs. 33 percent). 

• Among students who began at 4-year institutions in 1995–96, those at private not-forprofit institutions were more likely than their counterparts at public institutions to have 

taken more than one Advanced Placement test, to score in the highest quartile on the 

SAT, and to have earned mostly A’s in high school. For example, 46 percent of 

students who began at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions scored in the highest 

quartile on the SAT, compared with 31 percent of students who began at public 4-year 

institutions. 

Table 1.1-B: Enrollment patterns 

Aspects of the enrollment patterns of the students and their GPA at the end of the first year, 

shown as the percentage distribution within first institution level and type, are displayed in Table 

1.1-B. 

• Thirty percent of the beginning students were enrolled in two institutions between 

1995–96 and June 2001, and 10 percent were enrolled in three or more. This includes 

the students who transferred from one institution to another and those who were coenrolled at more than one institution at the same time. 

• No difference could be detected between the percentage of students who began at 4-

year institutions and those who began at public 2-year institutions with respect to 

whether or not they were ever co-enrolled, meaning taking courses at two institutions 

at the same time. 

• One-fourth (25 percent) of the students who began at public 2-year institutions 

eventually transferred upward to a 4-year institution, and 13 percent made a lateral 

transfer to another 2-year institution. Fifteen percent of the beginners at 4-year 

institutions made a lateral transfer to a different 4-year institution, and 11 percent 

transferred downward to a less-than-4-year institution. 

• About 70 percent of students who began at private for-profit less-than-4-year 

institutions and at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions always attended full time 

when they were enrolled, compared with 61 percent of students at public 4-year 

institutions. About one-fourth (26 percent) of the students who began at public 2-year 

institutions always attended full time. 

• In this study, continuous enrollment is defined as being enrolled in postsecondary 

education (even if the student transferred) without a break of more than 4 months, 

which allows for the normal summer vacations between academic years. The number 
 Section 1: Percentage Distributions (by Columns) of the Variables Used as Rows 

39 

of enrollment spells is the number of periods separated by an interval of 4 or more 

months of not being enrolled anywhere; these intervals are also referred to as stopout 

periods. About three-fourths (78 percent) of the beginners at 4-year institutions were 

always continuously enrolled; 18 percent had one stopout period (two enrollment 

spells) and 4 percent had two or more stopout periods during the six years in this study. 

• Beginning students at public 2-year institutions were more likely to have had a gradepoint average of less than 2.25 at the end of their first year than beginners at 4-year 

institutions (41 and 27 percent, respectively). Among students at 4-year institutions, 

those beginning at public institutions were more likely than those at private not-forprofit institutions to have had a GPA of less than 2.25 at the end of their first year (31 

and 21 percent). 

Table 1.1-C: Demographic characteristics 

This table displays the percentage distribution of the students within first institution level and 

type by demographic and background characteristics when they first enrolled in 1995–96. 

• While the majority of all 1995–96 beginning students at both 4-year institutions and 

private for-profit less-than-4-year institutions were women, private for-profit less-than4-year institutions had a higher concentration of women than 4-year institutions. 

Specifically, 68 percent of students at private for-profit less-than-4-year institutions 

and 55 percent of students at 4-year institutions were women. About one-half (52 

percent) of beginning public 2-year students were women. 

• Four-year institutions had a larger percentage of beginning students who were 18 years 

or younger than public 2-year institutions (80 and 47 percent, respectively). Private forprofit less-than-4-year institutions had the smallest percentage of traditional age 

students (22 percent). Among 4-year institutions, private not-for-profit institutions had 

a higher proportion of beginners who were 18 years or younger than public institutions 

(84 and 79 percent, respectively). 

• Information about the students’ race/ethnicity was gathered in 1995–96, before the 

categories introduced in the year 2000 census were used. Seventy-two percent of 

beginning students at 4-year and public 2-year institutions were White, non-Hispanic. 

However, White, non-Hispanic students only accounted for 57 percent of beginners at 

private for-profit less-than-4-year institutions. No differences could be detected in the 

percentage of Black, non-Hispanic and of Hispanic students at each institution type, 

with the exception of private for-profit less-than-4-year institutions, which had a larger 

percentage of Hispanic students than 4-year institutions (20 percent and 11 percent, 

respectively). 

• Beginning students at 4-year institutions were more likely than those at less-than-4-

year institutions to be single with no children (dependent) in 1995–96. Ninety-three 

percent of beginners at private not-for-profit and 92 percent of beginners at public 4-

year institutions were single with no children and dependent on their parents for 

financial support. The proportion of dependent students among beginners was lower at 
Section 1: Percentage Distributions (by Columns) of the Variables Used as Rows

40 

public 2-year (66 percent) and private for-profit less-than-4-year institutions (33 

percent), than at public or private not-for-profit 4-year institutions. 

• Public 2-year and private for-profit less-than-4-year institutions had the highest 

percentages of beginning students whose parents’ education was limited to a high 

school diploma or less, while beginners at 4-year institutions were the most likely to 

have at least one parent with an advanced degree. A higher percentage of beginners at 

private not-for-profit institutions 4-year institutions had a parent with an advanced 

degree than those beginning at public 4-year institutions (33 percent vs. 24 percent). 

• In 1995–96 the beginners who worked while enrolled were asked if they considered 

themselves to be primarily students who worked or to be employees who were 

enrolled. At the public 2-year institutions 29 percent, and at the private for-profit lessthan-4-year institutions 23 percent, considered themselves to be an employee who is 

enrolled, compared with 7 percent of public and 6 percent of private not-for-profit 4-

year students who said the same. 

• Beginning dependent students at private for-profit less-than-4-year institutions were 

more likely to come from a family with an income of less than $25,000 than students at 

any other institution type. Dependent students at private not-for-profit 4-year 

institutions were more likely to come from a family with an income of $70,000 or 

greater than students at the other types of institutions. 

Table 1.1-D: Persistence risk factors 

The percentage of the students within first institution level and type who in 1995–96 had the 

characteristics associated with a higher risk of not completing a degree program is displayed in 

Table 1.1-D. Each of the persistence risk factors is indicated by an asterisk. The percentage 

distribution of the beginners by the number of these risk factors present in 1995–96 is displayed 

within each level and type of first institution attended. 

• Private for-profit less-than-4-year institutions had the largest percentage of beginning 

students with four or more risk factors in 1995–96. Thirty-five percent of beginners at 

private for-profit institutions had four or more risk factors, compared with 25 percent 

at public 2-year institutions and 4 percent at 4-year institutions. 

• A larger percentage of beginners at 4-year institutions had high school diplomas, were 

dependents, and had no children than at the less-than-4 year institutions. 

• About one-half of 1995–96 beginning students at public 2-year institutions (53 

percent) attended full time when first enrolled, which was less than the percentage of 

full-time beginners at the other types of institutions. Eighty-seven percent of students 

at private for-profit institutions, 89 percent of students at public 4-year institutions, and 

94 percent of students at private not-for-profit institutions 4-year attended full time 

when they were first enrolled. 
 Section 1: Percentage Distributions (by Columns) of the Variables Used as Rows 

41 

• Beginning students at 4-year institutions were more likely not to work while enrolled 

(38 percent) and less likely to work full time while enrolled (10 percent) than their 

counterparts at public 2-year institutions (19 percent and 35 percent, respectively). 
Table 1.0.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students by degree plans at

Table 1.0.—the first institution attended, according to characteristics of the first institution and degrees

Table 1.0.—attained by June 2001

Degree plans at first institution

Associate’s Bachelor’s

Total Certificate degree degree

 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Type of first institution

 4-year

 Public 25.9 3.2 3.5 62.3

 Private not-for-profit 14.8 1.3 1.4 36.7

 Private for-profit 0.6 # 0.4 1.0

 2-year

 Public 45.5 38.2 88.5 †

 Private not-for-profit 1.0 0.8 1.9 †

 Private for-profit 3.4 7.5 4.4 †

 Less-than-2-year

 Public 1.8 10.0 † †

 Private not-for-profit 0.1 0.5 † †

 Private for-profit 7.1 38.6 † †

Level of first institution

 4-year 41.2 4.3 5.3 100.0

 2-year 49.9 46.5 94.7 †

 Less-than-2-year 8.9 49.1 † †

Highest offering of first institution

 Public 4-year, non-doctorate-granting 9.9 1.7 2.4 22.3

 Public 4-year, doctorate-granting 16.0 1.5 1.1 40.0

 Private not-for-profit 4-year, non-doctorate-granting 9.7 0.6 1.2 23.8

 Private not-for-profit 4-year, doctorate-granting 5.1 0.5 0.2 12.9

 Other institutions 59.4 95.7 95.1 1.0

First degree attained by 2001

 None 49.2 48.1 61.6 33.9

 Certificate 12.8 46.7 8.0 2.7

 Associate’s degree 11.7 3.8 23.0 3.4

 Bachelor’s degree 26.4 1.4 7.4 60.1

Highest degree attained by 2001

 None 49.2 48.1 61.6 33.9

 Certificate 12.0 46.0 6.9 2.3

 Associate’s degree 10.0 4.3 19.6 2.7

 Bachelor’s degree 28.8 1.6 11.9 61.2

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

_______

42
Table 1.1-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students by the level and type of

Table 1.1-A.—the first institution attended, according to degree goal in 1995–96, program, and academic

Table 1.1-A.—preparation

Private Private

 not-for- for-profit

Less-than- Public Public profit less-thanTotal 2-year 2-year 4-year 2-year 4-year 4-year 4-year

 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Degree goal in 1995–96

 None 11.6 20.1 15.3 5.4 15.6 5.5 5.0 17.4

 Certificate 13.8 79.9 12.4 1.0 10.8 1.2 0.8 65.3

 Associate’s degree 25.7 † 49.2 3.3 48.9 3.3 2.7 16.1

 Bachelor’s degree 48.9 † 23.1 90.3 24.8 90.1 91.4 1.3

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 12.0 21.3 10.9 11.4 10.0 11.1 11.7 21.5

 Less than bachelor’s 14.7 48.0 19.5 1.7 18.7 2.1 1.0 42.2

 Bachelor’s degree 27.9 20.2 36.4 19.1 37.1 19.9 17.3 22.9

 Advanced degree 45.4 10.4 33.2 67.8 34.3 67.0 70.0 13.4

Program/field at first institution*

 Vocational certificate 30.0 100.0 17.2 † 15.5 † † 81.8

 Associate’s applied fields 35.2 † 41.6 † 39.9 † † 18.3

 Associate’s liberal arts/uncertain 34.9 † 41.2 † 44.6 † † †

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 82.4 ‡ 94.1 69.9 94.0 73.1 63.8 95.3

 One 8.5 ‡ 4.4 12.9 4.5 12.5 13.4 3.7

 More than one 9.1 ‡ 1.5 17.2 1.5 14.4 22.8 1.0

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 23.6 63.3 40.5 13.6 40.5 15.5 10.1 58.9

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 49.2 36.1 47.8 50.3 47.4 53.9 43.7 39.0

 High quartile (1030–1600) 27.3 0.7 11.7 36.1 12.2 30.6 46.2 2.1

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 35.4 75.2 56.5 24.7 56.4 26.4 21.3 68.7

 B+ to A- 30.5 17.8 30.2 30.9 30.4 32.2 28.8 23.2

 Mostly A’s 34.1 7.0 13.3 44.4 13.3 41.5 49.9 8.1

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

†Not applicable.

*Derived for less-than-4-year institutions only.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Level of first institution

Type of first institution

_______

43
Table 1.1-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students by the level and type of

Table 1.1-B.—the first institution attended, according to attendance patterns, GPA, and last institution type

Private Private

 not-for- for-profit

Less-than- Public Public profit less-thanTotal 2-year 2-year 4-year 2-year 4-year 4-year 4-year

 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Number of institutions attended

 One 59.7 79.5 54.3 61.8 52.8 61.2 62.8 78.3

 Two 30.1 16.5 34.4 27.9 35.4 28.7 27.0 18.2

 Three or more 10.2 4.1 11.3 10.2 11.8 10.2 10.3 3.5

Transfer status

 Never transferred 67.9 84.4 59.8 74.2 58.5 73.0 76.3 82.7

 Transferred 32.1 15.6 40.2 25.8 41.5 27.0 23.7 17.3

Co-enrollment at two institutions*

 Never co-enrolled 89.2 97.5 89.1 87.4 88.6 87.6 86.9 97.1

 Sometimes co-enrolled 10.9 2.5 10.9 12.6 11.4 12.4 13.1 2.9

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 47.0 69.4 29.1 64.0 26.0 61.2 69.4 69.6

 Mixed 40.7 20.9 50.2 33.6 51.8 36.2 28.8 22.9

 Always part-time 12.2 9.8 20.8 2.4 22.2 2.7 1.7 7.5

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 67.9 84.4 59.8 74.2 58.5 73.0 76.3 82.7

 Upward transfer 13.0 11.6 23.9 † 25.2 † † 9.1

 Lateral transfer 13.0 4.0 13.3 14.7 13.4 14.8 14.7 6.8

 Downward transfer 6.1 † 3.1 11.1 3.0 12.1 9.0 1.4

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 69.6 75.6 62.0 77.5 60.8 75.0 82.3 77.3

 Two enrollment spells 24.6 20.0 30.6 18.3 31.6 20.5 14.3 19.0

 Three or more enrollment spells 5.8 4.5 7.3 4.2 7.7 4.6 3.4 3.7

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 33.8 22.3 40.2 27.2 41.2 30.7 20.6 23.6

 2.25–3.25 38.4 33.3 33.7 44.5 33.8 44.8 44.4 33.5

 Over 3.25 27.8 44.4 26.1 28.2 25.0 24.5 35.0 42.9

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year 33.7 8.8 60.3 7.1 64.9 7.8 5.6 10.2

 Public 4-year 35.1 2.4 22.1 57.9 23.5 85.6 11.3 2.1

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 15.9 0.5 5.8 31.4 6.0 4.0 80.5 1.2

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 10.8 68.0 8.3 1.4 3.0 1.0 1.8 83.7

 Other institutions 4.5 20.4 3.5 2.3 2.6 1.6 0.9 2.8

†Not applicable.

*Twenty percent of the students who transferred were also co-enrolled at some time.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Level of first institution

Type of first institution

_______

44
Table 1.1-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students by the level and type of

Table 1.1-C.—the first institution attended, according to demographic characteristics

Private Private

 not-for- for-profit

Less-than- Public Public profit less-thanTotal 2-year 2-year 4-year 2-year 4-year 4-year 4-year

 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Gender

 Male 45.2 31.8 47.6 45.1 48.2 45.8 43.3 31.9

 Female 54.8 68.2 52.4 54.9 51.8 54.2 56.7 68.1

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 57.8 17.9 46.2 79.8 47.3 78.5 83.7 22.4

 19 years 12.4 12.7 14.3 10.2 14.4 11.4 7.9 13.2

 20–23 years 10.8 20.3 13.8 5.3 13.0 5.5 4.3 21.3

 24–29 years 7.6 16.7 10.9 1.9 10.4 1.9 1.7 18.1

 30 or older 11.4 32.4 14.9 2.9 14.9 2.7 2.5 25.1

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 70.6 59.7 71.2 72.1 72.1 71.9 73.4 57.0

 Black, non-Hispanic 11.9 18.6 11.7 10.7 11.5 10.9 10.3 19.2

 Hispanic 12.2 17.7 12.4 10.7 11.8 10.7 9.8 20.3

 Asian/Pacific Islander 4.6 2.6 3.8 6.0 3.8 5.8 6.3 2.3

 American Indian/Alaska Native 0.8 1.4 0.9 0.6 0.8 0.7 0.2 1.2

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 72.5 27.6 64.2 92.0 65.5 91.9 93.3 33.2

 Single, no children (independent) 6.5 16.7 7.8 2.9 7.2 2.7 2.5 16.8

 Single with children 9.0 30.7 10.9 2.2 10.0 2.4 1.5 29.7

 Married 12.0 25.0 17.2 3.0 17.4 3.0 2.7 20.3

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 41.7 71.0 47.5 28.8 46.5 30.4 24.7 68.7

 Some postsecondary 21.6 17.8 25.1 18.1 25.4 19.6 15.5 17.7

 Bachelor’s degree 21.3 8.3 19.4 26.3 19.7 26.6 26.4 10.4

 Advanced degree 15.5 2.9 8.1 26.8 8.5 23.5 33.4 3.1

Student/employee role 1995–96*

 Did not work while enrolled 31.8 50.4 21.9 39.6 20.4 41.3 37.4 48.2

 Student working 49.1 26.3 49.6 53.3 50.3 51.2 56.6 28.7

 Employee who is enrolled 19.2 23.3 28.5 7.1 29.2 7.4 6.0 23.1

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 25.8 50.3 29.0 21.6 28.4 23.3 18.0 45.8

 $25,000–44,999 24.0 28.2 27.4 20.9 27.3 21.3 20.4 29.7

 $45,000–69,999 25.3 13.3 24.6 26.7 24.9 27.2 25.9 17.0

 $70,000 or greater 24.9 8.1 18.9 30.9 19.5 28.3 35.8 7.6

*The percentages of those who did not work differ somewhat from the percentages shown on table 1.1-D under Worked while enrolled 

1995–96 (which is based on the number of hours worked per week) because there were more valid responses to the hours worked item

than to the student/employee item in the student interviews.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Level of first institution

Type of first institution

_______

45
Table 1.1-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students by the level and type of

Table 1.1-D.—the first institution attended, according to persistence risk factors when they first enrolled

Private Private

 not-for- for-profit

Less-than- Public Public profit less-thanTotal 2-year 2-year 4-year 2-year 4-year 4-year 4-year

 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 44.3 10.2 25.1 74.6 25.1 72.4 80.2 14.1

 One 18.3 13.1 22.1 14.9 22.4 16.5 11.8 14.7

 Two or three 19.8 40.3 27.4 6.2 27.5 6.5 4.8 36.6

 Four or more 17.6 36.4 25.3 4.3 25.0 4.5 3.3 34.6

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 90.3 71.9 87.5 97.8 88.0 98.3 97.6 73.9

 GED/high school equivalent* 6.6 16.5 8.7 2.0 8.1 1.6 2.2 15.6

 None* 3.0 11.6 3.9 0.2 4.0 0.2 0.3 10.5

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 63.4 22.4 53.2 83.2 54.4 82.0 86.7 29.1

 Delayed* 36.6 77.6 46.8 16.8 45.6 18.0 13.3 71.0

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 72.8 85.6 55.2 90.6 52.6 88.8 94.3 86.5

 Part-time* 27.2 14.5 44.8 9.4 47.4 11.2 5.7 13.5

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 72.5 27.6 64.2 92.0 65.5 91.9 93.3 33.2

 Independent* 27.5 72.4 35.9 8.0 34.5 8.1 6.7 66.8

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 83.8 54.4 78.8 96.1 79.4 95.8 97.1 58.8

 One or more* 16.2 45.6 21.3 3.9 20.6 4.2 2.9 41.2

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 91.0 69.3 89.1 97.9 90.0 97.6 98.5 70.3

 Single parent* 9.0 30.7 10.9 2.2 10.0 2.4 1.5 29.7

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 30.2 48.3 20.7 37.9 19.3 39.7 35.5 45.8

 Worked part time 46.5 27.4 45.4 52.1 45.6 49.8 56.1 32.0

 Worked full time* 23.3 24.3 34.0 10.1 35.1 10.5 8.4 22.3

*Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Level of first institution

Type of first institution

_______

46
47 

Section 2: Persistence and Attainment Anywhere in 

Postsecondary Education After Six Years 

Section 2 provides information about 1995–96 beginning students who attained a 

bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree, or a certificate at any institution (not necessarily where 

they first enrolled in 1995–96) by June 2001, as well as about those who never attained any of 

these degrees, but were still enrolled at some 4-year or less-than-4-year institution in the spring 

of 2001 (either at the first or some other institution) or who were not enrolled anywhere and had 

never attained any degree anywhere in the six years. Priority was given to attainment, so those 

who attained a certificate or associate’s degree and continued to be enrolled and were working 

towards another degree (usually as transfers) are classified as having attained. 

See section 3 for comparable six-year attainment and retention rates (including transfer 

rates) at the first institution attended. 

All Beginning Students 

Since these tables include all beginning students at any type of institution and in any type of 

program, the last column for no degree, not enrolled anywhere in June 2001 is of particular 

interest. This category is the percentage of students who had left postsecondary education 

without completing any degree anywhere by June 2001, and therefore represents the rate of 

postsecondary attrition after six years (although some stopouts may return in the future after the 

end of this study period). 

Table 2.0-A: Degree programs 

• Students who began postsecondary education in certificate or associate’s degree 

programs were more likely to have left postsecondary education without having 

completed any degree program (43 percent of each) by June 2001 than those who 

began in bachelor’s degree programs (19 percent).

• Of the beginners who had attained an associate’s degree, about one-fifth (19 percent) 

went on to complete a bachelor’s degree within six years of starting postsecondary 

education.
Section 2: Persistence and Attainment Anywhere in Postsecondary Education After Six Years

48 

Table 2.0-B: Enrollment pattern and first year GPA 

• Among students who began their postsecondary education in 1995–96, those who were 

always enrolled part time were more likely to have left postsecondary education by 

June 2001 without having completed any degree (74 percent) than those who were 

always full-time students (28 percent). 

• Beginning students with a low grade-point average (below 2.25) at the end of the first 

year enrolled in postsecondary education were more likely to have left without a degree 

by 2001 (52 percent) than those whose first-year grade-point average was higher. 

Table 2.0-C: Student demographics 

• About one-third (35 percent) of both men and women had left postsecondary education 

without attaining a degree and had not returned by June 2001. 

• Students who were 18 years old or younger when they began postsecondary education 

in 1995–96 were the least likely (26 percent) to have left postsecondary education 

without a degree by June of 2001, compared with students who began postsecondary 

education when they were 19 years old or older. 

• Black, non-Hispanic students were more likely than White, non-Hispanic or 

Asian/Pacific Islander students to have left postsecondary education without return by 

2001 (45 percent compared with 33 and 26 percent, respectively). No difference could 

be detected in the six-year attrition rates of any other groups by race/ethnicity. 

• Beginners whose parents had advanced degrees were less likely to leave postsecondary 

education without any degree within six years than those whose parents only had 

bachelor’s degree (17 percent compared with 25 percent). In general, students whose 

parents had bachelor’s degrees or higher were less likely to leave postsecondary 

education without any degree than those whose parents had no college degrees. 

• Among dependent students who began postsecondary education in 1995–96, attrition 

without a degree was higher among low-income students (whose parents’ income was 

less than $25,000 in 1994) than among high-income students (whose parents’ income 

was $70,000 or more in 1994). Among low-income dependent beginners, 35 percent 

had not attained a degree and were no longer enrolled in June of 2001, compared with 

20 percent of high-income dependent beginners. 

Table 2.0-D: Persistence risk factors 

• Among all students who began postsecondary education in 1995–96, those who had no 

persistence risk factors were least likely to leave postsecondary education without any 

degree by June 2001 (20 percent). The rate of attrition increased as the number of 

persistence risk factors increased from none to two or three (37 percent had one and 47 

percent had two or three risk factors). 
 Section 2: Persistence and Attainment Anywhere in Postsecondary Education After Six Years 

49 

• The rates of attrition without a degree were higher for beginners who had delayed entry 

after high school compared with those who did not delay (46 percent vs. 27 percent), 

for those who were enrolled part time when they started compared with those who 

were enrolled full time (50 percent vs. 28 percent), for those who were independent 

compared with those who were dependent of their parents financially (49 percent vs. 

29 percent), and for those who had children when they started compared with those 

with no children (50 percent vs. 31 percent). 

• Beginners who worked full time while enrolled their first year had higher rates of 

attrition by 2001 (52 percent) than both students who did not work and those who had 

worked part time during their first year enrolled. There was no difference detected in 

the rate of attrition without a degree between students who did not work and those who 

worked part time. 

Public 2-Year Institutions 

Because of the relatively small size of the sample of beginners at public 2-year institutions, the 

standard errors of the estimates are quite large. Often where there appear to be differences among 

categories in the following tables, no differences can be detected when applying tests of 

statistical significance. 

Table 2.1-A: Degree goals and programs 

• Among the beginners at public 2-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal in 

1995–96, 23 percent had transferred to a 4-year institution and attained a bachelor’s 

degree by June 2001. 

• No difference could be detected between those beginners at public 2-year institutions 

who were in associate’s degree programs in applied fields and those who were in 

liberal arts (or undeclared) programs in the percentage who attained bachelor’s degrees 

or the percentage whose highest degree was an associate’s degree. 

Table 2.1-B: Enrollment patterns and transfers 

• One-fifth (20 percent) of the 1995–96 beginners at public 2-year institutions who were 

always enrolled full time attained a bachelor’s degree, compared with 10 percent of 

those who had a mixed enrollment pattern (those who had been enrolled both full time 

and part time). 

• About one-fourth (24 percent) of the beginners at public 2-year institutions who had 

been co-enrolled at two institutions attained a bachelor’s degree by June 2001. 

• Among students who began at public 2-year institutions and transferred upward to a 4-

year institution, 38 percent had completed a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 and 24 

percent were still enrolled at a 4-year institution without having completed either an 
Section 2: Persistence and Attainment Anywhere in Postsecondary Education After Six Years

50 

associate’s or a bachelor’s degree. Sixteen percent of these students were no longer 

enrolled and had attained no degree by June 2001. 

Table 2.1-C: Demographic characteristics 

• Beginners at public 2-year institutions who had a parent with an advanced degree were 

more likely to go on to complete a bachelor’s degree than those whose parents were 

not college graduates (28 percent compared with 7–8 percent). 

Table 2.1-D: Persistence risk factors 

• Students who began at public 2-year institutions in 1995–96 without any persistence 

risk factors present were the least likely to have left postsecondary education without a 

degree after six years (29 percent). No difference could be detected in the rates of 

attrition among those who had one or more than one risk factor.

• The rate of attrition of students enrolled full time when they started at a public 2-year 

institution in 1995–96 was lower than attrition among those who were enrolled part 

time during the first year (40 percent vs. 53 percent). Similarly, students who did not 

delay entry after high school were less likely to have left postsecondary education 

without a degree by June 2001 than those who delayed entry (40 vs. 54 percent). 

Public 4-Year Institutions 

Table 2.2-A: Institution type and academic preparation 

• Students who started at public 4-year doctorate-granting institutions were more likely 

than those who started at public 4-year non-doctorate-granting institutions to have 

attained a bachelor’s degree at some institution (not necessarily the first one) by June 

2001 (59 percent compared with 43 percent). 

• Among public 4-year beginners in 1995–96, those who had taken one or more 

Advanced Placement tests were more likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree by 

2001 than those who had not taken any (67–77 percent vs. 48 percent). 

• Students who began at public 4-year institutions whose SAT combined scores fell into 

the lowest quartile (a score between 400–700) were the least likely to have attained a 

bachelor’s degree by 2001 compared with students who scored higher (29 percent vs. 

54–72 percent). 

• Beginners at public 4-year institutions whose grade-point averages in high school were 

between a B+ and A- or were mostly A’s were more likely than those whose gradepoint averages were B or below to have attained a bachelor’s degree by 2001 (57–77 

percent vs. 36 percent, respectively). 
 Section 2: Persistence and Attainment Anywhere in Postsecondary Education After Six Years 

51 

Table 2.2-B: Enrollment patterns 

• Students who began at public 4-year institutions and were always enrolled full time 

were more likely than those whose enrollment intensity was mixed to have attained a 

bachelor’s degree within six years (65 percent compared with 37 percent). Of the 

beginners who were always enrolled part time 81 percent had left postsecondary 

education without completing a degree program by June 2001. 

• As of June 2001, beginning students who had mixed part time and full time enrollment 

were more likely to still be enrolled in a 4-year institution without a degree than those 

who were either always enrolled full time or always enrolled part time (24 percent 

compared with 9–11 percent). 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students who first attended public 4-year institutions, those 

who did not transfer were more likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree by June 

2001 than those whose first transfer was a lateral transfer to another 4-year institution 

(62 percent compared with 45 percent). Students whose first transfer was a lateral 

transfer were more likely to still be enrolled in a 4-year institution without a degree 

than those who did not transfer (33 percent compared with 11 percent). 

• Students who began at public 4-year institutions in 1995–96 who were continuously 

enrolled were more likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 (65 

percent) than stopouts who had two or more spells of enrollment (19 and 4 percent). 

• Among 1995–96 public 4-year beginners, those with higher grade-point averages 

during their first year of enrollment were more likely to have attained a bachelor’s 

degree by June 2001 than those with lower GPA’s in the first year. 

Table 2.2-C: Demographic characteristics 

• Women who began at public 4-year institutions were more likely than their male 

counterparts to have attained a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 (56 percent vs. 50 

percent). 

• Students who were 18 years old or younger (traditional age) when they were first 

enrolled in a public 4-year institution were more likely to have attained a bachelor’s 

degree within 6 years (59 percent) than those who were 19 years old or older: 45 

percent of students who began at age 19, 18–20 percent of 20- to 29-year-old 

beginners, and 9 percent of beginners aged 30 or older earned a bachelor’s degree by 

June 2001. 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students who first attended a public 4-year institution, 

White, non-Hispanic students and Asian/Pacific Islander students were more likely 

than Black, non-Hispanic students and Hispanic students to have attained a bachelor’s 

degree by 2001. No differences were observed in bachelor’s degree attainment rates 

between White, non-Hispanic students and Asian/Pacific Islander students or between 

Black, non-Hispanic students and Hispanic students. 
Section 2: Persistence and Attainment Anywhere in Postsecondary Education After Six Years

52 

• Beginners at public 4-year institutions whose parents had a bachelor’s degree or higher 

were more likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree (62–67 percent) than those 

whose parents had less than a bachelor’s degree (39–48 percent).

• Financially dependent students who began at a public 4-year institution and whose 

parents earned $45,000 or more in 1994 were more likely to have attained a bachelor’s 

degree by June 2001 (58–67 percent) than those whose parents earned less than 

$45,000 (48–50 percent). 

Table 2.2-D: Persistence risk factors 

• Students who began at public 4-year institutions with no persistence risk factors were 

more likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 (62 percent) than those 

who had one or more risk factors. Students who had only one risk factor were more 

likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 (42 percent) than those who 

had two or more risk factors (11–14 percent). 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students who first attended a public 4-year institution, 

those who delayed enrollment after high school were less likely than those who did not 

delay to have attained a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 (30 percent compared with 58 

percent). 

• Students who began their postsecondary education in 1995–96 at a public 4-year 

institution and enrolled full time were more likely than those who were enrolled part 

time to have attained a bachelor’s degree by 2001 (57 percent compared with 28 

percent). 

• Among beginners at public 4-year institutions, those who did not work while enrolled 

in 1995–96 were more likely than those who did work to have attained a bachelor’s 

degree by June 2001 (61 percent vs. 29–52 percent). Students who worked part time 

were more likely than those who worked full time to have attained a bachelor’s degree 

by 2001 (52 percent compared with 29 percent). 

Private Not-for-Profit 4-Year Institutions 

Table 2.3-A: Institution type and academic preparation 

• Among students who began in 1995–96 at a private not-for-profit 4-year institution, 

those who started at doctorate-granting institutions were more likely than those who 

started at non-doctorate-granting institutions to have attained a bachelor’s degree by 

June 2001 (77 percent compared with 65 percent), although not necessarily at the 

institution where they started. 

• Students who began at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions and had taken more 

than one Advanced Placement tests were more likely than those who took one and 

those who did not take any AP tests to have completed a bachelor’s degree by 2001: 86 

percent of students who took more than one AP test had attained a degree within six 
 Section 2: Persistence and Attainment Anywhere in Postsecondary Education After Six Years 

53 

years, compared with 78 percent of those who took one and 63 percent of students who 

did not take AP tests. 

• The likelihood of attaining a bachelor’s degree within six years among private not-forprofit 4-year beginners was related to SAT combined scores. Students whose SAT 

scores fell into the middle quartiles were more likely than those who scored in the low 

quartile to have completed a bachelor’s degree (66 percent of middle and 44 percent of 

low-quartile scorers attained by June 2001), and students who scored in the high 

quartile (86 percent) were more likely to have attained within 6 years than students 

with middle- or low-quartile SAT scores.

• Private not-for-profit 4-year beginners who earned mostly A’s in high school were 

more likely than students whose grades were lower to have attained a bachelor’s 

degree within 6 years (85 percent compared with 54–74 percent, respectively). 

Table 2.3-B: Enrollment patterns 

• Among private not-for-profit 4-year beginners, those who were always enrolled full 

time were more likely than those whose enrollment intensity was mixed to have 

attained a bachelor’s degree by 2001 (77 percent compared with 53 percent). 

• Private not-for-profit 4-year beginners who did not transfer were more likely to have 

attained a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 than those whose first transfer was a lateral 

transfer to another 4-year institution (80 percent vs. 45 percent). Students whose first 

transfer was a lateral transfer were more likely to still be enrolled in a 4-year institution 

without a degree than those who did not transfer (21 percent vs. 4 percent). 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students who first attended a private not-for-profit 4-year 

institution, those who had been continuously enrolled were more likely than stopouts 

who had two or more spells of enrollment to have attained a bachelor’s degree by June 

2001 (78 percent vs. 13–30 percent). 

• Beginning students who first attended a private not-for-profit 4-year institution and 

whose grade-point average during their first year of enrollment was above 3.25 were 

less likely to have left postsecondary education without a degree (9 percent) than those 

whose grade-point averages were below 3.25 (14–38 percent). 

• Beginning students who first attended a private not-for-profit 4-year institution but 

transferred and last attended a public 4-year institution were more likely to still be 

enrolled without a degree as of June 2001 (24 percent) than those who last attended a 

private not-for-profit 4-year institution. 

Table 2.3-C: Demographic characteristics 

• Students who were 18 years old or younger when they enrolled in a private not-forprofit 4-year institution in 1995–96 were more likely than those who were 19 years old 

to have attained a bachelor’s degree (74 percent compared with 56 percent). Students 
Section 2: Persistence and Attainment Anywhere in Postsecondary Education After Six Years

54 

who were 19 years old were more likely than those who were between 20 and 23 years 

old to have attained a bachelor’s degree within six years. 

• White, non-Hispanic students and Asian/Pacific Islander students who began at 4-year 

private not-for-profit institutions were more likely than their Black, non-Hispanic and 

Hispanic peers to have attained a bachelor’s degree by June 2001. No difference could 

be detected in the bachelor’s degree attainment rates of White, non-Hispanic students 

and Asian/Pacific Islander students or between Black, non-Hispanic students and 

Hispanic. 

• Among 1995–96 beginning dependent students who first attended a private not-forprofit 4-year institution, those whose parents earned less than $25,000 in 1994 were 

less likely than those whose parents earned $70,000 or more to have attained a 

bachelor’s degree within 6 years (56 percent vs. 83 percent). 

Table 2.3-D: Persistence risk factors 

• Among private not-for-profit 4-year beginners in 1995–96, those who had no risk 

factors when first enrolled were more likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree by 

June 2001 (76 percent) than those who had one or more risk factors. Students who had 

only one persistence risk factor were more likely than those who had two or more to 

have attained a bachelor’s degree by 2001 (52 percent compared with 21–33 percent). 

• Private not-for-profit 4-year beginners who delayed enrollment after high school were 

less likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree than those who did not delay (39 

percent vs. 74 percent). 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students who first attended a private not-for-profit 4-year 

institution, those who worked full time while enrolled were less likely than those who 

did not work or only worked part time to have attained a bachelor’s degree by June 

2001. No difference could be detected in the bachelor’s degree attainment rates 

between students who did not work and those who worked part time while enrolled. 
Table 2.0-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the highest

Table 2.0-A.—degree attained and 6-year persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by 

Table 2.0-A.—first institution attended and first degree plans

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year 

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 28.8 10.0 12.0 8.8 5.6 34.8

Type of first institution

 4-year

 Public 53.0 4.4 2.8 14.5 2.8 22.5

 Private not-for-profit 68.8 2.8 1.8 7.1 2.3 17.2

 Private for-profit 19.5 15.1 18.1 7.8 3.3 36.2

 2-year

 Public 10.3 15.7 9.7 8.4 9.1 46.9

 Private not-for-profit 11.5 26.7 19.8 3.6 4.6 33.8

 Private for-profit 1.9 24.4 28.2 1.2 3.0 41.4

 Less-than-2-year

 Public # 2.6 53.6 1.5 6.1 36.3

 Private for-profit # 0.8 62.3 0.6 1.8 34.5

Level of first institution

 4-year 58.2 4.0 2.7 11.8 2.7 20.8

 2-year 9.7 16.5 11.1 7.8 8.6 46.3

 Less-than-2-year # 1.1 60.3 0.8 2.7 35.1

Degree plans at first institution

 Certificate 1.6 4.3 46.1 2.3 2.8 43.0

 Associate’s degree 11.9 19.6 6.9 9.1 9.1 43.4

 Bachelor’s degree 61.3 2.7 2.3 12.0 2.7 19.1

Degree goal in 1995–96

 None 7.6 9.2 10.8 7.9 8.3 56.3

 Certificate 0.5 3.7 52.6 0.9 4.6 37.9

 Associate’s degree 8.3 23.9 8.4 6.7 8.8 43.9

 Bachelor’s degree 53.3 4.6 3.0 12.5 3.6 23.0

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 23.6 7.9 17.5 5.6 5.6 39.9

 Less than bachelor’s degree 1.2 12.6 28.5 0.6 4.7 52.5

 Bachelor’s degree 18.1 13.3 10.7 10.4 7.1 40.4

 Advanced degree 46.6 7.3 5.7 11.8 5.1 23.4

First degree attained by 2001

 None † † † 17.9 11.4 70.7

 Certificate 1.8 4.0 94.2 † † †

 Associate’s degree 19.0 81.0 † † † †

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree anywhere

Highest degree attained anywhere Still enrolled

All beginning students

_______

55
Table 2.0-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the highest

Table 2.0-B.—degree attained and 6-year persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by 

Table 2.0-B.—attendance patterns, GPA, and last institution type

No degree anywhere

 Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 28.8 10.0 12.0 8.8 5.6 34.8

Number of institutions attended

 One 29.0 7.2 13.1 3.4 4.0 43.4

 Two 31.4 13.8 10.0 12.3 7.9 24.7

 Three or more 20.2 15.1 12.3 29.7 8.3 14.4

Co-enrollment at two institutions

 Never co-enrolled 27.2 9.6 12.7 7.7 5.8 37.0

 Sometimes co-enrolled 41.8 13.0 7.0 17.7 4.0 16.6

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 44.0 8.4 11.9 6.2 1.5 28.1

 Mixed 20.0 14.4 11.9 13.6 9.4 30.8

 Always part-time # 1.4 12.8 3.0 9.2 73.7

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 30.9 6.9 12.8 4.2 4.9 40.4

 Upward transfer 35.1 19.0 6.5 22.3 1.2 16.0

 Lateral transfer 22.4 15.0 10.6 19.6 7.6 24.8

 Downward transfer 6.3 14.0 18.5 8.5 19.2 33.5

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 38.1 9.1 11.0 4.9 1.4 35.6

 Two enrollment spells 9.0 13.0 13.5 16.9 14.0 33.6

 Three or more enrollment spells 1.9 7.6 19.2 20.5 20.9 29.8

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 11.9 9.1 7.6 10.2 9.1 52.2

 2.25–3.25 39.4 12.4 7.9 10.3 3.2 26.9

 Over 3.25 40.9 10.6 12.8 6.2 3.8 25.8

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year † 13.4 12.7 † 13.8 60.1

 Public 4-year 51.3 8.0 2.0 19.5 † 19.2

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 68.4 5.3 1.7 11.4 † 13.2

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year † 11.6 46.7 † 4.7 37.1

 Other institutions 2.4 13.4 37.7 3.9 5.4 37.2

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

All beginning students

_______

56
Table 2.0-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the highest

Table 2.0-C.—degree attained and 6-year persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by 

Table 2.0-C.—demographic characteristics

No degree anywhere

 Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year 

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 28.8 10.0 12.0 8.8 5.6 34.8

Gender

 Male 27.7 11.0 10.1 10.9 5.2 35.2

 Female 29.7 9.2 13.7 7.1 6.0 34.5

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 44.1 9.7 5.4 10.5 4.5 25.8

 19 years 19.6 15.6 11.4 10.8 7.1 35.5

 20–23 years 6.9 9.6 20.4 8.6 9.0 45.4

 24–29 years 4.1 6.6 32.2 2.5 8.3 46.4

 30 or older 2.4 10.0 25.9 4.4 3.5 53.8

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 31.6 10.5 10.9 8.6 5.4 33.0

 Black, non-Hispanic 17.3 5.6 17.3 8.4 6.1 45.3

 Hispanic 18.5 11.0 15.2 10.1 6.3 38.9

 Asian/Pacific Islander 39.7 10.0 7.9 9.4 7.0 26.0

 American Indian/Alaska Native 34.9 3.4 8.7 8.0 3.4 41.5

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 38.7 10.4 6.7 10.0 5.5 28.7

 Single, no children (independent) 5.8 8.5 26.4 7.9 7.3 44.0

 Single with children 4.6 11.8 29.6 4.5 4.1 45.5

 Married 3.4 6.6 24.1 5.9 7.0 53.1

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 16.0 11.0 17.9 6.1 6.3 42.8

 Some postsecondary 22.2 9.8 10.5 10.5 7.3 39.6

 Bachelor’s degree 41.0 12.1 6.9 12.4 2.8 24.8

 Advanced degree 60.6 5.4 2.3 10.6 4.3 16.9

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 36.9 9.2 14.7 7.3 2.7 29.1

 Student working 32.9 11.1 8.2 11.2 6.4 30.3

 Employee who is enrolled 7.1 8.8 17.0 6.0 7.7 53.6

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 25.7 14.0 10.5 8.8 6.4 34.7

 $25,000–44,999 32.7 10.1 8.9 10.6 6.6 31.1

 $45,000–69,999 40.4 11.2 4.4 10.7 4.8 28.6

 $70,000 or greater 56.2 6.2 2.8 10.1 4.3 20.4

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

All beginning students

_______

57
Table 2.0-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the highest

Table 2.0-D.—degree attained and 6-year persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by 

Table 2.0-D.—persistence risk factors when they first enrolled

No degree anywhere

 Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year 

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 28.8 10.0 12.0 8.8 5.6 34.8

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 53.3 9.7 4.5 9.9 3.0 19.7

 One 22.3 12.4 9.6 11.6 7.3 36.8

 Two or three 5.6 9.9 20.2 7.3 9.7 47.4

 Four or more 2.5 8.1 24.9 5.3 6.2 53.0

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 31.6 10.2 10.3 9.2 5.6 33.1

 GED/high school equivalent* 3.9 9.0 27.8 5.4 7.3 46.7

 None* 0.9 6.4 28.8 2.9 2.2 58.8

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 41.9 10.3 5.4 10.5 4.9 27.1

 Delayed* 8.6 9.8 22.1 6.3 7.1 46.0

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 37.3 10.1 12.0 9.3 3.6 27.8

 Part-time* 8.4 10.5 13.5 7.3 10.6 49.6

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 38.7 10.4 6.7 10.0 5.5 28.7

 Independent* 4.4 8.7 26.5 5.9 6.1 48.5

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 34.2 10.0 9.3 9.6 5.8 31.1

 One or more* 3.8 9.5 26.5 5.2 5.3 49.7

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 31.7 9.8 10.4 9.3 5.8 33.0

 Single parent* 4.6 11.8 29.6 4.5 4.1 45.5

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 36.9 9.2 14.7 7.3 2.7 29.1

 Worked part time 34.0 11.7 8.5 10.3 6.0 29.6

 Worked full time* 7.9 7.5 16.3 8.2 8.0 52.2

*Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

All beginning students

_______

58
Table 2.1-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in public

Table 2.1-A.—2-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and 

Table 2.1-A.—attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by degree plans and first degree attained

No degree anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year 

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 10.3 15.7 9.7 8.4 9.1 46.9

Degree plans at first institution

 Certificate 1.3 6.5 29.4 2.9 2.8 57.2

 Associate’s degree 11.9 18.2 6.6 9.8 9.8 43.8

Degree goal in 1995–96

 None 5.8 10.7 4.6 8.2 10.6 60.0

 Certificate 0.6 7.0 34.7 # 7.3 50.4

 Associate’s degree 7.9 22.1 7.9 7.2 9.9 45.1

 Bachelor’s degree 22.9 10.5 5.8 14.7 7.5 38.6

Program/field at first institution

 Vocational certificate 1.3 6.5 29.4 2.9 2.8 57.2

 Associate’s applied fields 9.5 19.0 7.9 6.3 11.0 46.3

 Associate’s liberal arts/uncertain 14.0 17.5 5.3 12.9 8.8 41.5

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 5.2 11.0 14.5 3.7 12.1 53.5

 Less than bachelor’s 1.5 16.9 12.6 0.5 6.1 62.4

 Bachelor’s degree 9.4 16.7 8.2 10.8 9.4 45.6

 Advanced degree 18.5 15.1 7.8 12.9 9.9 35.7

First degree attained by 2001

 None ††† 13.0 14.1 72.9

 Certificate 1.1 9.4 89.5 †††

 Associate’s degree 20.7 79.3 † †††

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out

of the first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Students who began in public 2-year institutions

Highest degree attained anywhere

_______

59
Table 2.1-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in public

Table 2.1-B.—2-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and 

Table 2.1-B.—attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by attendance patterns, GPA, and last institution 

Table 2.1-B.—type

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year 

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 10.3 15.7 9.7 8.4 9.1 46.9

Number of institutions attended

 One † 12.3 10.2 † 9.5 68.0

 Two 24.6 20.0 7.9 11.9 9.1 26.6

 Three or more 13.1 18.2 12.8 35.0 7.5 13.4

Co-enrollment at two institutions

 Never co-enrolled 8.4 15.0 9.9 6.6 9.5 50.5

 Sometimes co-enrolled 24.4 21.1 8.3 21.9 5.6 18.7

Attendance intensity

 Always full-time 19.9 19.4 6.3 8.3 2.7 43.5

 Mixed 9.8 20.1 11.1 10.9 11.7 36.4

 Always part-time # 1.4 10.4 2.4 10.4 75.5

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer † 12.2 10.8 † 11.5 64.6

 Upward transfer 38.1 19.5 2.3 24.0 0.7 15.5

 Lateral transfer 3.4 27.1 13.4 13.6 11.7 30.8

 Downward transfer # 3.3 34.0 4.1 21.5 37.1

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 14.9 16.6 7.8 4.7 2.9 53.2

 Two enrollment spells 3.8 16.0 11.0 13.5 17.9 37.8

 Three or more enrollment spells # 8.1 19.1 16.6 21.7 34.6

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 4.6 11.0 7.3 7.3 11.2 58.7

 2.25–3.25 14.5 22.0 8.4 10.9 5.3 39.0

 Over 3.25 16.0 16.4 14.3 6.1 7.1 40.0

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year † 13.6 11.3 † 12.3 62.8

 Public 4-year 35.2 19.4 2.5 28.1 † 14.9

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 34.9 19.5 3.9 28.2 † 13.5

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year † 26.1 19.0 # 21.4 33.5

 Other institutions # 20.7 33.0 5.3 3.7 37.3

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Students who began in public 2-year institutions

Highest degree attained anywhere

No degree anywhere

_______

60
Table 2.1-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in public

Table 2.1-C.—2-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and 

Table 2.1-C.—attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by demographic characteristics

No degree anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year 

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 10.3 15.7 9.7 8.4 9.1 46.9

Gender

 Male 10.5 17.1 9.6 10.7 7.8 44.4

 Female 10.0 14.5 9.8 6.2 10.3 49.3

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 17.5 18.4 6.7 10.6 7.8 39.0

 19 years 6.0 23.7 7.2 12.5 9.4 41.2

 20–23 years 3.8 12.3 9.8 9.0 13.6 51.5

 24–29 years 2.8 7.4 24.4 0.5 11.7 53.2

 30 or older 2.2 13.3 12.5 4.7 4.8 62.6

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 11.7 16.7 9.3 8.7 9.3 44.3

 Black, non-Hispanic 3.1 7.7 15.1 5.4 8.0 60.7

 Hispanic 5.9 15.5 8.1 9.1 9.4 52.0

 Asian/Pacific Islander 7.5 22.2 8.7 9.8 11.8 40.0

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡‡‡ ‡‡‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 14.3 18.3 7.1 9.7 9.5 41.2

 Single, no children (independent) 0.6 11.2 12.9 10.0 11.5 53.8

 Single with children 5.6 18.7 14.9 3.8 5.7 51.3

 Married 3.0 6.6 15.7 6.4 9.8 58.6

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 6.9 15.8 11.6 4.1 9.3 52.3

 Some postsecondary 7.7 12.9 7.9 11.1 10.0 50.4

 Bachelor’s degree 16.2 21.3 8.1 15.5 3.9 35.0

 Advanced degree 28.1 15.2 2.8 13.4 11.5 29.0

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 10.6 21.1 11.2 7.4 3.6 46.2

 Student working 14.1 17.0 7.0 11.7 10.6 39.7

 Employee who is enrolled 3.9 10.7 12.7 5.2 9.7 57.9

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 7.8 22.8 9.9 5.5 9.1 44.9

 $25,000–44,999 15.5 14.4 9.3 11.0 10.3 39.5

 $45,000–69,999 12.6 21.1 4.4 11.1 8.1 42.8

 $70,000 or greater 24.2 13.4 3.7 12.0 10.6 36.1

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Students who began in public 2-year institutions

Highest degree attained anywhere

_______

61
Table 2.1-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in public

Table 2.1-D.—2-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and 

Table 2.1-D.—attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors when they first 

Table 2.1-D.—enrolled

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year 

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 10.3 15.7 9.7 8.4 9.1 46.9

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 23.3 25.0 6.6 11.1 5.1 28.9

 One 12.7 17.0 6.6 10.8 10.2 42.7

 Two or three 4.7 11.3 8.9 7.5 13.4 54.3

 Four or more 1.9 10.3 17.0 5.1 8.2 57.5

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 11.4 16.4 8.6 8.7 9.2 45.8

 GED/high school equivalent* 3.0 11.5 17.0 6.2 11.8 50.5

 None* # 10.5 18.5 4.6 1.7 64.8

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 16.1 18.9 5.9 10.5 8.7 39.9

 Delayed* 4.2 12.5 13.4 6.1 10.2 53.7

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 14.2 20.1 8.9 10.7 6.3 39.8

 Part-time* 5.6 12.3 12.1 5.5 12.0 52.6

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 14.3 18.3 7.1 9.7 9.5 41.2

 Independent* 3.3 11.0 14.9 6.4 9.0 55.5

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 12.2 16.4 8.8 9.5 9.7 43.5

 One or more* 4.0 13.2 13.8 4.9 7.7 56.4

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 11.0 15.4 9.3 9.1 9.7 45.6

 Single parent* 5.6 18.7 14.9 3.8 5.7 51.3

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 10.6 21.1 11.2 7.4 3.6 46.2

 Worked part time 15.3 19.3 6.9 10.4 10.1 38.1

 Worked full time* 3.3 8.2 13.0 6.9 10.0 58.7

*Risk factor.

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Students who began in public 2-year institutions

Highest degree attained anywhere

No degree anywhere

_______

62
Table 2.2-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in public

Table 2.2-A.—4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and 

Table 2.2-A.—attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by degree goal, first degree attained, and 

Table 2.2-A.—academic preparation

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year 

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 53.0 4.4 2.8 14.5 2.8 22.5

Highest offering of first institution 

 Non-doctorate-granting 43.3 6.2 4.0 15.4 3.0 28.1

 Doctorate-granting 59.0 3.2 2.1 14.0 2.7 19.0

Degree goal in 1995–96

 None 21.1 11.1 6.1 15.9 8.1 37.8

 Certificate 7.8 15.0 10.0 22.7 1.5 42.9

 Associate’s degree 12.0 27.0 9.0 8.9 1.0 42.2

 Bachelor’s degree 57.3 3.0 2.2 14.6 2.6 20.3

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 47.6 4.3 3.7 15.9 3.4 25.2

 One 66.5 1.9 1.2 15.8 2.3 12.3

 More than one 77.1 1.7 0.3 7.8 0.3 12.8

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 29.2 5.7 4.1 18.3 6.3 36.6

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 54.3 4.8 3.1 15.2 2.7 20.0

 High quartile (1030–1600) 71.6 1.1 0.5 11.3 1.2 14.3

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 35.5 5.6 3.7 19.6 5.2 30.5

 B+ to A- 56.6 3.8 2.8 13.9 2.4 20.6

 Mostly A’s 76.9 2.1 1.2 11.1 0.8 8.0

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 48.6 6.0 3.6 14.5 2.2 25.1

 Less than bachelor’s degree 4.3 20.3 8.8 7.0 3.8 55.8

 Bachelor’s degree 39.6 6.9 3.7 14.4 3.9 31.6

 Advanced degree 60.0 2.3 2.4 14.6 2.6 18.1

First degree attained by 2001

 None † † † 36.4 7.1 56.4

 Certificate 12.9 1.7 85.4 † † †

 Associate’s degree 14.7 85.3 † † † †

†Not applicable.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Students who began in public 4-year institutions

Highest degree attained anywhere

No degree anywhere

_______

63
Table 2.2-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in public

Table 2.2-B.—4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and 

Table 2.2-B.—attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by attendance patterns, GPA, and last institution 

Table 2.1-B.—type

No degree anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year 

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 53.0 4.4 2.8 14.5 2.8 22.5

Number of institutions attended

 One 62.4 2.0 0.7 10.5 # 24.4

 Two 42.0 6.7 5.5 17.7 7.2 21.0

 Three or more 27.8 11.6 8.1 29.9 7.8 14.9

Co-enrollment at two institutions

 Never co-enrolled 52.2 4.3 2.5 13.9 2.9 24.2

 Sometimes co-enrolled 58.5 5.0 5.4 18.7 2.4 10.1

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 64.7 3.7 1.7 8.8 0.9 20.2

 Mixed 37.1 5.8 4.3 24.4 6.3 22.0

 Always part-time # # 7.6 10.5 1.2 80.8

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 62.3 2.2 1.4 11.4 0.2 22.4

 Upward transfer † † † † † †

 Lateral transfer 44.8 4.1 1.9 32.5 1.5 15.2

 Downward transfer 7.3 17.9 12.3 10.9 20.1 31.6

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 65.4 3.1 1.7 8.9 0.4 20.6

 Two enrollment spells 18.6 7.4 5.8 31.0 8.8 28.4

 Three or more enrollment spells 4.1 11.6 8.3 33.1 16.2 26.8

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 24.4 6.3 4.5 18.7 6.1 39.9

 2.25–3.25 62.9 3.7 2.3 13.6 1.7 15.8

 Over 3.25 73.0 3.4 1.5 10.0 0.7 11.5

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year † 15.2 8.2 † 31.9 44.8

 Public 4-year 60.2 2.7 1.4 15.0 † 20.8

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 38.3 8.3 2.0 36.5 † 14.8

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year † 28.1 43.4 † 18.8 9.7

 Other institutions 1.2 17.2 29.3 12.1 9.6 30.6

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Students who began in public 4-year institutions

Highest degree attained anywhere

_______

64
Table 2.2-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in public

Table 2.2-C.—4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and 

Table 2.2-C.—attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by demographic characteristics

No degree anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year 

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 53.0 4.4 2.8 14.5 2.8 22.5

Gender

 Male 49.5 3.7 2.3 16.4 3.0 25.2

 Female 56.0 4.9 3.3 12.9 2.8 20.1

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 59.0 3.8 2.3 14.2 2.7 18.0

 19 years 44.7 6.4 3.5 14.0 4.2 27.4

 20–23 years 19.8 7.2 7.8 17.8 3.0 44.4

 24–29 years 17.7 4.4 1.0 28.4 0.7 47.8

 30 or older 8.5 6.5 8.6 12.0 5.0 59.5

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 56.1 4.4 2.9 13.3 2.3 21.0

 Black, non-Hispanic 39.0 3.5 3.4 17.4 5.0 31.8

 Hispanic 39.9 5.4 2.7 20.2 4.2 27.7

 Asian/Pacific Islander 64.2 2.8 0.3 13.5 2.6 16.6

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 56.6 4.0 2.5 14.2 2.8 19.8

 Single, no children (independent) 20.9 5.6 1.5 22.3 1.9 47.8

 Single with children 15.2 8.3 12.3 18.0 3.4 42.8

 Married 13.2 7.3 7.0 16.3 3.8 52.5

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 39.0 4.7 3.9 16.5 3.3 32.7

 Some postsecondary 47.7 5.2 3.5 14.4 4.3 25.0

 Bachelor’s degree 62.4 5.0 1.9 14.1 2.2 14.6

 Advanced degree 67.3 1.5 1.7 12.8 2.1 14.6

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 60.8 4.3 2.6 11.5 2.6 18.2

 Student working 51.5 4.2 2.4 16.2 2.8 22.9

 Employee who is enrolled 26.4 3.6 8.7 15.8 3.0 42.5

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 48.4 4.5 3.2 16.7 4.6 22.5

 $25,000–44,999 49.7 4.9 2.7 15.3 3.3 24.0

 $45,000–69,999 58.0 4.2 2.2 13.3 2.5 19.7

 $70,000 or greater 67.1 2.7 2.1 12.1 1.4 14.6

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Students who began in public 4-year institutions

Highest degree attained anywhere

_______

65
Table 2.2-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in public

Table 2.2-D.—4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and 

Table 2.2-D.—attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors when they first 

Table 2.2-D.—enrolled

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year 

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 53.0 4.4 2.8 14.5 2.8 22.5

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 62.2 3.6 1.8 12.8 2.5 17.2

 One 42.1 5.1 3.2 18.4 4.0 27.2

 Two or three 13.9 9.0 9.9 22.9 3.4 41.0

 Four or more 10.5 5.4 8.6 17.5 4.0 54.1

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 53.7 4.3 2.8 14.4 2.8 22.1

 GED/high school equivalent* 9.7 9.5 6.5 22.2 5.5 46.6

 None* ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 58.1 3.6 2.4 14.3 2.6 19.1

 Delayed* 29.6 8.1 5.0 15.5 4.0 37.8

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 56.7 4.4 2.4 13.7 2.6 20.3

 Part-time* 28.4 3.7 6.0 20.4 4.7 36.8

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 56.6 4.0 2.5 14.2 2.8 19.8

 Independent* 16.4 7.0 6.7 18.8 3.1 48.1

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 55.1 4.1 2.5 14.4 2.9 21.1

 One or more* 14.8 6.7 10.8 19.4 1.9 46.5

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 54.3 4.2 2.6 14.5 2.8 21.6

 Single parent* 15.2 8.3 12.3 18.0 3.4 42.8

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 60.8 4.3 2.6 11.5 2.6 18.2

 Worked part time 52.0 4.3 2.3 15.4 2.9 23.1

 Worked full time* 28.6 3.9 6.8 21.0 3.3 36.5

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

*Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Students who began in public 4-year institutions

Highest degree attained anywhere

No degree anywhere

_______

66
Table 2.3-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in private 

Table 2.3-A.—not-for-profit 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

Table 2.3-A.—persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by degree goal, first 

Table 2.3-A.—degree attained, and academic preparation

No degree anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year 

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 68.8 2.8 1.8 7.1 2.3 17.2

Highest offering of first institution

 Non-doctorate-granting 64.6 3.5 1.9 7.2 2.6 20.3

 Doctorate-granting 76.8 1.5 1.6 6.9 1.8 11.3

Degree goal in 1995–96

 None 18.7 11.5 4.9 9.4 6.8 48.8

 Certificate ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Associate’s degree 42.6 18.2 4.2 3.2 2.9 29.0

 Bachelor’s degree 73.0 1.8 1.3 7.2 2.0 14.7

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 62.7 3.5 1.9 8.3 2.5 21.0

 One 77.7 1.3 1.5 5.0 2.3 12.2

 More than one 86.0 0.5 0.1 4.8 0.9 7.7

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 44.4 5.6 5.8 8.7 6.3 29.2

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 66.2 3.7 0.9 7.2 2.7 19.4

 High quartile (1030–1600) 85.7 0.7 0.2 5.1 0.8 7.5

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 53.7 4.8 1.9 7.7 4.3 27.6

 B+ to A- 74.3 3.0 0.8 7.4 1.5 13.1

 Mostly A’s 85.3 1.6 0.3 4.3 1.0 7.6

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 68.0 2.9 2.0 4.6 0.9 21.8

 Less than bachelor’s degree ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Bachelor’s degree 51.6 4.7 2.3 9.7 2.8 29.0

 Advanced degree 75.1 2.0 1.0 7.1 2.1 12.6

First degree attained by 2001

 None † † † 26.6 8.7 64.7

 Certificate 13.6 0.8 85.6 † † †

 Associate’s degree 30.5 69.5 † † † †

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

†Not applicable.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Students who began in private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

Highest degree attained anywhere

_______

67
Table 2.3-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in private 

Table 2.3-B.—not-for-profit 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

Table 2.3-B.—persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by attendance patterns, 

Table 2.3-B.—GPA, and last institution type

No degree anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year 

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 68.8 2.8 1.8 7.1 2.3 17.2

Number of institutions attended

 One 79.4 1.0 0.8 4.0 # 14.9

 Two 55.7 4.5 2.7 10.0 4.2 22.8

 Three or more 39.0 9.3 5.6 18.3 11.3 16.5

Co-enrollment at two institutions

 Never co-enrolled 68.6 2.7 1.7 7.0 2.4 17.5

 Sometimes co-enrolled 70.2 3.4 2.1 7.4 1.7 15.2

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 77.0 2.1 1.0 4.8 1.0 14.1

 Mixed 53.4 4.5 3.1 12.0 5.4 21.7

 Always part-time # 2.4 12.2 15.6 2.5 67.3

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 80.1 1.1 0.8 4.1 0.2 13.7

 Upward transfer ††† †††

 Lateral transfer 45.4 3.6 0.9 20.9 4.8 24.5

 Downward transfer 11.7 16.5 11.3 9.3 16.4 34.8

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 77.9 1.9 1.3 3.3 0.4 15.2

 Two enrollment spells 30.2 8.5 3.2 22.3 7.8 28.1

 Three or more enrollment spells 12.7 1.0 8.9 34.0 24.8 18.6

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 33.8 5.6 5.5 10.7 6.6 37.9

 2.25–3.25 73.3 3.1 1.0 6.6 1.6 14.3

 Over 3.25 83.6 1.1 0.4 5.2 1.0 8.8

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year † 9.1 3.4 † 30.5 57.1

 Public 4-year 44.3 4.8 1.1 23.9 † 25.9

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 79.6 1.5 0.8 5.2 † 13.0

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year † 17.3 45.2 † 21.9 15.6

 Other institutions ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Students who began in private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

Highest degree attained anywhere

_______

68
Table 2.3-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in private 

Table 2.3-C.—not-for-profit 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

Table 2.3-C.—persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by demographic characteristics

No degree anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year 

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 68.8 2.8 1.8 7.1 2.3 17.2

Gender

 Male 65.8 2.6 1.9 8.5 2.3 18.9

 Female 71.2 3.0 1.7 6.0 2.3 15.9

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 74.2 2.6 1.1 6.3 1.8 14.1

 19 years 56.4 3.8 2.7 8.2 4.5 24.4

 20–23 years 30.0 5.5 4.7 12.6 10.0 37.2

 24–29 years 36.6 4.9 11.2 6.3 3.6 37.4

 30 or older 15.2 2.0 12.7 20.9 # 49.3

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 72.4 2.6 1.2 5.8 1.6 16.4

 Black, non-Hispanic 50.7 2.7 5.9 11.8 5.3 23.7

 Hispanic 55.6 6.3 3.0 10.1 4.8 20.3

 Asian/Pacific Islander 77.6 0.8 # 6.3 2.8 12.6

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡‡‡ ‡‡‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 71.8 2.7 1.3 6.6 2.2 15.4

 Single, no children (independent) 51.0 3.8 7.2 3.6 3.4 31.0

 Single with children 30.9 7.9 2.7 22.0 # 36.6

 Married 17.6 2.3 13.7 16.2 3.3 46.9

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 54.0 4.1 3.4 7.0 4.5 27.1

 Some postsecondary 58.0 4.9 2.4 8.9 3.2 22.6

 Bachelor’s degree 73.7 2.4 1.0 6.7 1.5 14.8

 Advanced degree 82.7 1.3 0.2 6.1 0.9 8.9

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 73.9 2.2 1.0 6.3 1.2 15.5

 Student working 69.6 3.2 1.5 7.0 2.8 15.9

 Employee who is enrolled 34.9 2.2 7.6 13.5 2.5 39.3

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 56.2 4.8 3.2 8.9 4.6 22.2

 $25,000–44,999 64.4 3.5 1.5 6.1 2.8 21.9

 $45,000–69,999 72.9 2.8 0.8 6.7 1.6 15.1

 $70,000 or greater 82.9 1.1 0.6 5.7 1.1 8.5

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Students who began in private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

Highest degree attained anywhere

_______

69
Table 2.3-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who began in private 

Table 2.3-D.—not-for-profit 4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year 

Table 2.3-D.—persistence and attainment status anywhere as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors 

Table 2.3-D.—when they first enrolled

No degree anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year 

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 68.8 2.8 1.8 7.1 2.3 17.2

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 75.9 2.2 0.9 5.9 1.6 13.5

 One 51.6 5.3 3.9 10.2 4.9 24.2

 Two or three 33.1 4.5 5.5 11.4 7.3 38.3

 Four or more 20.9 4.6 9.6 17.0 1.9 46.0

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 69.9 2.7 1.6 7.0 2.3 16.5

 GED/high school equivalent* 30.2 6.1 7.7 10.7 3.9 41.4

 None* ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 73.7 2.6 0.9 6.5 1.9 14.5

 Delayed* 39.1 4.3 7.3 10.5 4.9 33.9

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 71.8 2.8 1.3 6.3 2.0 15.7

 Part-time* 29.2 1.6 7.4 18.5 6.1 37.2

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 71.8 2.7 1.3 6.6 2.2 15.4

 Independent* 33.2 4.1 8.8 12.7 2.6 38.6

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 70.7 2.8 1.5 6.6 2.2 16.2

 One or more* 17.3 4.0 10.1 22.4 3.1 43.2

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 69.8 2.7 1.8 6.8 2.3 16.7

 Single parent* 30.9 7.9 2.7 22.0 # 36.6

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 73.9 2.2 1.0 6.3 1.2 15.5

 Worked part time 69.8 3.0 1.8 6.9 2.6 15.9

 Worked full time* 38.2 4.4 5.7 13.5 4.7 33.6

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

*Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Students who began in private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

Highest degree attained anywhere

_______

70
71 

Section 3: Retention and Attainment at the First Institution 

Attended After Six Years

The tables in section 3 display the attainment and enrollment outcomes after six years at the 

first institution attended. The tables show the percentage of beginning students who attained a 

bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree or a certificate at that institution. These are the 

institutional degree completion rates after six years. The tables also show the percentage of 

beginning students who had attained no degree at the first institution, but were still enrolled there 

after six years (including stopouts who had left and then returned), the percentage who had left 

postsecondary education from the first institution and had never enrolled anywhere else by June 

2001, and the percentage who transferred out of the first institution before attaining any degree 

and then enrolled at a different institution. Priority is given to the highest degree attained at the 

first institution, and there is no separate category for those who attained a sub-baccalaureate 

degree at the first institution and then transferred. 

From the institutional perspective of retention at that institution, both those who transferred 

without a degree and those who left postsecondary education before degree completion were not 

retained. Persistence from the student perspective, which includes what happened to those who 

transferred, is displayed in the tables in section 2. Since two-thirds of the beginners did not 

transfer, many of the patterns in this section are the same as in section 2, but the attainment rates 

at the first institution will almost always be lower than the attainment rates of the students 

anywhere. 

All Beginning Students 

Table 3.0-A: First institutions and programs 

• By June 2001, about one-fourth (26 percent) of all 1995–96 beginning postsecondary 

students had transferred from their first institution before attaining a degree. 

• Beginning students who enrolled initially in a private not-for-profit 4-year institution in 

1995–96 were more likely than those who started in a public 4-year institution to have 

attained a bachelor’s degree at that institution by June 2001 (61 percent compared with 

46 percent). 
Section 3: Retention and Attainment at the First Institution Attended After Six Years

72 

• Among all students who began postsecondary education in 1995–96, those who started 

in an associate’s degree program were more likely to have transferred and more likely 

to have left postsecondary education from the first institution than those who were in a 

bachelor’s degree program at a 4-year institution. 

Table 3.0-B: Enrollment patterns 

• Among students who left the first institution by the end of their first year in 

postsecondary education (in 1995–96), 45 percent transferred to another institution and 

another 46 percent left postsecondary education directly from the first institution. 

• Beginning students who had two separate enrollment spells at the first institution 

(stopouts) were more likely to still be enrolled without a degree at that institution than 

those who were continuously enrolled at the first institution (24 percent vs. 2 percent). 

• Among all 1995–96 beginning students, those whose GPA was under 2.25 at the end 

of the first year were more likely to have left postsecondary education permanently 

from the first institution than those who had higher first-year grades (42 percent 

compared with 21–22 percent). 

Table 3.0-C: Demographic characteristics 

• Those students who worked while enrolled during the first year and considered 

themselves to be primarily students were more likely to transfer than either students 

who did not work or those who considered themselves to be primarily employees (32 

percent compared with 19–24 percent).

• High-income dependent students (parental income of $70,000 or more in 1994) were 

less likely to leave postsecondary education permanently from the first institution 

attended than those in the lower income groups (12 percent compared with 21–27 

percent). 

Table 3.0-D: Persistence risk factors 

• Among all 1995–96 beginning students, those who had delayed entry after high school 

were more likely to leave postsecondary education permanently from the first 

institution attended than those who enrolled immediately after high school (41 percent 

vs. 20 percent). 

Public 2-Year Institutions 

Table 3.1-A: Degree Goals and Programs 

• About one-half (52 percent) of the beginners at public 2-year institutions who had a 

bachelor’s degree goal transferred to another institution, and about one-quarter (29 

percent) left postsecondary education directly from the first institution they attended. 
 Section 3: Retention and Attainment at the First Institution Attended After Six Years 

73 

• Among 1995–96 students beginning at public 2-year institutions, no difference could 

be detected in the proportion of those in associate’s degree programs who transferred 

compared with the proportion who left postsecondary education from the first 

institution by June 2001. 

Table 3.1-B: Enrollment patterns 

• Of the students who began at a public 2-year institution in 1995–96 and also left that 

institution after the first year, 42 percent had transferred to a different institution. 

Table 3.1-C: Demographic characteristics 

• Among students who began postsecondary education at public 2-year institutions in 

1995–96, men were more likely than women to transfer from the first institution (37 

vs. 27 percent), and men were less likely than women to leave postsecondary education 

directly from the first institution (35 percent vs. 43 percent). 

• Beginning students at public 2-year institutions who worked while enrolled and 

considered themselves to be primarily employees were more likely to leave 

postsecondary education without a degree directly from the first institution than those 

who considered themselves to be working students (51 percent compared with 31 

percent). 

• Among 1995–96 beginners at public 2-year institutions, high-income dependent 

students (whose parents’ income was $70,000 or more in 1994) were more likely to 

transfer than those whose income was less than $45,000 (54 percent compared with 

32–35 percent). 

Table 3.1-D: Persistence risk factors 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students at public 2-year institutions, those without any 

risk factors when they began were less likely to leave postsecondary education from 

the first institution than those who had one or more risk factors and more likely to 

transfer than those who had two or more risk factors. 

Public 4-Year Institutions 

Table 3.2-A: Institution type and goals 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students who first attended a public 4-year institution, 

those who attended doctorate-granting institutions were more likely than those who 

attended non-doctorate-granting institutions to attain a bachelor’s degree at that 

institution (52 percent compared with 35 percent). 
Section 3: Retention and Attainment at the First Institution Attended After Six Years

74 

• Students who started at a public non-doctorate-granting institution were more likely to 

transfer from that institution (30 percent) than students who began at a doctorategranting institution (24 percent). 

• Those students who began postsecondary education in 1995–96 at a public 4-year 

institution without a specific degree goal were more likely than those who had a degree 

goal to transfer from the first institution (64 percent compared with 15–24 percent). 

• Beginning students at public 4-year institutions whose SAT combined scores fell into 

the lowest quartile (a score between 400–700) were less likely than those whose scores 

fell into the middle or highest quartiles (a score between 710–1600) to have attained a 

bachelor’s degree at the first institution (25 percent vs. 45–65 percent). 

Table 3.2-B: Enrollment patterns at the first institution 

• Those students who were enrolled full time during their first enrollment spell at the 

public 4-year institution where they began were more likely than those whose 

enrollment intensity was mixed to have attained a bachelor’s degree at the first 

institution (51 percent vs. 34 percent). 

• Students who began at a public 4-year institution in 1995–96 and were also last 

enrolled in that institution during the 1995–96 academic year (that is, students who left 

during the first year) were more likely to have transferred elsewhere (71 percent) than 

to have left postsecondary education permanently (28 percent). Students who were last 

enrolled during the 1996–97 academic year (who left during the second year) were also 

more likely to have transferred elsewhere (63 percent) than to have left postsecondary 

education permanently (28 percent). 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students who first attended a public 4-year institution, 

those whose grade-point average at the end of their first year was below 2.25 were 

more likely than those whose grade-point average was above 2.25 to have transferred 

from the first institution without earning a degree (39 percent vs. 22 and 19 percent). 

Those whose grade-point average during the first year was below 2.25 were also more 

likely than those whose grade-point average was above 2.25 to have left postsecondary 

education permanently from the first institution (29 percent vs. 12 and 9 percent). 

Table 3.2-C: Demographic characteristics 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students who first attended a public 4-year institution, 

women were more likely than men to have attained a bachelor’s degree at the first 

institution (48 percent compared with 43 percent). However, no difference could be 

detected between men and women in the percentage who transferred without a degree 

from the first institution. 

• Among public 4-year beginners, those whose parents had no more than a high school 

degree were more likely than those whose parents attained a bachelor’s degree or an 
 Section 3: Retention and Attainment at the First Institution Attended After Six Years 

75 

advanced degree to have left postsecondary education directly from the first institution 

(27 percent compared with 10 percent). 

• Public 4-year dependent beginners whose parents earned $70,000 or more in 1994 

were more likely than those whose parents earned less than $70,000 to have attained a 

bachelor’s degree at the first institution (58 percent compared with 41–49 percent). 

Table 3.2-D: Persistence risk factors 

• Those public 4-year beginners who delayed enrollment after high school were less 

likely than those who did not delay to have attained a bachelor’s degree at the first 

institution; about one-quarter of those who delayed (27 percent) compared with about 

one-half (50 percent) of those who did not delay enrollment attained their bachelor’s 

degrees at the first institution. 

• Students who began at public 4-year institutions who did not work while enrolled in 

the first year were more likely than those who worked part time to have attained a 

bachelor’s degree at the first institution (52 percent compared with 45 percent). 

Students who worked part time were more likely than those who worked full time 

during the first year to have attained a bachelor’s degree from the first institution (45 

percent compared with 24 percent). No difference could be detected in transfer rates 

among students by how much they worked while enrolled. 

Private Not-for-Profit 4-Year Institutions 

Table 3.3-A: Institution type and academic preparation 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students who first attended a private not-for-profit 4-year 

institution, those who started at doctorate-granting institutions were more likely than 

those who started at non-doctorate-granting institutions to have attained a bachelor’s 

degree at that first institution (68 percent compared with 57 percent). 

• Private not-for-profit 4-year beginners who first attended non-doctorate-granting 

institutions were more likely than those who first attended doctorate-granting 

institutions to transfer without a degree from the first institution (26 percent vs. 19 

percent). 

• Those students who began at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions who took any 

Advanced Placement tests were more likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree at the 

first institution than those who had not taken any Advanced Placement tests (55 

percent). No difference could be detected in the bachelor’s degree attainment rates at 

the first institution between students who took one AP test and those who took more 

than one. 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students who first attended a private not-for-profit 4-year 

institution, those who scored in the highest quartile (a score between 1030–1600 on the 
Section 3: Retention and Attainment at the First Institution Attended After Six Years

76 

SAT) were more likely than those who scored in the middle or low quartiles to have 

attained a bachelor’s degree at the first institution (77 percent vs. 41–57 percent). 

• Beginners at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions whose grade-point averages in 

high school were above a B+ were more likely than those whose grade-point averages 

were B or below to have attained a bachelor’s degree at the first institution (64–77 

percent vs. 46 percent). 

Table 3.3-B: Enrollment patterns 

• Beginning students in 1995–96 who first attended a private not-for-profit 4-year 

institution and were also last enrolled in that institution during the 1995–96 academic 

year (their first year at the institution) were more likely to have transferred elsewhere 

than to have left postsecondary education (74 percent vs. 25 percent). Students who 

were last enrolled in the first institution during the 1996–97 academic year (their 

second year at the institution) were also more likely to have transferred elsewhere than 

to have left postsecondary education (72 percent vs. 24 percent). 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students who first attended a private not-for-profit 4-year 

institution, those whose grade-point average during the first year of enrollment was 

between 2.25 and 3.25 were more likely than those whose grade-point average was 

below 2.25 to have attained a bachelor’s degree at the first institution (64 percent vs. 

30 percent). However, students with the highest GPA in their first year of enrollment 

(over 3.25) were the most likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree from the first 

institution (76 percent). 

Table 3.3-C: Demographic characteristics 

• Among students who began at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions, White, nonHispanic students and Asian/Pacific Islander students were more likely than Black, 

non-Hispanic students and Hispanic students to have attained a bachelor’s degree at the 

first institution. No differences could be detected between the bachelor’s degree 

attainment rates of White, non-Hispanic students and Asian/Pacific Islander students or 

between Black, non-Hispanic students and Hispanic students. 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students who first attended a private not-for-profit 4-year 

institution, students who worked during the first year and considered themselves to be 

primarily employees were less likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree from the first 

institution than those who did not work or considered themselves to be primarily 

students (33 percent compared with 61–66 percent). 

Table 3.3-D: Persistence risk factors 

• Those students who began at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions who delayed 

enrollment after high school were less likely than those who did not delay to have 

attained a bachelor’s degree at the first institution (37 percent vs. 65 percent). 
Table 3.0-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the highest

Table 3.0-A.—degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status at first institution attended as of

Table 3.0-A.—June 2001, by first institution type and first degree plans

 attained at first institution No degree at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still

 degree degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE* Transferred

 Total 20.8 9.1 9.5 5.8 28.4 26.4

Type of first institution

 4-year

 Public 45.5 1.9 1.0 8.3 17.1 26.3

 Private not-for-profit 61.0 1.0 0.6 3.2 10.9 23.3

 Private for-profit 17.5 11.7 9.2 6.0 29.8 25.9

 2-year

 Public † 16.0 6.4 6.6 39.2 31.8

 Private not-for-profit † 31.7 15.2 0.4 25.5 27.2

 Private for-profit † 23.9 27.2 0.2 35.9 12.9

 Less-than-2-year

 Public † † 52.4 5.5 32.2 10.0

 Private for-profit † † 58.5 0.2 32.9 8.4

Level of first institution

 4-year 50.7 1.7 1.0 6.4 15.0 25.2

 2-year † 16.9 8.0 6.0 38.7 30.4

 Less-than-2-year † † 57.0 1.3 33.0 8.8

Degree plans at first institution

 Certificate 0.8 2.6 42.7 1.7 39.2 13.1

 Associate’s degree 0.8 19.8 3.7 6.8 35.7 33.2

 Bachelor’s degree 53.6 0.7 0.6 6.6 13.4 25.1

Degree goal in 1995–96

 None 1.1 5.4 7.1 2.7 45.4 38.4

 Certificate 0.2 2.3 49.3 3.3 35.0 9.9

 Associate’s degree 0.8 24.9 6.1 6.9 37.9 23.4

 Bachelor’s degree 42.4 3.7 0.8 6.6 16.7 29.8

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 19.4 6.9 14.4 3.6 36.9 19.0

 Less than bachelor’s degree 0.2 11.4 25.2 2.9 47.1 13.3

 Bachelor’s degree 9.8 11.0 8.4 7.0 32.6 31.1

 Advanced degree 35.1 7.7 3.1 6.5 16.6 31.0

†Not applicable.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

All beginning students

Highest degree

_______

77
Table 3.0-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the highest 

Table 3.0-B.—degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status at first institution attended as of 

Table 3.0-B.—June 2001, by attendance patterns and GPA

No degree at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still

 degree degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE* Transferred

 Total 20.8 9.1 9.5 5.8 28.4 26.4

Attendance intensity—first institution spell

 Always full-time 30.6 8.8 9.6 3.9 20.7 26.5

 Mixed 10.4 15.3 8.9 8.4 29.2 27.9

 Always part-time 0.2 2.6 9.8 9.1 54.2 24.1

Last year enrolled at first institution

 1995–1996 † † 9.6 † 45.8 44.7

 1996–1997 † 12.3 22.8 † 26.0 38.9

 1997–1998 6.0 21.9 8.1 † 33.9 30.1

 1998–1999 65.6 9.2 1.4 † 16.2 7.7

 1999–2000 60.6 11.4 5.8 † 17.0 5.1

 2000–2001 16.0 8.0 3.5 61.5 10.4 0.7

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 30.7 6.9 12.1 8.5 41.9 †

 Upward transfer † 30.0 4.9 † † 65.1

 Lateral transfer † 3.6 3.9 † † 92.5

 Downward transfer † 1.7 2.0 † † 96.4

Enrollment continuity at first institution

 Continuously enrolled 23.2 8.9 9.6 2.2 27.0 29.1

 Two enrollment spells 8.7 10.6 8.6 23.9 36.5 11.7

 Three or more enrollment spells 5.6 6.1 12.6 30.3 33.2 12.2

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 7.5 5.6 3.8 7.0 41.6 34.5

 2.25–3.25 28.6 12.7 5.7 4.7 21.1 27.2

 Over 3.25 29.6 11.8 11.3 5.0 22.1 20.1

†Not applicable.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

All beginning students

Highest degree

attained at first institution

_______

78
Table 3.0-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the highest 

Table 3.0-C.—degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status at first institution attended as of 

Table 3.0-C.—June 2001, by demographic characteristics

No degree at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still

 degree degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE* Transferred

 Total 20.8 9.1 9.5 5.8 28.4 26.4

Gender

 Male 19.6 9.7 8.2 5.9 27.1 29.5

 Female 21.9 8.6 10.6 5.6 29.5 23.8

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 32.5 9.0 3.5 5.7 18.9 30.5

 19 years 14.6 12.8 8.2 5.7 26.6 32.0

 20–23 years 4.2 9.5 16.8 8.2 38.1 23.3

 24–29 years 2.1 6.7 25.8 6.8 45.0 13.6

 30 or older 1.1 8.3 24.5 3.6 51.0 11.5

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 22.6 9.8 8.9 5.6 26.8 26.2

 Black, non-Hispanic 14.0 3.9 13.1 4.7 36.4 28.0

 Hispanic 13.7 9.7 11.4 6.6 35.1 23.5

 Asian/Pacific Islander 33.1 8.1 4.0 8.9 17.1 28.8

 American Indian/Alaska Native 8.8 4.6 8.7 3.5 29.8 44.6

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 28.3 9.7 4.4 6.0 21.3 30.3

 Single, no children (independent) 5.0 7.7 23.4 7.9 39.8 16.3

 Single with children 1.5 11.4 25.8 3.2 44.5 13.6

 Married 1.5 4.6 20.5 5.9 49.8 17.8

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 10.5 10.7 14.8 6.0 37.6 20.3

 Some postsecondary 15.2 8.0 8.2 6.1 31.8 30.7

 Bachelor’s degree 29.7 10.6 3.8 4.0 18.5 33.4

 Advanced degree 47.2 5.2 1.1 5.4 10.3 30.9

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 29.4 7.8 11.6 3.4 24.3 23.5

 Student working 22.6 10.2 5.9 6.8 22.7 31.9

 Employee who is enrolled 4.1 8.8 14.2 6.3 47.5 19.1

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 19.0 12.4 6.5 7.4 26.6 28.2

 $25,000–44,999 21.8 8.8 6.4 6.9 26.0 30.0

 $45,000–69,999 30.5 10.1 3.0 4.7 21.1 30.7

 $70,000 or greater 42.0 7.3 1.8 5.0 11.5 32.4

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

All beginning students

Highest degree

attained at first institution

_______

79
Table 3.0-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to the highest

Table 3.0-D.—degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status at first institution attended as of 

Table 3.0-D.—June 2001, by persistence risk factors when they first enrolled

No degree at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still

 degree degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE1 Transferred

 Total 20.8 9.1 9.5 5.8 28.4 26.4

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 40.9 9.0 2.7 4.7 13.2 29.6

 One 13.0 11.6 7.2 7.3 28.9 32.0

 Two or three 2.2 8.5 16.7 7.3 41.6 23.7

 Four or more 1.2 7.5 21.0 5.5 49.2 15.6

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 22.9 9.3 8.1 5.9 26.7 27.2

 GED/high school equivalent2 1.8 9.1 22.3 6.6 39.6 20.7

 None2 0.5 4.5 23.4 # 57.1 14.5

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 30.7 9.2 3.5 5.6 20.0 31.1

 Delayed2 5.6 9.4 18.6 6.5 40.7 19.2

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 28.3 9.5 9.7 4.7 22.3 25.5

 Part-time2 3.7 9.0 10.1 9.0 44.1 24.1

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 28.3 9.7 4.4 6.0 21.3 30.3

 Independent2 2.3 7.6 22.9 5.5 45.7 16.1

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 25.0 9.3 6.8 6.0 24.2 28.7

 One or more2 1.3 8.1 23.7 4.9 47.6 14.4

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 23.1 8.9 7.9 6.1 26.4 27.7

 Single parent2 1.5 11.4 25.8 3.2 44.5 13.6

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 29.4 7.8 11.6 3.4 24.3 23.5

 Worked part time 23.4 11.2 6.5 6.6 23.1 29.2

 Worked full time2 4.8 6.7 13.2 6.6 44.6 24.1

#Rounds to zero.

1

Postsecondary education.

2

Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary

Students Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

All beginning students

Highest degree

attained at first institution

_______

80
Table 3.1-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year

Table 3.1-A.—institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status

Table 3.1-A.—at first institution attended as of June 2001, by first institution type and first degree plans

No degree at first institution

 Associate’s Still

 degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE* Transferred

 Total 16.0 6.4 6.6 39.2 31.8

Degree plans at first institution

 Certificate 4.1 25.2 1.7 52.1 16.9

 Associate’s degree 18.7 3.3 7.5 35.8 34.7

Degree goal in 1995–96

 None 8.4 1.2 3.3 48.8 38.4

 Certificate 4.5 30.9 6.5 46.8 11.5

 Associate’s degree 23.3 5.6 7.8 39.0 24.4

 Bachelor’s degree 12.0 1.3 6.1 28.6 52.1

Program/field at first institution

 Vocational certificate 4.1 25.2 1.7 52.1 16.9

 Associate’s applied fields 19.6 4.9 8.7 41.0 25.9

 Associate’s liberal arts/uncertain 18.0 1.9 6.5 31.1 42.5

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 11.4 11.2 3.7 52.2 21.4

 Less than bachelor’s degree 15.6 9.4 3.9 55.1 16.1

 Bachelor’s degree 15.1 6.1 7.8 38.8 32.4

 Advanced degree 18.6 2.8 7.5 25.0 46.1

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

at first institution

Students who began in public 2-year institutions

Highest degree attained 

_______

81
Table 3.1-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year

Table 3.1-B.—institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status

Table 3.1-B.—at first institution attended as of June 2001, by attendance patterns and GPA

No degree at first institution

 Associate’s Still

 degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE* Transferred

 Total 16.0 6.4 6.6 39.2 31.8

Attendance intensity—first institution spell

 Always full-time 22.9 4.3 4.0 29.7 39.2

 Mixed 21.4 7.1 6.7 33.9 31.0

 Always part-time 2.7 8.3 9.4 55.6 24.0

Last year enrolled at first institution

 1995–1996 † 5.1 † 53.4 41.5

 1996–1997 17.2 8.5 † 30.9 43.4

 1997–1998 26.6 4.9 † 36.5 32.0

 1998–1999 32.8 3.2 † 43.8 20.2

 1999–2000 36.6 16.3 † 34.8 12.3

 2000–2001 14.9 5.3 64.9 13.9 1.0

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 12.2 9.7 11.2 67.0 †

 Upward transfer 32.4 1.2 † † 66.4

 Lateral transfer 5.1 3.5 † † 91.4

 Downward transfer 3.3 † † † 96.7

Enrollment continuity at first institution

 Continuously enrolled 16.6 5.6 1.4 38.7 37.6

 Two enrollment spells 14.6 8.1 24.5 41.3 11.6

 Three or more enrollment spells ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 7.9 3.3 7.2 47.9 33.6

 2.25–3.25 24.6 5.4 3.4 31.6 35.1

 Over 3.25 20.0 11.6 6.8 35.8 25.9

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

†Not applicable.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Highest degree attained 

at first institution

Students who began in public 2-year institutions

_______

82
Table 3.1-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year

Table 3.1-C.—institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status

Table 3.1-C.—at first institution attended as of June 2001, by demographic characteristics

No degree at first institution

 Associate’s Still

 degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE* Transferred

 Total 16.0 6.4 6.6 39.2 31.8

Gender

 Male 16.2 6.9 5.5 34.7 36.7

 Female 15.9 6.0 7.5 43.3 27.3

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 20.0 4.1 5.8 29.7 40.5

 19 years 20.0 3.5 7.0 31.1 38.4

 20–23 years 13.4 6.5 10.9 41.7 27.5

 24–29 years 8.0 16.1 8.9 50.3 16.7

 30 or older 10.7 12.0 3.8 59.7 13.8

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 17.2 6.9 6.9 37.2 31.8

 Black, non-Hispanic 6.5 10.2 3.8 46.6 32.9

 Hispanic 15.3 2.9 6.5 50.1 25.3

 Asian/Pacific Islander 20.2 # 11.5 24.3 44.0

 American Indian/Alaskan Native ‡‡ ‡‡‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 19.4 3.9 6.6 31.3 38.9

 Single, no children (independent) 10.6 9.8 10.4 50.6 18.6

 Single with children 18.9 11.9 3.6 51.3 14.3

 Married 4.4 12.0 7.3 54.4 22.0

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 16.7 8.0 7.6 46.5 21.3

 Some postsecondary 11.2 5.4 5.9 42.0 35.7

 Bachelor’s degree 22.1 3.1 2.5 27.3 45.0

 Advanced degree 17.3 0.9 6.3 16.1 59.3

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 20.0 5.4 1.9 40.2 32.5

 Student working to meet expenses 17.5 3.7 7.8 30.8 40.2

 Employee who is enrolled 11.4 10.4 6.8 51.1 20.3

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 22.4 3.5 7.4 34.6 32.2

 $25,000–44,999 14.3 6.4 8.1 36.3 35.0

 $45,000–69,999 21.3 2.6 4.8 32.6 38.7

 $70,000 or greater 19.5 2.6 5.8 17.9 54.2

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Highest degree attained 

at first institution

Students who began in public 2-year institutions

_______

83
Table 3.1-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year instituTable 3.1-D.—tions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status at

Table 3.1-D.—first institution attended as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors when they first enrolled

No degree at first institution

 Associate’s Still

 degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE1 Transferred

 Total 16.0 6.4 6.6 39.2 31.8

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 27.9 3.0 3.5 19.6 46.0

 One 17.3 4.2 7.1 33.6 37.9

 Two or three 10.0 5.4 9.3 47.3 28.0

 Four or more 9.9 13.4 6.7 53.1 17.1

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 16.7 5.9 6.6 38.0 32.7

 GED/high school equivalent2 12.5 8.6 9.1 41.1 28.6

 None2 7.3 13.3 # 60.7 18.7

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 19.4 3.2 5.4 30.8 41.3

 Delayed2 12.8 9.7 8.5 47.2 21.7

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 22.0 5.5 4.3 32.7 35.5

 Part-time2 10.8 8.5 9.6 46.8 24.3

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 19.4 3.9 6.6 31.3 38.9

 Independent2 9.8 11.5 6.9 52.7 19.1

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 17.2 5.1 6.9 34.8 36.0

 One or more2 11.7 12.1 5.9 53.7 16.6

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 15.8 5.9 7.0 37.3 34.0

 Single parent2 18.9 11.9 3.6 51.3 14.3

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 20.0 5.4 1.9 40.2 32.5

 Worked part time 20.8 4.3 7.8 30.9 36.2

 Worked full time2 7.7 10.0 6.9 49.9 25.5

#Rounds to zero.

1

Postsecondary education.

2

Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Highest degree attained 

at first institution

Students who began in public 2-year institutions

_______

84
Table 3.2-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year 

Table 3.2-A.—institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status 

Table 3.2-A.—at first institution attended as of June 2001, by first institution type and academic

Table 3.2-A.—preparation

No degree at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still

 degree degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE* Transferred

Students who began in public 4-year institutions

 Total 45.5 1.9 1.0 8.3 17.1 26.3

Highest offering of first institution 

 Non-doctorate-granting 34.7 3.5 1.6 8.9 21.6 29.8

 Doctorate-granting 52.2 0.9 0.6 8.0 14.3 24.1

Degree goal in 1995–96

 None 6.2 0.5 0.1 3.5 25.5 64.2

 Certificate 6.8 15.8 6.1 14.2 42.6 14.7

 Associate’s degree 7.6 23.0 7.3 5.8 36.9 19.4

 Bachelor’s degree 50.0 1.1 0.7 8.7 15.2 24.3

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 39.9 1.8 1.3 8.8 19.1 29.1

 One 57.7 # 0.6 9.1 8.7 24.0

 More than one 70.8 1.0 # 5.8 8.0 14.5

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 24.6 2.9 0.9 10.4 26.9 34.3

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 45.1 1.1 0.8 8.3 14.9 29.8

 High quartile (1030–1600) 64.6 0.9 0.3 7.3 9.7 17.3

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 27.9 1.3 1.1 9.6 21.3 38.8

 B+ to A- 48.3 1.0 0.2 8.3 14.4 27.8

 Mostly A’s 67.8 1.0 0.7 6.8 5.3 18.4

Highest degree expectation 1996

 Don’t know 42.8 2.8 0.8 8.3 20.4 24.9

 Less than bachelor’s degree 2.0 16.6 4.5 4.0 47.1 25.7

 Bachelor’s degree 30.9 2.6 1.5 9.3 23.4 32.4

 Advanced degree 52.3 1.0 0.9 8.0 13.2 24.7

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Highest degree

attained at first institution

_______

85
Table 3.2-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year instituTable 3.2-B.—tions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status at first 

Table 3.2-B.—institution attended as of June 2001, by attendance patterns and GPA

No degree at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still

 degree degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE* Transferred

 Total 45.5 1.9 1.0 8.3 17.1 26.3

Attendance intensity—first institution spell

 Always full-time 50.6 1.7 0.5 6.4 14.4 26.4

 Mixed 33.8 2.9 2.6 16.1 19.9 24.6

 Always part-time 1.7 1.1 2.6 11.4 52.3 31.0

Last year enrolled at first institution

 1995–1996 † † 0.5 † 28.1 71.3

 1996–1997 † 6.1 3.4 † 27.7 62.8

 1997–1998 23.3 5.8 1.7 † 30.0 39.3

 1998–1999 81.6 1.3 0.2 † 11.0 5.8

 1999–2000 87.7 0.5 0.4 † 9.3 2.2

 2000–2001 31.8 1.3 1.1 58.2 7.2 0.4

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 62.3 2.0 1.0 11.4 23.3 †

 Upward transfer ††† †††

 Lateral transfer † 2.3 # † † 97.7

 Downward transfer † 1.1 1.9 † † 97.1

Enrollment continuity at first institution

 Continuously enrolled 49.0 1.9 0.9 4.8 15.2 28.3

 Two enrollment spells 22.6 2.4 0.9 31.3 29.2 13.8

 Three or more enrollment spells 9.4 # 4.5 45.9 36.9 3.3

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 19.3 1.6 1.2 9.5 29.4 39.1

 2.25–3.25 54.4 2.1 0.9 8.3 12.0 22.3

 Over 3.25 63.3 2.0 0.8 6.5 8.8 18.6

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Students who began in public 4-year institutions

Highest degree

attained at first institution

_______

86
Table 3.2-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year 

Table 3.2-C.—institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status 

Table 3.2-C.—at first institution attended as of June 2001, by demographic characteristics

No degree at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still

 degree degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE* Transferred

 Total 45.5 1.9 1.0 8.3 17.1 26.3

Gender

 Male 42.5 1.6 1.1 10.2 18.3 26.4

 Female 48.0 2.2 0.9 6.7 16.0 26.2

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 50.6 1.4 0.7 8.0 12.7 26.6

 19 years 39.5 3.1 0.8 7.0 19.5 30.2

 20–23 years 17.5 5.1 4.7 11.9 41.1 19.6

 24–29 years 13.3 3.7 # 15.2 42.0 25.9

 30 or older 8.5 5.3 3.9 9.4 60.9 12.1

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 48.1 1.9 1.1 7.4 16.0 25.5

 Black, non-Hispanic 33.6 1.5 0.5 9.2 26.6 28.8

 Hispanic 34.1 1.9 0.7 13.2 18.3 31.7

 Asian/Pacific Islander 57.5 # # 9.5 11.6 21.4

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡‡‡ ‡‡‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 48.5 1.6 0.9 8.0 14.3 26.8

 Single, no children (independent) 18.9 4.4 # 14.3 39.2 23.1

 Single with children 12.0 6.4 3.2 12.3 47.1 18.9

 Married 13.2 3.9 3.5 11.0 51.1 17.3

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 32.5 2.9 1.3 9.2 26.7 27.4

 Some postsecondary 40.6 2.8 1.6 8.8 17.9 28.4

 Bachelor’s degree 53.8 1.5 0.7 7.6 10.0 26.4

 Advanced degree 59.1 0.5 0.6 7.4 9.5 22.9

Student/employee role 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 52.3 2.0 0.6 6.1 13.2 25.7

 Student working to meet expenses 43.9 1.7 1.1 9.5 16.8 27.0

 Employee who is enrolled 24.8 2.1 2.5 10.5 38.3 21.8

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 40.8 2.1 1.5 11.4 16.7 27.7

 $25,000–44,999 43.0 1.7 0.8 8.4 17.7 28.4

 $45,000–69,999 49.2 1.8 0.6 6.2 14.1 28.1

 $70,000 or greater 58.3 0.9 0.6 6.6 9.9 23.8

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Students Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Students who began in public 4-year institutions

Highest degree

attained at first institution

_______

87
Table 3.2-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year instituTable 3.2-D.—tions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer status at

Table 3.2-D.—first institution attended as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors when they first enrolled

No degree at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still

 degree degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE1 Transferred

 Total 45.5 1.9 1.0 8.3 17.1 26.3

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 53.3 1.2 0.5 7.0 11.9 26.2

 One 36.5 2.6 1.7 12.2 20.8 26.1

 Two or three 11.5 5.4 3.3 10.4 36.4 33.1

 Four or more 9.5 3.7 3.2 12.9 52.7 18.1

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 46.1 1.8 0.9 8.2 16.6 26.4

 GED/high school equivalent

2 9.7 6.6 4.5 14.9 43.6 20.7

 None2 ‡‡‡ ‡‡‡

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 49.6 1.3 0.6 8.2 13.3 27.0

 Delayed2 26.7 4.6 2.6 9.0 33.9 23.1

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 48.6 2.0 0.8 8.1 15.2 25.4

 Part-time2 26.1 2.0 2.6 9.5 32.7 27.0

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 48.5 1.6 0.9 8.0 14.3 26.8

 Independent2 14.8 4.8 2.2 12.5 45.9 19.7

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 47.2 1.7 0.8 8.1 15.4 26.7

 One or more2 13.0 4.5 3.8 14.4 48.7 15.6

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 46.6 1.7 0.9 8.2 16.1 26.4

 Single parent2 12.0 6.4 3.2 12.3 47.1 18.9

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 52.3 2.0 0.6 6.1 13.2 25.7

 Worked part time 44.6 1.4 1.1 9.3 17.1 26.6

 Worked full time2 24.3 3.0 1.8 11.7 32.4 26.8

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

1

Postsecondary education.

2

Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Students who began in public 4-year institutions

Highest degree

attained at first institution

_______

88
Table 3.3-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private not-for-profit

Table 3.3-A.—4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer

Table 3.3-A.—status at first institution attended as of June 2001, by first institution type and academic

Table 3.3-A.—preparation

No degree at first institution

Bachelor’s Associate’s Still

degree degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE* Transferred

 Total 61.0 1.0 0.6 3.2 10.9 23.3

Highest offering of first institution

 Non-doctorate-granting 57.1 1.4 0.6 2.9 12.2 25.8

 Doctorate-granting 68.3 0.2 0.7 3.6 8.6 18.6

Degree goal in 1995–96

 None 5.6 1.3 0.4 1.1 28.5 63.2

 Certificate ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Associate’s degree 36.2 14.8 2.3 # 21.2 25.5

 Bachelor’s degree 65.3 0.5 0.3 3.5 9.3 21.1

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 54.9 0.8 0.7 3.0 12.6 28.0

 One 70.9 # 0.2 2.6 9.9 16.4

 More than one 77.1 0.1 # 2.7 4.5 15.5

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 41.3 2.0 2.0 5.3 15.1 34.4

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 57.1 0.7 0.1 2.9 10.5 28.7

 High quartile (1030–1600) 76.6 0.3 0.1 1.8 5.1 16.2

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 46.0 1.1 0.3 4.3 13.6 34.8

 B+ to A- 64.3 0.4 0.1 2.3 7.8 25.2

 Mostly A’s 76.6 0.8 0.1 2.3 5.3 14.9

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 61.8 1.4 1.0 1.3 16.7 17.9

 Less than bachelor’s degree ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Bachelor’s degree 44.0 1.8 0.5 3.5 14.9 35.3

 Advanced degree 66.7 0.3 0.4 3.3 8.0 21.4

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Students who began in private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

Highest degree

attained at first institution

_______

89
Table 3.3-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private not-for-profit

Table 3.3-B.—4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer

Table 3.3-B.—status at first institution attended as of June 2001, by attendance patterns and GPA

No degree at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still

 degree degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE* Transferred

 Total 61.0 1.0 0.6 3.2 10.9 23.3

Attendance intensity—first institution spell

 Always full-time 63.9 0.9 0.3 2.4 9.5 23.0

 Mixed 51.1 1.7 1.0 10.0 15.6 20.5

 Always part-time 4.2 1.5 8.0 4.0 39.9 42.5

Last year enrolled at first institution

 1995–1996 † † 1.6 † 24.5 73.8

 1996–1997 † 2.6 2.1 † 23.7 71.7

 1997–1998 27.5 6.3 1.7 † 23.5 41.0

 1998–1999 94.3 0.5 # † 3.3 1.9

 1999–2000 90.4 0.7 # † 7.7 1.3

 2000–2001 38.2 0.4 # 55.1 6.4 #

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 79.9 0.9 0.7 4.2 14.3 †

 Upward transfer ††† †††

 Lateral transfer † 0.9 0.2 † † 98.9

 Downward transfer † 1.6 0.9 † † 97.5

Enrollment continuity at first institution

 Continuously enrolled 61.9 1.0 0.6 1.9 10.4 24.2

 Two enrollment spells 51.1 0.8 0.5 13.9 18.4 15.3

 Three or more enrollment spells ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 29.8 0.5 1.1 4.1 23.5 41.1

 2.25–3.25 63.8 1.5 0.4 3.3 8.1 23.0

 Over 3.25 75.5 0.7 0.4 2.0 6.0 15.5

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Students who began in private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

Highest degree

attained at first institution

_______

90
Table 3.3-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private not-for-profit 

Table 3.3-C.—4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer

Table 3.3-C.—status at first institution attended as of June 2001, by demographic characteristics

No degree at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still

 degree degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE* Transferred

Students who began in private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

 Total 61.0 1.0 0.6 3.2 10.9 23.3

Gender

 Male 59.1 0.9 0.9 3.2 12.1 23.9

 Female 62.4 1.1 0.4 3.2 10.1 22.9

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 65.5 0.7 0.2 2.6 8.3 22.7

 19 years 51.2 3.0 # 4.2 13.7 28.0

 20–23 years 30.0 # 3.4 7.2 25.2 34.3

 24–29 years 36.6 4.9 5.1 3.7 40.5 9.2

 30 or older 15.2 2.0 10.6 12.4 43.0 16.9

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 64.0 0.8 0.6 2.2 9.5 22.9

 Black, non-Hispanic 46.6 # 1.5 6.8 17.3 27.8

 Hispanic 48.7 3.8 0.3 5.6 16.3 25.3

 Asian/Pacific Islander 69.7 # # 2.8 10.6 16.9

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡‡‡ ‡‡‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 63.4 0.9 0.2 2.8 9.1 23.6

 Single, no children (independent) 48.8 2.8 3.4 2.5 26.4 16.2

 Single with children 28.7 6.2 2.7 20.9 32.3 9.3

 Married 17.6 # 11.1 6.4 40.3 24.6

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 47.4 1.8 1.2 3.4 19.9 26.3

 Some postsecondary 51.1 1.2 0.9 3.9 12.9 30.1

 Bachelor’s degree 65.7 0.4 0.3 2.3 8.6 22.7

 Advanced degree 73.7 0.2 0.2 2.3 5.0 18.7

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 66.2 1.0 0.1 3.0 9.4 20.3

 Student working to meet expenses 61.2 0.8 0.5 2.8 9.4 25.3

 Employee who is enrolled 33.4 # 3.8 6.1 28.8 28.0

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 50.4 2.2 0.1 4.8 12.5 30.0

 $25,000–44,999 56.4 1.2 0.2 2.2 13.5 26.4

 $45,000–69,999 65.3 0.8 0.4 2.7 9.0 22.0

 $70,000 or greater 72.6 0.1 0.2 2.2 5.0 20.0

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Highest degree

attained at first institution

_______

91
Table 3.3-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private not-for-profit 

Table 3.3-D.—4-year institutions according to the highest degree attained and 6-year retention and transfer

Table 3.3-D.—at first institution attended as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors when they first

Table 3.3-D.—enrolled

No degree at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still

 degree degree Certificate enrolled Left PSE1 Transferred

 Total 61.0 1.0 0.6 3.2 10.9 23.3

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 67.2 0.7 0.1 2.5 7.7 21.8

 One 44.4 2.5 0.7 4.8 14.7 32.8

 Two or three 31.8 1.5 3.8 5.5 32.2 25.3

 Four or more 20.9 2.8 7.4 9.3 39.1 20.6

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 61.9 0.9 0.5 3.1 10.5 23.1

 GED/high school equivalent2 25.3 1.9 5.4 7.7 25.9 33.7

 None2 ‡‡‡ ‡‡‡

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 64.8 0.7 0.2 2.9 8.6 22.9

 Delayed2 37.1 2.3 3.7 5.2 25.3 26.4

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 64.1 1.0 0.4 2.9 9.8 21.9

 Part-time2 26.3 1.2 4.7 8.5 29.5 29.8

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 63.4 0.9 0.2 2.8 9.1 23.6

 Independent2 31.9 2.4 6.3 8.1 33.3 18.1

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 62.6 0.9 0.4 2.8 10.0 23.2

 One or more2 16.2 3.1 7.6 14.3 34.9 23.9

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 61.8 0.9 0.6 2.9 10.4 23.4

 Single parent2 28.7 6.2 2.7 20.9 32.3 9.3

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 66.2 1.0 0.1 3.0 9.4 20.3

 Worked part time 61.4 1.1 0.6 2.9 9.7 24.4

 Worked full time2 34.6 0.5 3.4 6.3 24.9 30.3

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

1

Postsecondary education.

2

Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (BPS:96/98).

Students who began in private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

Highest degree

attained at first institution

_______

92
93 

Section 4: Persistence and Attainment After Six Years by 

Initial Degree Goals in 1995–96 

The tables in section 4 display the degree attainment or enrollment outcomes after six years 

by degree goals for 1995–96 beginning students. The tables are separated by those whose goals 

were either to complete a certificate (tables 4.1-A through D), an associate’s degree (tables 4.2-A 

through D), or a bachelor’s degree (tables 4.3-A through D). There is an additional set of tables 

(4.4-A through D) limited to those with a bachelor’s degree goal in 1995–96 who were also 

recent high school graduates who entered college without any delay. 

Table 1.0 in the earlier section shows that most of the beginners in certificate programs 

started either in public 2-year (38 percent) or in private for-profit less-than-2-year institutions (39 

percent) and most of those in associate’s degree programs started in public 2-year institutions (89 

percent), but initial degree goals were not necessarily limited to the degrees offered in these 

programs. About three-fourths of those with a bachelor’s degree goal started at a 4-year 

institution and about one-fourth started at a public 2-year institution. The latter were in 

associate’s degree programs but expected to transfer and complete a bachelor’s degree at a 4-year 

institution. The distribution of the students with these degree goals within each type of first 

institution is shown in table 1.1-A. There is a more detailed discussion of the relationship of 

initial degree goals and degree programs among beginners starting at less-than-4-year institutions 

in the descriptive report of the three-year follow-up of the 1995–96 beginning postsecondary 

students in 1998 (Berkner, Horn, and Clune 2000). 

Because of the small sample sizes for students beginning with a certificate or an associate’s 

degree goal, the standard errors of the estimates are often large. What may appear to be 

significant differences among categories in the tables for students with certificate or associate’s 

degree goals often cannot be detected when tests of statistical significance are applied. 

Beginners With a Certificate Goal 

Table 4.1-A: First institution 

• Among 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who had a certificate goal, those 

who first attended less-than-2-year institutions were more likely than those who 
Section 4: Persistence and Attainment After Six Years by Initial Degree Goals in 1995–96

94 

attended 2-year institutions to attain a certificate within six years (67 percent compared 

with 38 percent). However, 6 percent of the beginners at 2-year institutions who had a 

certificate goal attained an associate’s degree. In this table the highest degree a student 

attained is given precedence if the student earned more than one degree. 

• The rate of attrition without completing a program among students who began with a 

certificate goal was higher for those who started at 2-year institutions than for those 

who started at less-than-2-year institutions (48 percent vs. 29 percent). 

Table 4.1-B: Enrollment patterns 

• Students who began with a certificate goal who were always enrolled full time were 

more likely to attain a certificate than those who were always enrolled part time (61 

percent vs. 29 percent). 

Table 4.1-C: Demographic characteristics 

• Among 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who had a certificate goal, 63 

percent of those who did not work while enrolled attained a certificate. About one-half 

of those who worked while enrolled attained a certificate: 49 percent of those who 

considered themselves to be primarily students and 42 percent of those who considered 

themselves to be primarily employees. 

Table 4.1-D: Persistence risk factors 

• The following two persistence risk factors had a negative effect on the certificate 

attainment of beginners with a certificate goal: part-time attendance when first enrolled 

(37 percent attained certificates vs. 62 percent of those enrolled full time) and working 

full time the first year (46 percent attained a certificate vs. 63 percent of those who did 

not work). 

• Single parents with a certificate goal were more likely to complete a certificate 

program than those beginners who were not single parents (63 percent vs. 50 percent). 

However, 5 percent of those who were not single parents attained an associate’s degree 

while none of the single parents with a certificate goal attained any degree higher than 

a certificate. No difference could be detected in the rate of attrition (no degree, not 

enrolled anywhere) between single parents and those who were not single parents. 

• No differences were detected in certificate attainment rates among students who 

entered with a certificate goal in terms of the number of persistence risk factors present 

when they first enrolled. 
 Section 4: Persistence and Attainment After Six Years by Initial Degree Goals in 1995–96 

95 

Beginners With an Associate’s Degree Goal 

Table 4.2-A: First institution and program 

• Among all beginners with an associate’s degree goal, 8 percent attained a bachelor’s 

degree by June 2001. 

• Among those beginners with an associate’s degree goal who actually attained an 

associate’s degree, 18 percent went on to complete a bachelor’s degree by June 2001. 

Table 4.2-B: Enrollment patterns 

• Those students who began with an associate’s degree goal who were always enrolled 

part time had a 71 percent rate of attrition (no degree, not enrolled anywhere after six 

years), compared with the 38 percent attrition rate of those who were always enrolled 

full time or had a mixed enrollment pattern. 

• Among the beginning students with an associate’s degree goal who transferred upward 

to a 4-year institution, one-third (32 percent) had attained a bachelor’s degree. Another 

29 percent had attained an associate’s degree, and 25 percent were still enrolled at a 4-

year institution without any degree in June 2001. Eleven percent of these transfers were 

not enrolled anywhere and had attained no degree after six years. 

Table 4.2-C: Demographic characteristics 

• Those students who were 18 years or younger when first enrolled with an associate’s 

degree goal were more likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree (15 percent) after six 

years than any older age group. 

Table 4.2-D: Persistence risk factors 

• Among 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who had an associate’s degree goal 

and no persistence risk factors were present, 36 percent attained an associate’s degree 

and another 19 percent attained a bachelor’s degree by June 2001. The rate of attrition 

after six years (no degree, not enrolled anywhere) was 24 percent among those with no 

risk factors when they began, while about half (51–52 percent) of those who had one or 

more risk factors were no longer enrolled and had not attained any degree. 

• Students who entered postsecondary education directly from high school (with no 

delay) with an associate’s degree goal were more likely to have attained an associate’s 

degree (28 percent) or a bachelor’s degree (13 percent) than those who delayed (19 and 

3 percent, respectively). However, those who delayed postsecondary enrollment were 

more likely to have completed a certificate than those who did not delay (13 percent 

vs. 5 percent).
Section 4: Persistence and Attainment After Six Years by Initial Degree Goals in 1995–96

96 

• Students with an associate’s degree goal who were enrolled part time when they began 

postsecondary education had a higher rate of attrition than those enrolled full time 

when they started (53 percent with no degree, not enrolled anywhere in June 2001, 

compared with 37 percent of those enrolled full time the first year). 

• Among students who began in 1995–96 with the goal of attaining an associate’s 

degree, those who were financially dependent on their parents were more likely than 

independent students to attain an associate’s degree (27 percent vs. 19 percent). 

All Beginners With a Bachelor’s Degree Goal 

Table 4.3-A: First institution 

• Among all 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who had a bachelor’s degree 

goal, those who started at a 4-year institution were more likely to have attained a 

bachelor’s degree by June 2001 than those who started at a 2-year institution (63 

percent vs. 23 percent). 

Table 4.3-B: Enrollment patterns 

• Among all students who began in 1995–96 with a bachelor’s degree goal, those who 

were always enrolled full time were more likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree in 

six years than those who had a mixed attendance pattern (68 percent vs. 36 percent). 

• Students with a bachelor’s degree goal who were enrolled continuously were more 

likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree within six years than stopouts who had two 

or more enrollment spells (65 percent vs. 5–18 percent). 

Table 4.3-C: Demographic characteristics 

• Among 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who had a bachelor’s degree goal, 

women were more likely than men to have attained a bachelor’s degree after six years 

(58 percent vs. 48 percent). 

• White, non-Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander students who enrolled in 

postsecondary education with the goal of attaining a bachelor’s degree were more 

likely than their Black, non-Hispanic and Hispanic peers to have attained a bachelor’s 

degree after six years. No differences could be detected between the bachelor’s degree 

attainment rates of White, non-Hispanic students and Asian/Pacific Islander students or 

between Black, non-Hispanic students and Hispanic students. 

• Among dependent students whose goal was a bachelor’s degree, those whose parents 

had an income of $45,000 or more in 1994 were more likely to have attained a 

bachelor’s degree in six years than those whose parents had incomes below $45,000 

(60–70 percent vs. 44–49 percent). Those students whose parents had incomes below 
 Section 4: Persistence and Attainment After Six Years by Initial Degree Goals in 1995–96 

97 

$45,000 were more likely to have left postsecondary education without any degree than 

those whose parents had incomes of $70,000 or more (24–25 percent vs. 15 percent). 

Table 4.3-D: Persistence risk factors 

• Students with a bachelor’s degree goal who had no persistence risk factors when 

beginning postsecondary education were more likely to have attained a bachelor’s 

degree within six years (66 percent) than those who had one or more risk factors.

Those who had one risk factor were more likely than those who had two or more to 

have attained a bachelor’s degree (39 percent vs. 12–19 percent). 

• Among 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who had a bachelor’s degree goal, 

each of the seven individual risk factors had a negative effect on bachelor’s degree 

attainment. This included the following (bachelor’s degree attainment rates are in 

parentheses): no regular high school diploma (16 percent); delayed enrollment after 

high school (30 percent); part-time attendance when first enrolled (25 percent); 

financially independent of parents (23 percent); having children when first enrolled (22 

percent); single parent when first enrolled (24 percent); working full time the first year 

(23 percent).

Recent High School Graduates With a Bachelor’s Degree Goal 

Table 4.4-A: First institution and academic preparation 

• Among 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a bachelor’s degree goal who 

did not delay enrollment after high school, two thirds (67 percent) attained a bachelor’s 

degree by 2001 if they had started at a 4-year institution, compared with one-fourth (26 

percent) if they had started at a 2-year institution. Of those who started at a 4-year 

institution in 1995–96, 16 percent were not enrolled anywhere and had not completed 

any degree by June 2001, compared with 35 percent of those who had started at a 2-

year institution. 

• Students with a bachelor’s degree goal who entered postsecondary education directly 

from high school in 1995–96 but had not taken any Advanced Placement tests were 

less likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 than those who had taken 

one or more Advanced Placement tests (53 percent vs. 71–84 percent). 

• Among recent high school graduates who entered postsecondary education with a 

bachelor’s degree goal, those who had higher SAT test scores and those with higher 

grades in high school were more likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree within six 

years than those with lower SAT scores and lower high school grades.

Table 4.4-B: Enrollment patterns 

• Among students who enrolled in postsecondary education directly from high school 

with a goal of attaining a bachelor’s degree, 72 percent of those who were always 
Section 4: Persistence and Attainment After Six Years by Initial Degree Goals in 1995–96

98 

enrolled full time attained a bachelor’s degree by June 2001, compared with 41 percent 

of those with a mixed full-time/part-time enrollment pattern. 

• Among recent high school graduates with a bachelor’s degree goal who began 

postsecondary education in 1995–96, 70 percent of those who never transferred from 

their first institution and 71 percent of those who were continuously enrolled had 

attained a bachelor’s degree by June 2001. 

• Eighty percent of the recent high school graduates with a bachelor’s degree goal who 

had a grade-point average of 3.25 or higher at the end of the first year in college 

attained a bachelor’s degree by June 2001. 

Table 4.4-C: Demographic characteristics 

• Among recent high school graduates with a bachelor’s degree goal who began 

postsecondary education in 1995–96, women were more likely to complete a 

bachelor’s degree by June 2001 than men (63 percent vs. 54 percent).

• White, non-Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander students who were recent high school 

graduates with a bachelor’s degree goal were more likely than either Hispanic or 

Black, non-Hispanic students with the same characteristics to have attained a 

bachelor’s degree by June 2001. No difference could be detected in bachelor’s degree 

attainment rates between White, non-Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander students or 

between Black, non-Hispanic and Hispanic students. 

• Among recent high school graduates who had a bachelor’s degree goal and started 

postsecondary education in 1995–96, dependent students whose parents’ income was 

$70,000 or more in 1994 were more likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree by June 

2001 than students whose parents’ income was less than $70,000 in 1994 (71 percent 

compared with 46–62 percent). 

Table 4.4-D: Persistence risk factors 

• The bachelor’s degree attainment rates of recent high school graduates who had a 

bachelor’s degree goal and started postsecondary education in 1995–96 were inversely 

related to the number of risk factors present when they first enrolled. Two-thirds of 

those with no risk factors attained a bachelor’s degree after six years, compared with 

37 percent of those with one risk factor and 18 percent of those with 2 or 3 risk factors. 

• Recent high school graduates who had a bachelor’s degree goal and did not work while 

they were enrolled the first year were more likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree 

by June 2001 than those who worked part time while enrolled the first year (70 percent 

vs. 56 percent). 
Table 4.1-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of attaining

Table 4.1-A.—a certificate when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained anywhere and 

Table 4.1-A.—6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by first institution type and degree plans 

Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 0.5 3.7 52.6 0.9 4.6 37.9

Type of first institution

 4-year

 Public 7.8 15.0 10.0 22.7 1.5 42.9

 Private not-for-profit ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Private for-profit ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 2-year

 Public 0.6 7.0 34.7 # 7.3 50.4

 Private not-for-profit 7.4 15.3 23.6 3.4 11.0 39.3

 Private for-profit # 1.3 56.6 # 4.0 38.2

 Less-than-2-year

 Public # 2.5 57.6 0.9 6.8 32.2

 Private for-profit # 0.5 69.4 0.4 1.8 28.0

Level of first institution

 4-year 7.5 14.2 15.7 17.4 2.4 42.8

 2-year 0.7 6.2 38.4 0.1 6.8 47.9

 Less-than-2-year # 0.9 66.8 0.6 2.8 29.0

Program/field at first institution

 Vocational certificate 0.2 3.3 57.2 0.4 3.0 35.9

 Associate’s applied fields 1.2 4.6 12.0 # 27.0 55.2

 Associate’s liberal arts/uncertain ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 0.4 3.2 53.9 1.5 1.8 39.2

 Less than bachelor’s # 3.6 52.9 0.5 1.8 41.3

 Bachelor’s degree 0.6 6.2 45.2 1.2 11.6 35.3

 Advanced degree 3.9 1.9 52.9 0.5 9.1 31.6

First degree attained by 2001

 None † † † 2.0 10.5 87.5

 Certificate # 1.1 98.9 † † †

 Associate’s degree 2.2 97.8 † † † †

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

†Not applicable.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended. For students who attained more than one degree only the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Students with a certificate goal

No degree anywhere

Still enrolled

_______

99
Table 4.1-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of attaining

Table 4.1-B.—a certificate when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained anywhere and 

Table 4.1-B.—6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by attendance patterns and GPA

Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 0.5 3.7 52.6 0.9 4.6 37.9

Number of institutions attended

 One 0.2 2.3 52.9 0.2 3.8 40.7

 Two 1.6 8.8 54.0 2.9 8.2 24.5

 Three or more 2.9 9.5 38.9 5.3 2.7 40.6

Co-enrollment at two institutions

 Never co-enrolled 0.4 3.3 53.1 0.9 4.6 37.8

 Sometimes co-enrolled 5.1 13.0 38.7 1.1 2.8 39.3

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 0.5 3.8 61.3 0.8 1.3 32.3

 Mixed 1.0 4.9 55.0 1.6 9.8 27.7

 Always part-time # 1.9 29.1 # 5.5 63.6

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 0.3 2.1 53.2 0.5 3.8 40.1

 Upward transfer 2.8 10.9 53.8 4.8 5.8 21.9

 Lateral transfer 1.5 12.6 47.3 1.1 9.1 28.6

 Downward transfer ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 0.5 2.9 54.8 0.3 0.4 41.1

 Two enrollment spells 0.6 6.6 44.9 1.9 16.5 29.6

 Three or more enrollment spells # 0.4 54.4 5.8 17.4 22.1

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 0.5 3.3 26.5 1.8 4.6 63.3

 2.25–3.25 1.1 7.1 49.3 0.7 2.5 39.4

 Over 3.25 0.2 1.7 58.9 0.6 3.4 35.2

#Rounds to zero.

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out

of the first institution attended. For students who attained more than one degree only the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

No degree anywhere

Students with a certificate goal

_______

100
Table 4.1-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of attaining

Table 4.1-C.—a certificate when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained anywhere and 

Table 4.1-C.—6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by demographic characteristics

Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 0.5 3.7 52.6 0.9 4.6 37.9

Gender

 Male 1.0 4.0 50.9 1.0 6.7 36.4

 Female 0.2 3.4 53.6 0.8 3.3 38.7

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 2.0 8.0 46.1 3.4 3.1 37.4

 19 years 0.8 5.7 52.9 0.9 5.2 34.6

 20–23 years 0.2 1.1 54.7 0.2 8.6 35.2

 24–29 years # # 66.3 # 6.4 27.3

 30 or older # 4.1 47.6 0.2 2.2 46.0

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 0.7 4.4 54.8 1.1 2.8 36.3

 Black, non-Hispanic # 2.4 48.8 0.9 4.4 43.6

 Hispanic 0.6 3.0 51.5 0.1 6.2 38.6

 Asian/Pacific Islander ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 1.5 7.3 45.5 2.3 7.1 36.3

 Single, no children (independent) # 1.5 58.7 0.3 9.0 30.4

 Single with children # # 63.1 0.5 2.0 34.5

 Married # 4.0 49.2 # 1.8 45.0

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 0.2 4.6 51.8 0.5 5.1 37.9

 Some postsecondary 0.5 1.9 53.4 0.6 5.2 38.4

 Bachelor’s degree 3.4 4.8 52.6 3.9 1.0 34.4

 Advanced degree ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 0.2 2.6 62.5 0.9 3.2 30.7

 Student working 1.7 3.8 48.6 1.4 4.8 39.7

 Employee who is enrolled # 5.8 42.2 0.3 6.8 44.8

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 0.9 7.0 43.2 1.5 6.5 40.8

 $25,000–44,999 2.5 3.3 55.9 0.7 6.1 31.5

 $45,000–69,999 1.6 15.8 37.8 3.8 12.3 28.7

 $70,000 or greater ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

#Rounds to zero.

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended. For students who attained more than one degree only the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

No degree anywhere

Students with a certificate goal

_______

101
Table 4.1-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of attaining

Table 4.1-D.—a certificate when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained anywhere and 

Table 4.1-D.—6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors when they first enrolled

Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 0.5 3.7 52.6 0.9 4.6 37.9

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 1.6 15.3 52.1 4.5 5.3 21.2

 One 0.6 1.8 47.0 1.3 4.9 44.4

 Two or three 0.6 2.7 57.8 0.4 6.9 31.6

 Four or more # 2.1 51.3 0.2 2.5 43.9

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 0.7 3.8 51.3 1.2 5.4 37.6

 GED/high school equivalent* # 2.8 59.3 # 2.3 35.6

 None* # 3.9 50.7 # 2.0 43.4

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 1.4 7.7 46.4 3.4 2.8 38.2

 Delayed* 0.3 2.3 54.8 0.2 5.5 36.9

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 0.7 3.9 61.7 1.0 2.0 30.7

 Part-time* 0.3 3.5 37.2 0.6 9.9 48.5

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 1.5 7.3 45.5 2.3 7.1 36.3

 Independent* # 2.0 56.3 0.2 3.4 38.0

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 0.8 4.6 52.2 1.3 6.3 34.8

 One or more* # 2.5 53.9 0.3 2.3 41.0

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 0.6 4.9 49.6 1.0 5.5 38.4

 Single parent* # # 63.1 0.5 2.0 34.5

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 0.2 2.6 62.5 0.9 3.2 30.7

 Worked part time 1.1 6.2 49.1 1.5 4.2 37.9

 Worked full time* 0.4 2.4 45.5 0.3 6.4 45.0

#Rounds to zero.

*Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out

of the first institution attended. For students who attained more than one degree only the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

No degree anywhere

Students with a certificate goal

_______

102
Table 4.2-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of attaining

Table 4.2-A.—an associate’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained anyTable 4.2-A.—where and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by first institution type and degree

Table 4.2-A.—plans 

 Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 8.3 23.9 8.4 6.7 8.8 43.9

Type of first institution

 4-year

 Public 12.0 27.0 9.0 8.9 1.0 42.2

 Private not-for-profit 42.6 18.2 4.2 3.2 2.9 29.0

 Private for-profit ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 2-year

 Public 7.9 22.1 7.9 7.2 9.9 45.1

 Private not-for-profit 11.9 36.4 15.0 2.9 2.7 31.1

 Private for-profit 2.9 43.4 13.7 2.3 2.4 35.3

 Less-than-2-year

 Public ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Private for-profit ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Level of first institution

 4-year 20.3 24.5 7.3 6.9 2.0 39.0

 2-year 7.6 23.9 8.4 6.7 9.2 44.1

 Less-than-2-year ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Program/field at first institution

 Vocational certificate # 13.9 26.4 1.4 2.5 55.8

 Associate’s applied fields 5.1 26.2 9.6 5.5 10.0 43.5

 Associate’s liberal arts/uncertain 11.6 24.0 5.1 9.7 7.4 42.2

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 3.9 27.1 11.1 2.2 2.6 53.1

 Less than bachelor’s 1.5 30.8 9.8 1.1 8.6 48.3

 Bachelor’s degree 8.8 22.0 7.7 8.2 9.1 44.3

 Advanced degree 12.0 21.5 8.9 9.2 10.3 38.2

First degree attained by 2001

 None † † † 11.3 14.9 73.8

 Certificate 1.5 12.8 85.7 † † †

 Associate’s degree 17.8 82.2 † † † †

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

†Not applicable.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended. For students who attained more than one degree only the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

No degree anywhere

Students with an associate’s degree goal

_______

103
Table 4.2-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of attaining

Table 4.2-B.—an associate’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained anyTable 4.2-B.—where and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by attendance patterns and GPA

Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 8.3 23.9 8.4 6.7 8.8 43.9

Number of institutions attended

 One 1.3 20.6 7.7 0.3 9.8 60.2

 Two 20.0 28.1 8.1 11.8 8.1 24.0

 Three or more 11.7 30.1 13.2 29.0 5.0 11.0

Co-enrollment at two institutions

 Never co-enrolled 7.1 23.2 8.2 4.6 9.7 47.3

 Sometimes co-enrolled 17.9 29.7 9.7 23.9 2.0 16.9

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 14.6 31.9 5.6 5.7 3.8 38.4

 Mixed 7.2 26.3 9.6 8.2 10.8 38.0

 Always part-time # 2.6 10.0 4.3 12.2 70.8

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 1.5 20.7 8.3 0.9 10.8 57.9

 Upward transfer 32.4 28.5 3.2 25.2 # 10.7

 Lateral transfer 3.7 38.1 13.6 5.1 10.7 28.8

 Downward transfer # 13.1 23.3 6.7 18.5 38.4

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 12.3 28.1 5.8 3.0 2.0 48.9

 Two enrollment spells 2.9 20.0 9.5 13.3 18.9 35.5

 Three or more enrollment spells # 9.1 23.4 8.3 18.9 40.3

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 3.2 15.6 7.7 4.8 13.1 55.6

 2.25–3.25 10.9 33.8 7.5 9.5 4.3 34.1

 Over 3.25 12.4 25.0 10.7 5.0 5.8 41.2

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out

of the first institution attended. For students who attained more than one degree only the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

No degree anywhere

Students with an associate’s degree goal

_______

104
Table 4.2-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of attaining

Table 4.2-C.—an associate’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained

Table 4.2-C.—anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by demographic characteristics

Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 8.3 23.9 8.4 6.7 8.8 43.9

Gender

 Male 8.8 25.9 7.8 9.5 6.3 41.7

 Female 7.8 22.3 8.9 4.4 11.0 45.7

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 14.7 26.8 5.3 7.7 6.7 38.9

 19 years 2.5 37.5 6.1 5.7 7.4 40.9

 20–23 years 2.2 19.4 13.8 9.3 14.1 41.1

 24–29 years 4.0 11.3 15.9 0.7 12.9 55.2

 30 or older 0.1 21.0 11.0 7.8 4.7 55.5

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 9.1 25.4 8.8 7.1 8.8 40.8

 Black, non-Hispanic 3.1 13.5 13.8 4.3 8.8 56.4

 Hispanic 4.1 21.4 2.1 8.3 9.1 54.9

 Asian/Pacific Islander 5.5 36.9 7.1 4.5 11.5 34.5

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 11.9 26.6 6.7 6.1 8.5 40.1

 Single, no children (independent) 0.6 18.8 14.3 16.4 5.9 44.0

 Single with children 3.8 25.7 9.8 3.3 5.3 52.1

 Married 0.2 12.1 12.3 8.4 15.7 51.4

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 7.9 23.6 8.9 4.0 8.6 47.1

 Some postsecondary 6.6 21.1 7.7 6.2 9.3 49.1

 Bachelor’s degree 12.5 29.0 8.8 13.6 5.0 31.2

 Advanced degree 9.7 32.2 5.2 16.2 5.9 30.9

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 6.4 34.0 7.3 7.2 3.8 41.4

 Student working 10.7 26.3 7.0 8.8 9.4 37.9

 Employee who is enrolled 4.4 13.8 13.8 3.7 9.0 55.5

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 7.2 32.3 8.2 2.3 6.8 43.3

 $25,000–44,999 16.2 21.3 6.4 3.8 8.6 43.7

 $45,000–69,999 10.6 30.9 6.2 10.2 5.3 36.8

 $70,000 or greater 15.8 18.4 5.4 10.3 15.7 34.5

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended. For students who attained more than one degree only the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

No degree anywhere

Students with an associate’s degree goal

_______

105
Table 4.2-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of attaining

Table 4.2-D.—an associate’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained 

Table 4.2-D.—anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors when they

Table 4.2-D.—first enrolled

Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 8.3 23.9 8.4 6.7 8.8 43.9

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 19.1 35.8 5.2 9.2 7.1 23.7

 One 8.2 23.7 7.2 3.8 6.3 50.8

 Two or three 2.9 18.2 8.2 7.7 11.3 51.7

 Four or more 2.0 16.0 13.9 5.6 10.5 51.9

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 8.9 24.8 8.6 6.8 8.4 42.7

 GED/high school equivalent* 3.3 14.7 7.6 8.0 14.4 52.0

 None* ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 12.9 27.7 5.1 7.5 7.2 39.7

 Delayed* 2.9 19.4 12.8 6.1 10.9 48.0

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 10.6 30.6 8.0 7.8 6.3 36.7

 Part-time* 4.6 16.3 9.8 4.2 11.9 53.2

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 11.9 26.6 6.7 6.1 8.5 40.1

 Independent* 1.6 18.5 11.8 8.3 9.8 50.0

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 10.1 25.3 7.5 7.2 8.6 41.3

 One or more* 2.2 18.5 11.8 5.6 10.1 51.8

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 9.1 23.6 8.2 7.4 9.4 42.3

 Single parent* 3.8 25.7 9.8 3.3 5.3 52.1

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 6.4 34.0 7.3 7.2 3.8 41.4

 Worked part time 12.2 27.8 6.7 7.9 10.1 35.2

 Worked full time* 3.2 14.4 12.1 5.3 8.5 56.6

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

*Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out

of the first institution attended. For students who attained more than one degree only the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

No degree anywhere

Students with an associate’s degree goal

_______

106
Table 4.3-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of attaining

Table 4.3-A.—a bachelor’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained anyTable 4.3-A.—where and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by first institution type and academic 

Table 4.3-A.—preparation

Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 53.3 4.6 3.0 12.5 3.6 23.0

Type of first institution

 4-year

 Public 57.3 3.0 2.2 14.6 2.6 20.3

 Private not-for-profit 73.0 1.8 1.3 7.2 2.0 14.7

 Private for-profit 26.6 12.6 20.8 8.0 2.6 29.4

 2-year

 Public 22.9 10.5 5.8 14.7 7.5 38.6

 Private not-for-profit ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Private for-profit ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Less-than-2-year

 Public ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Private for-profit ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Level of first institution

 4-year 62.7 2.7 2.1 11.9 2.4 18.3

 2-year 22.6 11.0 5.8 14.5 7.5 38.5

 Less-than-2-year ‡‡‡ ‡‡ ‡

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 47.2 5.3 4.1 13.5 4.5 25.5

 One 64.5 1.3 1.0 12.8 1.9 18.5

 More than one 80.2 1.2 0.2 8.3 0.6 9.5

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 30.7 5.8 3.4 17.6 7.7 34.8

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 58.2 4.4 1.9 12.9 2.8 19.9

 High quartile (1030–1600) 77.0 1.2 0.6 8.7 1.3 11.3

Grade point average in high school

 B’s or less 37.9 6.8 3.2 16.3 5.5 30.4

 B+ to A- 61.4 2.4 2.1 12.5 2.2 19.5

 Mostly A’s 80.7 2.0 1.3 8.2 0.8 7.0

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 56.1 4.9 2.3 9.6 6.9 20.3

 Less than bachelor’s degree ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Bachelor’s degree 36.6 7.3 3.5 13.5 3.5 35.6

 Advanced degree 59.3 3.5 3.1 12.8 3.2 18.2

First degree attained by 2001

 None † † † 31.9 9.2 58.9

 Certificate 8.5 6.0 85.5 † † †

 Associate’s degree 27.5 72.5 † † † †

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

†Not applicable.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended. For students who attained more than one degree only the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

No degree anywhere

Students with a bachelor’s degree goal

_______

107
Table 4.3-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of attaining

Table 4.3-B.—a bachelor’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained anyTable 4.3-B.—where and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by attendance patterns and GPA

Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 53.3 4.6 3.0 12.5 3.6 23.0

Number of institutions attended

 One 63.0 2.3 0.9 7.3 1.2 25.4

 Two 45.4 6.4 4.5 15.0 6.7 22.0

 Three or more 27.9 11.4 9.0 31.5 6.2 13.9

Co-enrollment at two institutions

 Never co-enrolled 52.5 4.6 2.9 12.1 3.7 24.3

 Sometimes co-enrolled 58.5 4.9 3.6 15.0 3.1 15.0

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 67.9 3.2 1.2 7.9 0.9 19.0

 Mixed 36.2 7.1 5.0 19.3 7.3 25.1

 Always part-time # 0.4 10.4 11.1 7.2 70.8

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 62.8 2.3 1.6 7.9 2.3 23.1

 Upward transfer 46.1 10.5 2.3 24.6 1.7 14.9

 Lateral transfer 36.9 6.0 4.4 26.3 2.9 23.5

 Downward transfer 8.5 15.4 13.3 10.2 19.8 32.8

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 65.3 3.4 1.4 7.5 1.4 21.0

 Two enrollment spells 18.3 9.1 7.9 26.4 8.1 30.2

 Three or more enrollment spells 4.9 5.0 8.6 36.1 20.3 25.1

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 23.5 5.8 5.1 16.6 7.1 41.9

 2.25–3.25 62.2 3.3 2.3 11.8 1.8 18.6

 Over 3.25 70.7 5.6 2.0 8.2 2.3 11.2

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out

of the first institution attended. For students who attained more than one degree only the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

No degree anywhere

Students with a bachelor’s degree goal

_______

108
Table 4.3-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of attaining

Table 4.3-C.—a bachelor’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained anyTable 4.3-C.—where and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by demographic characteristics

Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 53.3 4.6 3.0 12.5 3.6 23.0

Gender

 Male 48.4 4.9 3.2 14.4 3.2 26.0

 Female 57.8 4.4 2.8 10.8 3.9 20.4

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 60.2 4.0 2.3 11.7 3.2 18.6

 19 years 41.0 5.6 3.7 16.6 5.6 27.5

 20–23 years 22.6 7.1 5.3 14.2 3.5 47.3

 24–29 years 17.0 15.5 2.2 13.6 1.0 50.7

 30 or older 20.6 4.9 10.1 17.8 0.8 45.9

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 57.5 4.3 1.8 11.5 3.5 21.4

 Black, non-Hispanic 37.1 3.7 5.9 14.5 4.1 34.7

 Hispanic 39.5 7.5 6.9 15.5 4.4 26.3

 Asian/Pacific Islander 58.5 2.6 4.0 13.2 2.9 18.8

 American Indian/Alaska Native 62.1 # # 15.8 2.0 20.2

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 56.9 4.3 2.7 12.4 3.6 20.2

 Single, no children (independent) 23.0 10.1 4.2 13.1 8.0 41.6

 Single with children 23.6 9.2 7.4 12.6 1.1 46.1

 Married 22.8 5.3 6.6 15.9 1.5 48.0

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 40.1 5.0 5.0 13.7 4.8 31.4

 Some postsecondary 41.5 6.8 3.0 13.7 6.3 28.7

 Bachelor’s degree 58.5 5.2 2.4 12.9 1.8 19.2

 Advanced degree 72.2 2.1 1.2 9.7 2.3 12.6

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 64.8 3.5 2.4 9.6 1.9 17.7

 Student working 51.3 4.6 3.1 13.9 4.3 22.8

 Employee who is enrolled 23.2 7.3 5.6 14.1 5.8 44.1

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 43.5 5.9 5.2 14.5 5.8 25.2

 $25,000–44,999 49.3 5.4 3.2 14.1 4.4 23.7

 $45,000–69,999 60.3 2.9 1.3 13.0 3.4 19.2

 $70,000 or greater 69.5 3.3 1.6 9.1 1.5 14.9

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended. For students who attained more than one degree only the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

No degree anywhere

Students with a bachelor’s degree goal

_______

109
Table 4.3-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students with a goal of attaining

Table 4.3-D.—a bachelor’s degree when they first enrolled, according to the highest degree attained anyTable 4.3-D.—where and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors when they first

Table 4.3-D.—enrolled

Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 53.3 4.6 3.0 12.5 3.6 23.0

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 66.3 3.0 1.7 10.3 1.9 16.8

 One 38.7 7.4 2.9 18.6 7.9 24.4

 Two or three 18.7 8.5 9.1 14.6 6.2 42.9

 Four or more 12.3 7.7 8.5 15.6 4.7 51.2

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 54.7 4.4 2.6 12.4 3.6 22.3

 GED/high school equivalent* 16.1 12.9 9.2 12.8 2.4 46.6

 None* ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 59.2 3.6 2.1 12.0 3.6 19.5

 Delayed* 29.9 8.7 5.7 14.3 3.5 37.8

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 58.9 4.1 2.1 11.7 2.8 20.2

 Part-time* 24.9 7.7 8.3 16.7 7.1 35.3

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 56.9 4.3 2.7 12.4 3.6 20.2

 Independent* 23.1 8.0 6.0 14.1 3.7 45.3

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 55.2 4.4 2.8 12.4 3.7 21.5

 One or more* 22.0 8.5 8.1 15.2 1.2 44.9

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 54.5 4.5 2.9 12.5 3.7 22.0

 Single parent* 23.6 9.2 7.4 12.6 1.1 46.1

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 64.8 3.5 2.4 9.6 1.9 17.7

 Worked part time 53.3 5.2 2.2 13.1 4.0 22.3

 Worked full time* 23.0 4.6 8.0 17.6 6.0 40.7

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

*Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out

of the first institution attended. For students who attained more than one degree only the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

No degree anywhere

Students with a bachelor’s degree goal

_______

110
Table 4.4-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were recent high

Table 4.4-A.—school graduates with a goal of attaining a bachelor’s degree when they first enrolled, accordTable 4.4-A.—ing to the highest degree attained anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by

Table 4.4-A.—first institution type and academic preparation 

Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 59.2 3.6 2.1 12.0 3.6 19.5

Type of first institution

 4-year

 Public 61.8 2.5 2.0 14.0 2.4 17.4

 Private not-for-profit 76.7 1.6 0.7 6.5 1.7 12.8

 Private for-profit ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 2-year

 Public 26.1 9.3 4.6 15.6 9.6 34.8

 Private not-for-profit ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Private for-profit ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Less-than-2-year

 Public ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Private for-profit ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Level of first institution

 4-year 67.4 2.2 1.5 11.1 2.2 15.6

 2-year 25.8 9.5 4.6 15.5 9.6 35.0

 Less-than-2-year ‡‡‡ ‡‡ ‡

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 52.8 4.0 3.0 13.1 4.8 22.4

 One 70.8 0.9 0.9 12.5 1.8 13.1

 More than one 84.1 1.0 0.2 6.0 0.5 8.3

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 28.8 6.5 3.5 18.8 8.3 34.2

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 61.5 3.5 1.6 12.2 2.7 18.6

 High quartile (1030–1600) 78.9 0.5 0.3 8.7 1.4 10.2

Grade point average in high school

 B’s or less 39.9 6.0 2.0 16.7 5.7 29.7

 B+ to A- 62.6 2.2 2.1 12.2 2.0 19.1

 Mostly A’s 82.1 1.4 0.5 8.3 0.8 6.9

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 61.7 4.2 1.3 8.8 5.3 18.6

 Less than bachelor’s degree † † † † † †

 Bachelor’s degree 43.6 6.9 1.9 13.2 4.4 29.9

 Advanced degree 64.1 2.4 2.4 12.0 3.3 15.8

First degree attained by 2001

 None † † † 34.1 10.4 55.5

 Certificate 13.6 7.1 79.2 † † †

 Associate’s degree 28.9 71.1 † † † †

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

†Not applicable.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended. Recent high school graduates are those who did not delay entry into postsecondary education (received regular 

high school diplomas in 1995 and were enrolled in the 1995–96 academic year). For students who attained more than one degree only

the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Recent high school graduates with a bachelor’s degree goal

No degree anywhere

_______

111
Table 4.4-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were recent high

Table 4.4-B.—school graduates with a goal of attaining a bachelor’s degree when they first enrolled, accordTable 4.4-B.—ing to the highest degree attained anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by 

Table 4.4-B.—attendance patterns and GPA

Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 59.2 3.6 2.1 12.0 3.6 19.5

Number of institutions attended

 One 71.1 1.0 0.5 7.0 1.0 19.5

 Two 49.0 5.7 3.1 13.6 7.0 21.6

 Three or more 30.2 10.8 7.6 32.3 6.6 12.5

Co-enrollment at two institutions

 Never co-enrolled 58.5 3.6 2.1 11.3 3.7 20.8

 Sometimes co-enrolled 63.1 3.8 2.2 16.2 3.5 11.2

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 71.5 2.7 1.0 7.3 0.8 16.6

 Mixed 40.8 5.4 3.5 20.1 7.7 22.5

 Always part-time ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 70.2 1.1 0.7 7.9 2.4 17.8

 Upward transfer 48.6 10.2 0.6 22.9 2.3 15.5

 Lateral transfer 39.5 5.6 4.5 24.4 2.6 23.4

 Downward transfer 10.6 14.2 13.3 10.0 19.7 32.1

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 71.3 2.5 0.7 7.2 1.6 16.8

 Two enrollment spells 19.7 8.8 6.6 26.9 8.3 29.6

 Three or more enrollment spells 5.6 2.0 8.7 35.9 23.0 24.8

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 25.8 6.6 4.5 16.6 8.0 38.4

 2.25–3.25 66.5 3.1 1.2 11.2 1.8 16.2

 Over 3.25 80.4 2.1 1.4 7.3 1.8 7.1

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out 

of the first institution attended. Recent high school graduates are those who did not delay entry into postsecondary education 

(received regular high school diplomas in 1995 and were enrolled in the 1995–96 academic year). For students who attained

more than one degree only the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Recent high school graduates with a bachelor’s degree goal

No degree anywhere

_______

112
Table 4.4-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were recent high

Table 4.4-C.—school graduates with a goal of attaining a bachelor’s degree when they first enrolled, accordTable 4.4-C.—ing to the highest degree attained anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by 

Table 4.4-C.—demographic characteristics

Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 59.2 3.6 2.1 12.0 3.6 19.5

Gender

 Male 54.3 3.9 2.1 14.1 3.6 22.0

 Female 63.4 3.4 2.1 10.1 3.7 17.3

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 61.2 3.5 2.0 11.7 3.3 18.4

 19 years 37.5 6.0 4.4 16.8 5.0 30.4

 20–23 years † † † † † †

 24–29 years † † † † † †

 30 or older † † † † † †

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 63.0 3.1 1.3 11.3 3.5 17.8

 Black, non-Hispanic 43.6 3.6 3.7 13.2 4.5 31.5

 Hispanic 43.7 7.6 5.2 16.2 4.2 23.1

 Asian/Pacific Islander 66.2 2.2 4.8 10.2 2.7 13.9

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡‡‡ ‡‡ ‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 59.9 3.6 2.1 12.0 3.7 18.7

 Single, no children (independent) 52.8 2.8 1.0 11.0 1.4 31.1

 Single with children ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Married ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 46.7 4.9 4.2 12.9 4.9 26.5

 Some postsecondary 46.4 4.5 2.7 13.2 5.6 27.6

 Bachelor’s degree 64.4 4.6 1.3 12.2 2.2 15.4

 Advanced degree 75.4 0.9 0.7 9.3 2.6 11.1

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 69.6 2.6 2.4 9.8 1.8 13.8

 Student working 55.4 3.9 1.9 13.2 4.4 21.3

 Employee who is enrolled 29.6 6.2 4.5 12.4 10.3 37.0

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 46.2 4.8 4.5 15.7 6.3 22.5

 $25,000–44,999 53.4 4.9 1.7 13.3 4.3 22.4

 $45,000–69,999 62.4 2.6 1.3 12.4 3.7 17.8

 $70,000 or greater 70.8 2.9 1.5 8.7 1.6 14.5

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

†Not applicable.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended. Recent high school graduates are those who did not delay entry into postsecondary education (received regular 

high school diplomas in 1995 and were enrolled in the 1995–96 academic year). For students who attained more than one degree only

the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Recent high school graduates with a bachelor’s degree goal

No degree anywhere

_______

113
Table 4.4-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were recent high

Table 4.4-D.—school graduates with a goal of attaining a bachelor’s degree when they first enrolled, accordTable 4.4-D.—ing to the highest degree attained anywhere and 6-year persistence status as of June 2001, by 

Table 4.4-D.—persistence risk factors when they first enrolled

Highest degree attained anywhere

At LessBachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year than-4-year

degree degree Certificate institution institution Not enrolled

 Total 59.2 3.6 2.1 12.0 3.6 19.5

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 66.8 3.1 1.7 10.1 1.8 16.5

 One 37.4 5.4 2.7 20.6 9.8 24.1

 Two or three 18.0 7.1 5.8 13.4 13.8 41.9

 Four or more ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 59.4 3.7 2.0 12.0 3.6 19.3

 GED/high school equivalent* † † † † † †

 None* † † † † † †

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 59.2 3.6 2.1 12.0 3.6 19.5

 Delayed* † † † † † †

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 63.1 3.4 1.7 11.3 2.7 17.8

 Part-time* 31.2 6.1 6.4 16.0 10.5 29.8

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 59.9 3.6 2.1 12.0 3.7 18.7

 Independent* 36.2 3.2 4.9 10.9 2.3 42.5

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 59.9 3.6 2.1 12.0 3.6 18.8

 One or more* 24.1 3.6 6.3 10.8 3.0 52.3

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 59.8 3.6 2.1 12.0 3.6 18.8

 Single parent* ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 69.6 2.6 2.4 9.8 1.8 13.8

 Worked part time 56.0 4.4 1.8 12.6 4.3 21.0

 Worked full time* 35.0 3.6 4.1 17.4 6.6 33.2

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

†Not applicable.

*Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Total persistence and attainment rates include students who transferred out of the

first institution attended. Recent high school graduates are those who did not delay entry into postsecondary education (received regular 

high school diplomas in 1995 and were enrolled in the 1995–96 academic year). For students who attained more than one degree only

the highest degree earned is shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

Recent high school graduates with a bachelor’s degree goal

No degree anywhere

_______

114
115 

Section 5: Last Year Enrolled in Postsecondary Education 

Without a Degree 

The tables in section 5 show the distribution of all beginning students by the last academic 

year that they were enrolled anywhere in postsecondary education if they left without a degree 

and never returned by June 2001, or whether they were still enrolled somewhere in the spring of 

2001 or whether they had attained any degree anywhere by June 2001. The percentage who left 

permanently is based on their non-enrollment by the end of each academic year (in June). The 

departure of those who were enrolled at the end of one year but did not return the next year is 

counted as occurring in the second year, rather than in the first year. 

Although the percentages are displayed for the types of institutions first attended, they do 

not necessarily reflect what happened at the first institution. The difference between the 

beginners who stayed at the first institution and those who transferred is shown under first 

transfer direction on the tables designated with a “-B.” 

The percentage of beginners who left permanently during the first year is of particular 

interest. The rates of first-year attrition were especially high among beginners who were always 

enrolled part time and among those who worked and considered themselves to be primarily 

employees rather than students. 

All Beginning Students 

Table 5.0-A: First institution and goal 

• A higher percentage of beginning students left postsecondary education without a 

degree during the first year of their enrollment in 1995–96 than in any later years (12 

percent). 

• Among 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students, those who started at 4-year 

institutions were less likely than those who began at either 2-year or at less-than-2-year 

institutions to have left without a degree during the first year (5 percent vs. 17–21 

percent). No significant difference was detected in the first year departure rates of 

students beginning at the latter two types of institutions.

• Students who had either no degree goal or a certificate goal were more likely to leave 

without a degree in the first year than those with an associate’s degree goal (22–33 
Section 5: Last Year Enrolled in Postsecondary Education Without a Degree

116 

percent vs. 11 percent). Beginners with a bachelor’s degree goal when they first started 

in 1995–96 were less likely to leave during the first year than any of the others (5 

percent). 

Table 5.0-B: Enrollment patterns 

• About one-half (46 percent) of all beginning students who were always enrolled part 

time left postsecondary education by the end of their first year, and 14 percent had 

attained any degree by June 2001. Among students who were always enrolled full time, 

12 percent left by the end of the first year, and 64 percent had attained a degree by June 

2001. 

• About one-fifth (18 percent) of all beginning students who never transferred from their 

original institution left postsecondary education without completing a degree by the 

end of their first year, about one-half (51 percent) had attained a degree by 2001, and 9 

percent were still enrolled without a degree in 2001. Among students who transferred, 

about one-fourth (24–28 percent) were still enrolled without a degree in 2001.

• Students who were continuously enrolled after they started postsecondary education in 

1995–96 were more likely than those with two or more enrollment spells to have 

attained a degree by 2001 (58 percent vs. 29–35 percent). 

Table 5.0-C: Demographic characteristics 

• Among 1995–96 beginning postsecondary education students, those who were 18 or 

younger at the time of initial enrollment were less likely than any other age group to 

have left without a degree in the first year (6 percent compared with 11–30 percent). 

• Beginning students who considered themselves to be primarily employees rather than 

students were more likely to leave postsecondary education without a degree by the 

end of their first year than either those who did not work while enrolled or those who 

worked but considered themselves to be primarily students (28 percent vs. 7–10 

percent). 

Table 5.0-D: Persistence risk factors 

• Among all 1995–96 beginning students, the likelihood of leaving postsecondary 

education without a degree during the first year was directly related to the number of 

persistence risk factors associated with the students when they first enrolled, ranging 

from 3 percent for those with no risk factors to 29 percent for those with four or more 

risk factors. 

• Beginners with a high school diploma were less likely than those without a regular 

diploma to have left without a degree during the first year (11 percent vs. 24–35 

percent). No significant difference was detected between those who had a GED or high 

school equivalent and students with no high school credential. 
 Section 5: Last Year Enrolled in Postsecondary Education Without a Degree 

117 

• Beginning students with any of the following individual risk factors were more likely 

to leave postsecondary education without a degree by the end of the first year than 

those who did not have that risk factor present: delayed entry after high school (22 vs. 

6 percent); began as part-time students (22 vs. 9 percent); were financially independent 

of parents (26 vs. 7 percent); had children, whether married or unmarried (27 vs. 9 

percent); or were single parents (21 vs. 11 percent). 

• Students who worked full time while enrolled when they started postsecondary 

education were more likely than students who either did not work or worked only part 

time to have left without a degree by the end of the first year (23 vs. 9–10 percent). 

Public 2-Year Institutions 

Table 5.1-A: Degree programs 

• Among 1995–96 beginners at public 2-year institutions, a higher percentage left 

postsecondary education without a degree in the first year (17 percent) than in any 

other year. 

• Among 1995–96 public 2-year beginners, those who began in a vocational certificate 

program were more likely than students in associate’s degree programs (either in the 

applied field fields or liberal arts/undeclared) to have left without a degree during the 

first year (33 percent vs. 13–15 percent). No difference was detected among the three 

groups in the percentage who had attained a degree by 2001.

Table 5.1-B: Enrollment patterns 

• About one-half (47 percent) of the students beginning at public 2-year institutions who 

were always enrolled part time left without a degree by the end of the first year, 

compared with 17 percent of those who were always enrolled full time. 

• About one-third (31–38 percent) of the beginners at public 2-year institutions who 

were not continuously enrolled (2 or more enrollment spells) were still enrolled 

without a degree somewhere in postsecondary education in 2001, compared with 8 

percent of those who were continuously enrolled. 

• Students who started at public 2-year institutions in 1995–96 and had a first-year GPA 

over 3.25 were more likely to have attained a degree somewhere by 2001 than those 

who had a first-year GPA below 2.25 (47 percent vs. 23 percent), but no difference 

was detected in the percentage who left during the first year. 

• Among beginners at public 2-year institutions who transferred to 4-year institutions, 

57–58 percent of those who last attended a public or a private not-for-profit 4-year 

institution had attained a degree, and 28 percent were still enrolled without a degree in 

2001. 
Section 5: Last Year Enrolled in Postsecondary Education Without a Degree

118 

Table 5.1-C: By demographic characteristics 

• Among 1995–96 beginners at public 2-year institutions, Asian/Pacific Islander students 

were less likely to leave without a degree during the first year (2 percent) than any 

other racial/ethnic group. No significant difference could be detected in the first-year 

attrition rates among students of any other racial/ethnic backgrounds. 

• The first-year attrition of the beginners at public 2-year institutions who worked while 

enrolled and considered themselves to be primarily employees was about one-third (31 

percent). 

• No difference was detected among dependent student family income levels in the 

percentage of beginners at public 2-year institutions who eventually attained a degree 

of some type at some postsecondary institution by June 2001. 

Table 5.1-D: By persistence risk factors 

• Among 1995–96 beginners at public 2-year institutions, those who began with two or 

more risk factors were more likely than those with either one or no risk factors to have 

left without a degree by the end of the first year (20–32 percent vs. 5–9 percent). 

• Beginners at public 2-year institutions with any of the following individual risk factors 

were more likely to leave without a degree by the end of the first year than those who 

did not have the risk factor present: delayed enrollment after high school (25 vs. 10 

percent); part-time attendance intensity when first enrolled (23 vs. 12 percent); 

financially independent of parents (30 vs. 10 percent); or, having at least one child at 

time of initial enrollment (31 vs. 13 percent). 

• Beginners at public 2-year institutions who worked full time while enrolled in 1995–96 

were less likely to have attained any degree at any institution by June 2001 than those 

who worked part time or did not work in the first year (24 vs. 41–43 percent). 

Public 4-Year Institutions 

Table 5.2-A: Total by last year enrolled 

• Among the beginners at public 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal in 

1995–96, just 5 percent left postsecondary education without a degree by the end of the 

first year. In fact, no difference could be detected in the percentage who left 

postsecondary education without a degree in any of the first five years from 1995–96 to 

1999–2000. 

• Among the students who began at public 4-year institutions in 1995–96 and had not 

attained any degree anywhere, 44 percent were still enrolled in postsecondary 

education in the spring of 2001. 
 Section 5: Last Year Enrolled in Postsecondary Education Without a Degree 

119 

Table 5.2-B: Enrollment patterns 

• About one-half (49 percent) of the beginners at public 4-year institutions who were 

always enrolled part time left postsecondary education without a degree by the end of 

the first year. 

• Among the 1995–96 beginners at public 4-year institutions who were always enrolled 

full time, 70 percent attained some type of degree by June 2001. 

• Among the 1995–96 beginners at public 4-year institutions who never transferred from 

their original college or university, 7 percent left postsecondary education by the end of 

the first year, and about two-thirds (66 percent) attained a degree of some type by June 

2001. 

• Compared with those who never transferred, the 1995–96 beginners at public 4-year 

institutions who transferred to another 4-year institution (lateral transfers) were less 

likely to have attained a degree (51 vs. 66 percent) and more likely to be still enrolled 

without a degree in 2001 (34 vs. 12 percent). 

• Among beginning students who started at public 4-year institutions, those whose first 

year GPA was less than 2.25 were more likely than those with a first year GPA of 2.25 

or higher to leave postsecondary education by the end of the first year (11 percent vs. 

2–3 percent). 

Table 5.2-C: Demographic characteristics 

• Asian/Pacific Islander students were less likely to leave postsecondary education by the 

end of the first year than beginners at 4-year public institutions from any other racialethnic background. No significant difference in first-year attrition could be detected 

among the other racial-ethnic groups. 

Table 5.2-D: Persistence risk factors 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students who started at public 4-year institutions, those 

who had no risk factors at time of initial enrollment were less likely than those who 

started with one or more risk factors to have left without a degree in the first year. 

• Beginning students at public 4-year institutions who had any of the following 

individual risk factors present when they first enrolled in 1995–96 were more likely to 

leave postsecondary education by the end of the first year than beginners who did not 

have that risk factor present: delayed enrollment after high school, part-time attendance 

in the first year enrolled, financial independence, having children, and full time 

employment when first enrolled. 

• Beginning students at public 4-year institutions who did not work at all while enrolled 

during their first year were less likely to leave postsecondary education by the end of 

the first year than those who worked part time (3 percent compared with 5 percent). 
Section 5: Last Year Enrolled in Postsecondary Education Without a Degree

120 

Private Not-for-Profit 4-Year Institutions 

Table 5.3-A: Total by last year enrolled 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions, about 

3 percent left postsecondary education without a degree in each of the first five 

academic years. 

Table 5.3-B: Enrollment patterns 

• About one-third (38 percent) of the 1995–96 beginners at private not-for-profit 4-year 

institutions who were always enrolled part time left postsecondary education by the 

end of the first year and never returned. 

• Among the 1995–96 beginning students who started at private not-for-profit 4-year 

institutions, those with a first year GPA of less than 2.25 were more likely than 

students whose GPA was 2.25 or above to have had left postsecondary education 

without a degree by the end of the first year (10 percent compared with 2 percent). 

• Among 1995–96 beginning students who started at a private not-for-profit 4-year 

institution and were also last enrolled at a private not-for-profit 4-year institution 

(either the same one or a different one), 82 percent had attained a degree by June 2001, 

compared with 50 percent of those who transferred and were last enrolled at a public 4-

year institution. About one-fourth (24 percent) of the transfers to public 4-year 

institutions were still enrolled without a degree in the spring of 2001. 

Table 5.3-C: Demographic characteristics 

• Those students beginning at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions who worked and 

considered themselves to be primarily employees while enrolled in 1995–96 were more 

likely to leave postsecondary education during the first year than students who did not 

work or students who worked but considered themselves to be primarily students (17 

percent vs. 2–3 percent). 

Table 5.3-D: Persistence risk factors 

• Among 1995–96 students who started at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions, just 2 

percent of those with no risk factors left postsecondary education by the end of the first 

year, compared with 6 percent of those with one risk factor and 17–21 percent of those 

with two or more risk factors. 

• The first-year attrition of 1995–96 beginning students at private not-for-profit 4-year 

institutions who worked full time while enrolled was 13 percent, compared with 2–3 

percent of those who worked part time or did not work while enrolled. 
Table 5.0-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to whether

Table 5.0-A.—they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not attain, the year they left postTable 5.0-A.—secondary education, by first institution type and first degree plans

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 12.4 5.5 6.7 4.3 3.9 2.0 14.4 50.8

Type of first institution

 4-year

 Public 4.8 4.0 4.3 3.7 3.8 1.9 17.3 60.2

 Private not-for-profit 3.7 3.0 3.4 3.0 2.5 1.6 9.4 73.5

 Private for-profit 14.9 9.5 6.4 2.1 1.9 1.5 11.1 52.7

 2-year

 Public 17.2 6.9 9.3 5.8 5.2 2.6 17.4 35.7

 Private not-for-profit 11.8 7.5 7.9 1.8 3.2 1.7 8.2 58.0

 Private for-profit 19.4 9.2 5.4 3.8 2.8 0.9 4.2 54.5

 Less-than-2-year

 Public 22.9 4.6 6.1 2.1 0.6 0.1 7.5 56.1

 Private for-profit 20.8 5.2 5.7 0.8 1.1 0.8 2.4 63.1

Level of first institution

 4-year 4.5 3.7 4.0 3.4 3.3 1.8 14.4 64.9

 2-year 17.2 7.0 9.0 5.6 5.0 2.5 16.4 37.4

 Less-than-2-year 21.4 5.2 5.8 1.1 1.0 0.7 3.5 61.4

Degree plans at first institution

 Certificate 24.9 6.2 6.8 1.8 2.4 1.0 5.1 51.9

 Associate’s degree 14.1 7.2 9.2 5.9 4.6 2.5 18.2 38.4

 Bachelor’s degree 3.7 3.3 3.9 3.3 3.3 1.6 14.7 66.2

Degree goal in 1995–96

 None 32.9 8.3 6.1 3.0 4.9 1.1 16.1 27.6

 Certificate 22.0 5.2 5.5 1.0 3.4 0.9 5.4 56.7

 Associate’s degree 11.3 8.1 9.4 7.3 3.6 4.1 15.6 40.6

 Bachelor’s degree 5.0 3.5 5.4 3.7 3.8 1.5 16.1 60.9

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 16.7 8.5 4.8 5.2 3.5 1.1 11.2 49.0

 Less than bachelor’s degree 32.7 8.3 4.8 2.8 3.0 0.7 5.2 42.3

 Bachelor’s degree 10.9 6.5 9.6 5.6 4.4 3.5 17.5 42.1

 Advanced degree 4.7 3.4 6.3 3.4 4.1 1.6 17.0 59.6

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

All beginning students

_______

121
Table 5.0-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to whether

Table 5.0-B.—they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not attain, the year they left postTable 5.0-B.—secondary education, by attendance patterns, GPA, and last institution type

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 12.4 5.5 6.7 4.3 3.9 2.0 14.4 50.8

Number of institutions attended

 One 20.5 7.6 7.2 4.2 2.6 1.5 7.4 49.2

 Two 0.5 3.3 7.3 5.1 6.0 2.5 20.2 55.2

 Three or more # 0.1 1.7 2.6 6.0 4.0 38.0 47.6

Co-enrollment at two institutions

 Never co-enrolled 13.9 6.1 6.6 4.4 4.0 2.0 13.5 49.5

 Sometimes co-enrolled 0.1 1.0 7.2 3.0 3.3 2.0 21.7 61.8

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 11.9 5.6 4.4 2.9 2.2 1.1 7.6 64.3

 Mixed 3.0 4.4 8.5 6.5 5.5 3.0 22.9 46.3

 Always part-time 45.5 9.1 9.1 2.2 5.5 2.4 12.1 14.2

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 18.0 7.1 7.0 4.1 2.7 1.6 9.0 50.6

 Upward transfer 0.9 1.6 2.8 2.5 6.4 1.8 23.5 60.5

 Lateral transfer 0.1 2.2 5.7 6.1 6.5 4.2 27.2 48.0

 Downward transfer 0.1 3.5 13.2 6.5 7.1 3.2 27.7 38.8

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 17.8 6.6 5.6 2.7 2.2 0.8 6.3 58.1

 Two enrollment spells † 3.7 10.2 8.4 7.6 3.7 31.0 35.4

 Three or more enrollment spells † † 4.6 6.0 9.7 9.5 41.5 28.8

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 18.7 8.3 10.2 6.9 5.2 2.9 19.2 28.6

 2.25–3.25 6.8 4.5 6.1 3.7 4.3 1.5 13.5 59.7

 Over 3.25 10.7 4.1 4.6 1.8 2.5 2.1 9.9 64.3

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year 23.0 9.2 11.3 7.4 5.7 3.5 13.8 26.1

 Public 4-year 3.6 3.0 3.5 3.2 4.4 1.6 19.5 61.3

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 4.1 2.6 1.6 1.9 2.0 1.1 11.4 75.4

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 19.8 6.7 7.2 1.6 1.2 0.5 4.7 58.3

 Other institutions 14.5 5.5 11.8 2.3 1.4 1.7 9.4 53.5

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

All beginning students

_______

122
Table 5.0-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to whether 

Table 5.0-C.—they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not attain, the year they left postTable 5.0-C.—secondary education, by demographic characteristics

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 12.4 5.5 6.7 4.3 3.9 2.0 14.4 50.8

Gender

 Male 11.9 5.5 7.5 4.1 4.0 2.3 16.1 48.8

 Female 12.8 5.6 6.0 4.4 3.9 1.8 13.0 52.5

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 5.6 4.1 6.3 4.4 3.6 1.8 15.0 59.2

 19 years 10.8 5.6 7.8 4.5 4.3 2.6 17.8 46.7

 20–23 years 18.6 6.3 9.8 5.4 3.9 1.5 17.6 37.0

 24–29 years 26.2 8.5 5.7 1.9 2.5 1.5 10.7 42.9

 30 or older 30.1 9.4 5.2 2.9 3.7 2.5 7.9 38.3

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 12.1 5.1 5.8 4.2 3.6 2.2 14.0 53.1

 Black, non-Hispanic 17.8 7.3 8.7 4.7 5.3 1.6 14.5 40.2

 Hispanic 12.7 7.0 9.0 4.1 3.9 2.3 16.4 44.7

 Asian/Pacific Islander 2.2 3.4 8.0 6.2 5.4 0.8 16.4 57.6

 American Indian/Alaska Native 11.7 4.0 14.7 3.5 7.0 0.8 11.4 47.0

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 6.8 4.4 6.4 4.9 4.0 2.2 15.5 55.7

 Single, no children (independent) 22.0 9.2 6.1 4.0 2.7 0.2 15.3 40.7

 Single with children 21.3 7.2 9.6 3.3 2.2 1.9 8.6 46.0

 Married 31.3 8.2 5.5 1.4 4.6 2.2 12.8 34.1

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 17.4 7.7 7.8 3.6 4.1 2.2 12.4 44.8

 Some postsecondary 12.5 6.6 8.8 6.3 3.2 2.2 17.8 42.6

 Bachelor’s degree 7.8 2.8 5.0 4.1 3.6 1.5 15.2 60.0

 Advanced degree 2.9 2.2 4.1 2.9 3.6 1.2 14.9 68.2

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 10.3 6.0 6.4 2.5 2.3 1.7 10.0 60.9

 Student working 7.0 5.3 6.5 4.1 5.0 2.3 17.6 52.2

 Employee who is enrolled 28.3 5.0 9.0 6.3 3.4 1.6 13.6 32.8

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 10.1 4.7 8.0 6.8 3.1 2.0 15.2 50.1

 $25,000–44,999 7.4 5.4 6.5 4.9 4.1 2.8 17.2 51.7

 $45,000–69,999 7.1 4.4 6.2 4.9 3.8 2.3 15.4 56.0

 $70,000 or greater 2.5 3.0 5.0 3.2 5.1 1.7 14.4 65.2

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

All beginning students

_______

123
Table 5.0-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to whether

Table 5.0-D.—they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not attain, the year they left postTable 5.0-D.—secondary education, by persistence risk factors when they first enrolled

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 12.4 5.5 6.7 4.3 3.9 2.0 14.4 50.8

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 3.1 3.3 5.1 3.6 2.8 1.8 12.9 67.4

 One 9.2 6.1 7.2 5.7 5.7 2.9 18.9 44.3

 Two or three 19.3 7.4 8.9 5.8 3.5 2.4 17.0 35.6

 Four or more 29.2 7.6 7.1 3.0 4.8 1.3 11.5 35.5

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 10.8 5.4 6.5 4.6 3.7 2.1 14.8 52.1

 GED/high school equivalent* 23.5 5.0 10.1 2.0 4.7 1.5 12.7 40.6

 None* 34.6 10.6 4.4 0.7 8.1 0.4 5.1 36.1

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 5.9 4.1 6.3 4.7 4.1 2.1 15.4 57.5

 Delayed* 21.8 7.5 7.5 3.9 3.4 2.0 13.5 40.5

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 8.9 5.1 5.4 3.6 2.8 2.0 12.9 59.3

 Part-time* 21.6 6.9 8.2 5.4 5.8 1.8 18.0 32.5

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 6.8 4.4 6.4 4.9 4.0 2.2 15.5 55.7

 Independent* 25.8 8.1 7.0 2.6 3.3 1.6 12.0 39.5

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 9.1 5.0 6.4 4.7 3.9 2.1 15.4 53.5

 One or more* 27.3 7.5 7.5 2.3 3.3 1.9 10.5 39.8

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 11.1 5.2 6.3 4.4 4.0 2.1 15.2 51.8

 Single parent* 21.3 7.2 9.6 3.3 2.2 1.9 8.6 46.0

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 10.3 6.0 6.4 2.5 2.3 1.7 10.0 60.9

 Worked part time 8.6 4.4 6.3 4.5 3.5 2.3 16.2 54.2

 Worked full time* 22.9 6.6 8.2 6.1 6.4 2.0 16.2 31.7

*Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

All beginning students

_______

124
Table 5.1-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year

Table 5.1-A.—institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not 

Table 5.1-A.—attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by first degree plans and degree goal

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 17.2 6.9 9.3 5.8 5.2 2.6 17.4 35.7

Degree plans at first institution

 Certificate 32.6 8.0 8.5 2.1 4.6 1.4 5.7 37.1

 Associate’s degree 14.0 6.7 9.6 6.2 4.7 2.7 19.6 36.6

Degree goal in 1995–96

 None 37.9 6.7 5.9 2.2 6.3 1.1 18.8 21.2

 Certificate 29.0 6.7 5.3 0.4 8.2 0.9 7.3 42.3

 Associate’s degree 11.1 8.2 9.7 8.1 3.6 4.6 17.1 37.8

 Bachelor’s degree 11.2 4.2 11.2 5.5 5.6 0.8 22.2 39.2

Program/field at first institution

 Vocational certificate 32.6 8.0 8.5 2.1 4.6 1.4 5.7 37.1

 Associate’s applied fields 15.2 8.2 8.4 5.9 5.6 3.2 17.3 36.4

 Associate’s liberal arts/uncertain 12.9 5.4 10.7 6.5 3.9 2.2 21.7 36.8

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 20.1 12.4 6.0 6.8 6.0 2.3 15.8 30.7

 Less than bachelor’s 40.0 8.5 4.9 3.5 4.7 0.8 6.6 31.0

 Bachelor’s degree 10.7 7.1 11.5 7.1 4.9 4.4 20.2 34.3

 Advanced degree 8.5 4.7 10.9 4.4 5.9 1.3 22.8 41.5

First degree attained by 2001

 None 26.7 10.7 14.4 9.0 8.1 4.1 27.1 †

 Certificate † † † † † † † 100.0

 Associate’s degree † † † † † † † 100.0

†Not applicable.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Students who began in public 2-year institutions

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

_______

125
Table 5.1-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year instiTable 5.1-B.—tutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not 

Table 5.1-B.—attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by attendance patterns, GPA, and last 

Table 5.1-B.—institution type

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 17.2 6.9 9.3 5.8 5.2 2.6 17.4 35.7

Number of institutions attended

 One 32.0 10.7 12.2 7.0 3.6 2.6 9.5 22.5

 Two 0.8 3.4 7.9 5.4 7.0 2.0 21.0 52.5

 Three or more # # # 1.7 6.9 4.8 42.5 44.1

Co-enrollment at two institutions

 Never co-enrolled 19.4 7.6 9.4 6.1 5.4 2.7 16.1 33.3

 Sometimes co-enrolled # 1.3 8.4 3.3 4.0 1.8 27.5 53.8

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 17.4 9.0 7.1 5.0 3.2 1.8 11.0 45.5

 Mixed 4.2 5.1 10.3 7.9 6.0 2.9 22.7 41.0

 Always part-time 47.3 8.4 9.4 2.0 5.7 2.8 12.8 11.7

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 28.9 10.3 11.9 7.0 4.0 2.6 12.1 23.3

 Upward transfer 1.0 1.6 2.5 2.5 6.4 1.5 24.6 59.9

 Lateral transfer 0.2 2.3 6.6 7.7 8.5 5.5 25.4 43.9

 Downward transfer # 4.8 26.4 3.1 2.8 # 25.6 37.3

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 28.2 9.1 8.5 3.8 2.5 1.1 7.6 39.3

 Two enrollment spells † 4.1 11.9 9.6 8.8 3.3 31.4 30.8

 Three or more enrollment spells † † 4.7 6.3 11.6 12.0 38.3 27.1

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 21.9 8.1 12.4 8.0 5.4 2.8 18.5 22.8

 2.25–3.25 10.9 7.0 8.3 5.3 6.2 1.4 16.1 44.9

 Over 3.25 18.5 5.6 7.2 1.6 3.2 3.9 13.2 46.8

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year 26.3 9.7 11.2 7.2 5.1 3.2 12.3 25.0

 Public 4-year 0.2 1.1 2.7 3.2 6.8 1.0 28.1 57.1

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 3.7 1.9 # 0.7 4.2 3.0 28.2 58.3

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year # 4.8 21.3 3.1 2.8 1.5 21.4 45.1

 Other institutions # 4.1 26.5 1.2 1.3 4.3 9.0 53.7

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

Students who began in public 2-year institutions

_______

126
Table 5.1-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year instiTable 5.1-C.—tutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not 

Table 5.1-C.—attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by demographic characteristics

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 17.2 6.9 9.3 5.8 5.2 2.6 17.4 35.7

Gender

 Male 15.7 6.1 10.5 4.8 4.4 2.9 18.5 37.2

 Female 18.6 7.6 8.2 6.7 5.9 2.4 16.5 34.3

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 8.9 5.8 10.7 6.7 4.7 2.2 18.5 42.6

 19 years 12.5 5.1 10.1 5.9 5.0 2.7 22.0 36.9

 20–23 years 19.1 5.9 11.5 8.0 5.3 1.7 22.5 26.0

 24–29 years 29.9 9.1 7.2 2.1 2.6 2.3 12.2 34.7

 30 or older 34.8 11.8 4.6 2.1 5.3 4.0 9.5 27.9

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 17.0 6.4 7.9 5.5 4.5 3.0 17.9 37.8

 Black, non-Hispanic 26.3 8.0 11.5 6.7 7.4 0.8 13.3 26.0

 Hispanic 16.0 9.4 13.9 5.7 4.4 2.7 18.5 29.5

 Asian/Pacific Islander 2.2 5.8 10.3 10.3 10.3 1.2 21.6 38.4

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 10.0 5.3 10.1 7.6 5.4 2.7 19.1 39.7

 Single, no children (independent) 31.7 8.1 6.8 4.1 3.0 # 21.5 24.7

 Single with children 21.1 8.3 12.0 4.4 2.2 3.4 9.5 39.2

 Married 33.8 10.0 5.0 0.9 5.8 3.2 16.2 25.3

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 21.1 9.0 9.5 4.5 5.4 2.7 13.4 34.4

 Some postsecondary 15.8 8.4 12.6 7.9 3.0 2.7 21.2 28.5

 Bachelor’s degree 11.8 3.2 7.7 5.8 4.6 1.9 19.4 45.6

 Advanced degree 6.8 4.0 6.4 4.6 6.4 0.8 24.9 46.0

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 16.4 10.4 12.0 2.5 2.2 2.8 11.0 42.8

 Student working 8.7 6.8 8.8 5.4 7.1 2.9 22.3 38.0

 Employee who is enrolled 30.7 4.7 10.2 6.9 3.6 1.8 14.8 27.3

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 12.6 4.7 11.6 10.9 3.1 2.1 14.6 40.5

 $25,000–44,999 9.4 6.1 9.2 6.2 5.2 3.4 21.2 39.3

 $45,000–69,999 12.3 6.3 10.4 6.7 4.2 2.9 19.2 38.0

 $70,000 or greater 4.1 3.8 8.8 6.2 10.7 2.5 22.6 41.3

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

Students who began in public 2-year institutions

_______

127
Table 5.1-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 2-year instituTable 5.1-D.—tions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not attain,

Table 5.1-D.—the year they left postsecondary education, by persistence risk factors when they first enrolled

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 17.2 6.9 9.3 5.8 5.2 2.6 17.4 35.7

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 4.9 4.9 9.7 4.9 2.4 2.1 16.1 55.0

 One 8.9 6.1 8.8 7.7 7.4 3.8 21.0 36.3

 Two or three 20.0 7.9 11.0 7.6 4.6 3.2 20.9 24.8

 Four or more 32.3 7.4 6.8 3.4 6.0 1.6 13.3 29.3

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 15.7 6.8 9.2 6.4 4.9 2.8 17.9 36.4

 GED/high school equivalent* 24.4 4.2 12.3 2.7 4.9 2.1 18.1 31.5

 None* 35.5 12.7 3.6 # 13.0 # 6.3 28.9

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 9.5 5.5 9.8 7.1 5.3 2.6 19.3 40.9

 Delayed* 24.6 7.9 9.1 4.8 4.4 2.9 16.3 30.0

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 12.1 7.5 8.8 5.3 3.2 3.0 17.0 43.2

 Part-time* 23.2 6.6 8.9 5.7 6.2 1.9 17.5 29.9

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 10.0 5.3 10.1 7.6 5.4 2.7 19.1 39.7

 Independent* 29.7 9.1 7.4 2.6 4.2 2.6 15.3 29.2

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 13.2 6.1 9.6 6.8 5.2 2.6 19.2 37.4

 One or more* 30.7 8.7 7.6 2.4 4.1 3.0 12.6 31.0

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 16.3 6.4 8.8 6.1 5.3 2.6 18.7 35.7

 Single parent* 21.1 8.3 12.0 4.4 2.2 3.4 9.5 39.2

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 16.4 10.4 12.0 2.5 2.2 2.8 11.0 42.8

 Worked part time 11.0 5.9 8.6 5.9 4.0 2.8 20.5 41.4

 Worked full time* 26.2 5.9 9.2 7.3 7.8 2.3 16.9 24.4

#Rounds to zero.

*Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

Students who began in public 2-year institutions

_______

128
Table 5.2-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year instituTable 5.2-A.—tions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not attain,

Table 5.2-A.—the year they left postsecondary education, by first institution type and academic preparation

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 4.8 4.0 4.3 3.7 3.8 1.9 17.3 60.2

Highest offering of first institution

 Non-doctorate-granting 7.4 5.1 5.7 4.3 3.7 2.0 18.4 53.5

 Doctorate-granting 3.2 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.9 1.8 16.7 64.4

Degree goal in 1995–96

 None 13.8 8.0 6.6 5.3 2.2 1.7 24.0 38.3

 Certificate 23.6 8.0 1.1 2.7 5.9 1.7 24.3 32.8

 Associate’s degree 12.6 11.2 11.1 3.1 3.5 0.7 9.9 48.0

 Bachelor’s degree 3.6 3.5 4.0 3.4 3.8 1.9 17.2 62.5

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 5.4 4.6 5.0 4.3 3.9 2.0 19.3 55.5

 One 1.2 1.6 2.5 1.9 3.9 1.2 18.1 69.6

 More than one 1.8 2.4 3.6 1.4 2.3 1.2 8.1 79.1

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 7.7 8.3 7.0 5.1 4.6 3.8 24.6 38.9

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 4.2 3.4 3.7 3.3 3.9 1.5 17.9 62.2

 High quartile (1030–1600) 1.3 1.8 3.3 3.3 2.8 1.8 12.5 73.2

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 5.5 5.2 6.6 4.5 4.6 4.2 24.8 44.7

 B+ to A- 2.0 3.7 4.7 3.7 4.5 1.9 16.3 63.1

 Mostly A’s 1.8 1.3 1.0 1.5 1.7 0.6 11.8 80.2

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 6.5 6.4 3.1 6.1 2.1 0.9 16.8 58.2

 Less than bachelor’s 30.9 14.3 4.5 5.8 0.3 # 10.8 33.4

 Bachelor’s degree 8.7 6.0 6.9 4.3 4.4 1.4 18.2 50.2

 Advanced degree 2.4 2.7 4.1 3.1 3.8 2.0 17.2 64.7

First degree attained by 2001

 None 12.0 10.2 10.9 9.2 9.5 4.7 43.6 †

 Certificate † † † † † † † 100.0

 Associate’s degree † † † † † † † 100.0

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

Students who began in public 4-year institutions

_______

129
Table 5.2-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year instituTable 5.2-B.—tions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not attain,

Table 5.2-B.—the year they left postsecondary education, by attendance patterns, GPA, and last institution

Table 5.2-B.—type

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 4.8 4.0 4.3 3.7 3.8 1.9 17.3 60.2

Number of institutions attended

 One 7.7 5.2 4.1 3.4 2.9 1.2 10.5 65.1

 Two 0.2 3.1 5.5 4.3 5.1 2.9 24.8 54.2

 Three or more # 0.1 2.7 3.5 5.8 2.8 37.7 47.5

Co-enrollment at two institutions

 Never co-enrolled 5.4 4.5 4.5 4.0 3.9 1.9 16.8 59.0

 Sometimes co-enrolled # 0.5 3.5 1.5 3.1 1.5 21.1 68.9

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 5.1 4.6 3.7 2.8 2.8 1.2 9.7 70.1

 Mixed 1.1 2.6 4.9 5.1 5.2 3.1 30.7 47.3

 Always part-time 48.7 9.7 10.6 5.3 6.1 0.4 11.6 7.6

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 6.5 4.6 3.9 3.2 2.8 1.5 11.7 65.9

 Upward transfer † † † † † † † †

 Lateral transfer 0.1 2.1 2.8 3.4 4.7 2.2 34.1 50.8

 Downward transfer 0.2 3.1 9.0 7.1 8.6 3.7 31.0 37.5

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 6.4 4.3 3.8 2.3 2.9 0.9 9.3 70.2

 Two enrollment spells † 3.9 6.5 7.3 6.5 4.3 39.7 31.8

 Three or more enrollment spells † † 3.5 9.5 6.5 7.4 49.2 24.0

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 10.6 7.5 6.6 5.8 5.8 3.6 24.9 35.2

 2.25–3.25 1.7 2.9 3.7 2.9 3.2 1.4 15.3 68.9

 Over 3.25 2.7 1.4 2.9 1.7 2.0 0.9 10.7 77.9

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year 0.3 6.3 11.9 9.5 12.0 4.7 31.9 23.4

 Public 4-year 5.6 4.0 3.6 3.1 3.0 1.5 15.0 64.2

 Private not-for-profit 4-year # 2.0 3.6 2.2 4.2 2.8 36.5 48.7

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year # 2.6 3.4 1.6 # 2.1 18.8 71.5

 Other institutions # 4.0 10.1 6.7 8.8 1.1 21.8 47.6

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

Students who began in public 4-year institutions

_______

130
Table 5.2-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year instituTable 5.2-C.—tions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not attain,

Table 5.2-C.—the year they left postsecondary education, by demographic characteristics

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 4.8 4.0 4.3 3.7 3.8 1.9 17.3 60.2

Gender

 Male 5.0 4.4 4.8 3.9 4.9 2.3 19.3 55.4

 Female 4.6 3.8 3.9 3.5 2.9 1.5 15.7 64.2

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 2.6 3.5 3.6 3.3 3.4 1.7 16.8 65.1

 19 years 7.4 5.4 4.8 3.1 4.8 1.9 18.2 54.5

 20–23 years 11.3 8.3 10.7 6.8 3.4 3.9 20.9 34.8

 24–29 years 20.3 9.6 6.4 3.9 7.6 # 29.1 23.1

 30 or older 31.1 4.5 11.1 6.7 6.1 # 17.0 23.6

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 5.0 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.4 1.6 15.6 63.4

 Black, non-Hispanic 5.7 6.6 6.7 4.2 5.1 3.5 22.3 45.9

 Hispanic 4.9 4.6 6.1 3.3 6.2 2.6 24.4 48.0

 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.4 1.6 5.6 5.3 2.6 1.1 16.2 67.3

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 3.4 3.8 3.7 3.4 3.5 2.0 17.0 63.1

 Single, no children (independent) 10.0 9.0 13.4 7.4 7.6 0.4 24.2 28.0

 Single with children 10.7 8.3 10.2 6.2 7.4 # 21.4 35.8

 Married 31.7 1.4 8.7 4.1 6.6 # 20.1 27.4

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 8.5 7.5 6.1 3.6 4.3 2.6 19.7 47.6

 Some postsecondary 5.0 3.9 5.0 5.4 3.8 1.9 18.6 56.4

 Bachelor’s degree 2.9 2.5 3.0 3.1 2.4 0.8 16.2 69.2

 Advanced degree 1.3 1.7 3.2 3.2 3.8 1.4 14.9 70.5

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 2.6 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.2 1.9 14.1 67.7

 Student working 4.1 4.2 5.0 3.7 4.1 1.8 19.0 58.1

 Employee who is enrolled 20.8 4.7 5.7 4.6 4.7 2.1 18.8 38.7

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 4.3 4.5 4.4 3.6 3.6 2.3 21.3 56.2

 $25,000–44,999 6.1 4.6 4.2 4.4 3.1 1.7 18.6 57.4

 $45,000–69,999 3.1 2.9 2.9 4.2 4.5 2.2 15.8 64.5

 $70,000 or greater 1.1 3.5 3.6 1.9 2.8 1.8 13.5 71.9

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

Students who began in public 4-year institutions

_______

131
Table 5.2-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in public 4-year instituTable 5.2-D.—tions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they did not attain,

Table 5.2-D.—the year they left postsecondary education, by persistence risk factors when they first enrolled

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 4.8 4.0 4.3 3.7 3.8 1.9 17.3 60.2

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 2.2 3.0 3.5 3.3 3.4 1.8 15.2 67.5

 One 7.3 6.1 3.9 3.7 4.1 2.3 22.4 50.4

 Two or three 13.0 6.6 8.9 5.8 4.8 2.0 26.3 32.8

 Four or more 21.2 8.9 11.5 5.0 7.6 # 21.4 24.4

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 4.7 3.9 4.3 3.7 3.6 1.9 17.2 60.7

 GED/high school equivalent* 8.6 13.5 7.7 # 16.9 # 27.6 25.8

 None* ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 2.8 3.4 3.7 3.4 3.9 1.9 16.9 64.0

 Delayed* 13.6 6.9 7.2 4.9 3.5 1.6 19.6 42.6

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 3.7 4.1 4.0 3.3 3.5 1.8 16.2 63.5

 Part-time* 14.3 4.7 5.8 6.3 4.2 1.6 25.0 38.2

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 3.4 3.8 3.7 3.4 3.5 2.0 17.0 63.1

 Independent* 18.3 6.0 10.7 5.8 7.2 0.1 21.9 30.1

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 4.1 3.9 4.0 3.5 3.6 1.9 17.3 61.7

 One or more* 17.2 5.3 9.6 5.7 8.7 # 21.3 32.2

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 4.5 3.9 4.1 3.6 3.7 1.9 17.3 61.1

 Single parent* 10.7 8.3 10.2 6.2 7.4 # 21.4 35.8

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 2.6 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.2 1.9 14.1 67.7

 Worked part time 5.4 3.4 4.5 3.8 4.0 2.1 18.3 58.6

 Worked full time* 11.2 7.7 7.2 3.6 5.9 0.9 24.3 39.2

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

*Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

Students who began in public 4-year institutions

_______

132
Table 5.3-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private not-for-profit 

Table 5.3-A.—4-year institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they

Table 5.3-A.—did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by first institution type and

Table 5.3-A.—academic preparation

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 3.7 3.0 3.4 3.0 2.5 1.6 9.4 73.5

Highest offering of first institution

 Non-doctorate-granting 4.7 3.6 4.1 3.6 2.6 1.7 9.7 70.0

 Doctorate-granting 1.8 1.9 2.1 1.9 2.2 1.4 8.7 80.0

Degree goal in 1995–96

 None 19.1 10.3 7.6 7.3 3.8 0.7 16.2 35.0

 Certificate ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Associate’s degree 10.8 7.5 4.9 0.5 2.3 2.9 6.1 65.0

 Bachelor’s degree 2.2 2.5 3.2 2.8 2.5 1.6 9.2 76.2

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 5.0 3.6 4.0 3.8 2.8 1.9 10.8 68.1

 One 1.6 3.0 2.4 2.0 1.3 1.9 7.4 80.5

 More than one 0.1 1.2 2.3 1.5 1.9 0.6 5.7 86.6

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 7.3 5.3 6.8 4.9 2.4 2.5 15.0 55.9

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 2.6 3.6 4.9 3.2 2.8 2.3 9.9 70.8

 High quartile (1030–1600) 0.2 1.5 1.4 1.5 2.2 0.7 5.9 86.6

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 2.8 5.6 6.7 3.6 4.5 4.3 12.0 60.4

 B+ to A- 1.6 1.5 4.8 2.1 1.6 1.5 8.8 78.1

 Mostly A’s 0.5 1.6 1.1 1.7 2.1 0.5 5.3 87.2

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 8.3 5.6 2.6 2.5 2.4 0.4 5.4 72.8

 Less than bachelor’s ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

 Bachelor’s degree 6.1 5.8 4.9 3.7 4.9 3.6 12.5 58.5

 Advanced degree 1.7 1.7 3.2 2.8 1.8 1.3 9.2 78.2

First degree attained by 2001

 None 14.0 11.3 12.9 11.3 9.3 6.1 35.3 †

 Certificate † † † † † † † 100.0

 Associate’s degree † † † † † † † 100.0

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

†Not applicable.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

Students who began in private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

_______

133
Table 5.3-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private not-for-profit 

Table 5.3-B.—4-year institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they

Table 5.3-B.—did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by attendance patterns, GPA, and 

Table 5.3-B.—last institution type

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 3.7 3.0 3.4 3.0 2.5 1.6 9.4 73.5

Number of institutions attended

 One 5.9 3.4 1.7 2.1 1.2 0.6 4.0 81.2

 Two # 3.2 7.4 4.7 4.7 2.9 14.2 63.0

 Three or more # 0.2 3.3 4.0 4.3 4.8 29.6 53.9

Co-enrollment at two institutions

 Never co-enrolled 4.3 3.3 3.1 3.0 2.5 1.3 9.4 73.1

 Sometimes co-enrolled # 0.8 5.6 3.1 2.4 3.4 9.0 75.8

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 4.0 2.9 2.6 2.4 1.2 0.9 5.8 80.1

 Mixed 0.8 2.5 5.3 4.4 5.3 3.3 17.4 61.0

 Always part-time 38.3 12.6 6.5 6.2 3.7 # 18.1 14.6

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 4.9 2.9 1.9 2.1 1.2 0.7 4.3 82.0

 Upward transfer † † † † † † † †

 Lateral transfer # 3.0 6.6 5.2 4.8 4.9 25.7 49.9

 Downward transfer # 3.5 11.5 6.7 9.2 3.9 25.7 39.5

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 4.5 3.1 3.0 2.4 1.5 0.7 3.7 81.1

 Two enrollment spells † 2.8 6.7 6.7 6.6 5.4 30.1 41.8

 Three or more enrollment spells † † 0.7 2.5 7.9 7.5 58.7 22.7

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 10.0 8.7 5.8 5.2 4.8 3.3 17.3 44.8

 2.25–3.25 2.0 1.4 4.3 2.3 2.4 1.9 8.2 77.5

 Over 3.25 1.9 1.8 1.3 2.0 1.2 0.6 6.1 85.0

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year # 6.2 18.8 10.3 12.6 9.3 30.5 12.4

 Public 4-year # 2.7 8.5 3.5 5.9 5.2 23.9 50.2

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 4.6 2.8 1.7 2.2 1.3 0.5 5.2 81.8

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year # 3.1 2.9 6.9 2.7 # 21.9 62.4

 Other institutions ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

Students who began in private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

_______

134
Table 5.3-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private not-for-profit

Table 5.3-C.—4-year institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they

Table 5.3-C.—did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by demographic characteristics

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 3.7 3.0 3.4 3.0 2.5 1.6 9.4 73.5

Gender

 Male 4.3 3.3 3.5 3.6 2.9 1.4 10.9 70.3

 Female 3.3 2.8 3.4 2.6 2.2 1.8 8.2 75.9

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 1.8 2.3 3.2 2.6 2.7 1.6 8.0 77.9

 19 years 4.5 5.0 3.6 5.5 3.2 2.7 12.7 62.9

 20–23 years 16.9 7.8 9.6 1.5 # 1.5 22.6 40.2

 24–29 years 18.4 14.4 1.7 2.9 # # 9.9 52.7

 30 or older 27.6 4.4 2.6 12.1 0.4 2.2 20.9 29.8

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 3.4 3.0 3.0 2.9 2.4 1.7 7.4 76.2

 Black, non-Hispanic 4.3 4.2 7.0 3.6 3.0 1.6 17.0 59.3

 Hispanic 6.8 3.3 1.7 3.5 3.0 2.0 14.8 64.9

 Asian/Pacific Islander 2.9 0.7 4.3 2.9 1.6 0.1 9.1 78.4

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 2.5 2.6 3.5 2.7 2.6 1.6 8.9 75.7

 Single, no children (independent) 11.2 11.8 0.7 5.8 1.5 # 7.0 62.0

 Single with children 23.8 4.4 # 4.2 # 4.2 22.0 41.4

 Married 22.7 7.4 5.1 9.4 0.3 2.0 19.5 33.6

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 9.5 5.8 3.8 4.4 2.3 1.3 11.4 61.5

 Some postsecondary 4.3 4.5 3.3 5.2 3.3 2.1 12.1 65.3

 Bachelor’s degree 1.1 2.1 2.9 2.9 4.1 1.7 8.1 77.1

 Advanced degree 0.9 0.8 3.2 1.3 1.2 1.5 7.0 84.1

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 3.3 2.4 3.5 2.4 2.6 1.3 7.5 77.0

 Student working 2.2 3.2 3.2 3.1 2.5 1.7 9.7 74.4

 Employee who is enrolled 17.4 4.9 5.4 7.6 1.0 3.0 16.1 44.7

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 4.0 3.0 5.5 4.5 3.4 1.8 13.6 64.2

 $25,000–44,999 3.1 4.2 4.3 3.4 3.8 3.1 8.9 69.3

 $45,000–69,999 2.4 3.0 3.5 2.7 2.1 1.5 8.4 76.5

 $70,000 or greater 1.4 1.2 2.1 1.4 1.8 0.7 6.8 84.6

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

Students who began in private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

_______

135
Table 5.3-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students in private not-for-profit

Table 5.3-D.—4-year institutions according to whether they attained any degree as of June 2001, or if they

Table 5.3-D.—did not attain, the year they left postsecondary education, by persistence risk factors when

Table 5.3-D.—they first enrolled

Still Attained

 1995– 1996– 1997– 1998– 1999– 2000– enrolled any degree

 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 by 2001

 Total 3.7 3.0 3.4 3.0 2.5 1.6 9.4 73.5

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 1.7 2.0 3.2 2.7 2.4 1.5 7.5 79.1

 One 5.7 5.5 4.4 3.4 3.6 1.7 15.1 60.7

 Two or three 17.1 9.0 3.4 4.8 2.5 1.5 18.7 43.1

 Four or more 20.7 10.3 4.7 6.5 0.3 3.5 18.9 35.1

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 3.5 2.9 3.3 3.0 2.4 1.5 9.2 74.3

 GED/high school equivalent* 10.5 6.5 9.7 5.3 4.1 5.4 14.6 44.0

 None* ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 2.0 2.4 3.1 2.7 2.6 1.7 8.4 77.1

 Delayed* 13.9 6.6 5.5 4.9 1.7 1.4 15.4 50.7

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 3.1 2.7 3.1 2.9 2.2 1.7 8.3 76.0

 Part-time* 13.0 9.0 3.1 5.3 5.8 1.0 24.7 38.2

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 2.5 2.6 3.5 2.7 2.6 1.6 8.9 75.7

 Independent* 18.6 8.4 2.3 6.9 0.7 1.7 15.3 46.1

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 3.1 2.8 3.4 2.9 2.5 1.6 8.8 75.0

 One or more* 19.3 9.0 4.7 5.9 0.3 4.0 25.5 31.3

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 3.2 3.0 3.5 2.9 2.5 1.6 9.1 74.2

 Single parent* 23.8 4.4 # 4.2 # 4.2 22.0 41.4

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 3.3 2.4 3.5 2.4 2.6 1.3 7.5 77.0

 Worked part time 2.3 2.7 3.5 3.1 2.6 1.8 9.5 74.6

 Worked full time* 13.3 7.7 3.7 5.1 1.5 2.3 18.2 48.3

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

*Risk factor.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree, last year enrolled anywhere

Students who began in private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

_______

136
137 

Section 6: Transfer Patterns 

The tables in section 6 display the patterns of the transfer from the first institution attended 

to the second institution. In this study a transfer is defined as occurring when a student is no 

longer enrolled in one institution (the origin) and subsequently enrolls in a different institution 

for a period of at least 4 months (the destination). This definition is intended to exclude short 

summer school or occupational courses at a different institution. This transfer definition is not 

based on whether course credits were accepted at the destination institution. 

About one-third of the beginning students transferred from one institution to another during 

the six years under study. Since 10 percent of the students attended three or more institutions, the 

last type of institution attended is not necessarily the same as the destination of the first transfer. 

The tables in this section only describe the first transfer type and years, however. Transfer 

students may enroll at the destination institution soon after leaving the first institution attended or 

they may delay enrolling somewhere else by more than four months, in which case they are 

classified as both transfers and stopouts. 

The tables that follow show the last academic year that the transfer student was enrolled at 

the first institution, the type of institution that was the first destination, and the first academic 

year that the student was enrolled at the transfer destination institution. Tables 6.0-A and B show 

the distribution of all beginning students, including those who did not transfer; tables 6.1-A 

through C focus only on the distribution of those who did transfer. 

Table 6.0-A: Last academic year at first institution before transfer (all students) 

• Two-thirds (68 percent) of all students who began postsecondary education in 1995–96 

stayed at the same institution and never transferred. Thirteen percent left the first 

institution attended after the first year and transferred to another institution; another 10 

percent left after the second year and transferred elsewhere. 

Table 6.0-B: Type of institution of first transfer destination (all students) 

• Fourteen percent of the 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students transferred to a 

public 4-year institution, 10 percent transferred to a public 2-year institution, and 4 

percent transferred to a private not-for-profit 4-year institution. 
Section 6: Transfer Patterns

138 

Table 6.1-A: Last academic year at first institution (among transfers) 

• About one-half (49 percent) of the 1995–96 beginners who transferred from a 4-year 

institution left their original institution by the end of the first academic year. Another 

31 percent of the transfers left by the end of their second year and 13 percent left by the 

end of the third year at the first institution. 

• Beginners who transferred from their original 2-year institution were more evenly 

distributed, with 23–34 percent leaving by the end of each of the first three years. No 

difference could be detected in the percentage of students that left to transfer in each of 

those years. 

• Beginning students who transferred from one 4-year institution to another 4-year 

institution were most likely to leave their original institution by the end of the first year 

(45 percent), and then decreasingly likely to leave by the end of the second (33 

percent), third (15 percent), and fourth (6 percent) years. 

• Beginning students who started at a 4-year institution and then transferred downward 

to a 2-year institution were also most likely to leave by the end of the first year (55 

percent), less likely to leave by the end of the second year (30 percent), and then 

decreasingly likely to leave by the end of the third (10 percent) and fourth (4 percent) 

years. 

• Among beginning students who started at 2-year institutions and transferred up to a 4-

year institution, no difference could be detected in the percentage who left their 

original institution by the end of any of the first three years. 

• Beginning students who started at a 2-year institution and transferred laterally to 

another 2-year institution were more likely to leave the original institution by the end 

of the first year (49 percent) than by the second (26 percent) or any later year. 

Table 6.1-B: Type of institution of first transfer destination (among transfers) 

• About one-half (49 percent) of beginning students who transferred from public 2-year 

institutions enrolled at public 4-year institutions, about one-fourth (27 percent) 

enrolled at a different public 2-year institution, and 11 percent enrolled at a private notfor-profit 4-year institution. 

• Beginners who transferred from the first private not-for-profit 4-year institution where 

they started were more likely to enroll at a public 4-year (42 percent) or public 2-year 

institution (32 percent) than at a different private not-for-profit 4-year institution (18 

percent). 

• Among students who had attained an associate’s degree before they transferred, about 

two-thirds (66 percent) enrolled at a public 4-year institution and about one-fourth (23 

percent) enrolled at a private not-for-profit 4-year institution. 
 Section 6: Transfer Patterns 

139 

Table 6.1-C: First academic year at transfer destination institution (among 

transfers) 

• Among all the 1995–96 beginning students who transferred, 30 percent enrolled at the 

destination institution in 1996–97 and another 32 percent enrolled in 1997–98. 

• Among all the beginners who transferred and left their original institution by the end of 

the first year (1995–96), 18 percent enrolled at the destination institution during the 

same academic year and about one-half (53 percent) enrolled in the next academic year 

(1996–97). 

• Among those transfers who left the original institution by the end of the second year 

(1996–97), about one-fourth (27 percent) enrolled at the destination institution that 

same year and 58 percent enrolled in the next year (1997–98). 
Table 6.0-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to their 

Table 6.0-A.—transfer status as of June 2001, and if they transferred, according to the last year enrolled 

Table 6.0-A.—at the first institution attended, by first institution type and initial degree goal

Never

 1999– trans-

 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 2001* ferred

 Total 13.0 9.6 6.1 2.3 1.1 67.9

Type of first institution 

 Public 2-year 13.8 12.0 10.1 3.7 1.9 58.5

 Public 4-year 13.0 8.2 3.8 1.4 0.6 73.0

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 12.2 7.6 2.7 1.1 0.2 76.3

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 10.4 5.6 0.8 0.3 0.2 82.7

 Other institutions 14.4 10.1 1.7 0.4 0.1 73.3

Level of first institution 

 4-year 12.7 8.0 3.4 1.3 0.4 74.2

 2-year 13.8 11.8 9.4 3.5 1.8 59.8

 Less-than-2-year 10.2 4.8 0.6 # # 84.4

First 4-year institution type and highest offering

 Public non-doctorate-granting 15.9 8.3 4.1 1.7 0.9 69.1

 Public doctorate-granting 11.2 8.2 3.6 1.3 0.3 75.5

 Private not-for-profit

 non-doctorate-granting 13.2 8.8 3.0 1.3 # 73.7

 Private not-for-profit, doctorate-granting 10.3 5.2 2.1 0.7 0.5 81.2

Degree plans at first institution

 Certificate 11.2 5.1 1.9 0.5 0.1 81.2

 Associate’s degree 14.8 12.6 10.3 4.1 2.1 56.1

 Bachelor’s degree 12.5 8.2 3.2 1.2 0.4 74.5

Degree goal in 1995–96

 Certificate 8.2 5.7 2.0 0.6 # 83.6

 Associate’s degree 8.5 13.0 9.6 3.4 1.8 63.7

 Bachelor’s degree 12.8 9.5 6.4 2.4 1.0 67.8

Delayed enrollment

 Did not delay 14.6 11.2 7.1 2.9 1.2 62.9

 Delayed 10.7 7.5 4.6 1.3 0.8 75.2

#Rounds to zero.

*Two academic years.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary 

Students Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Last academic year at first institution before transfer

_______

140
Table 6.0-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to their 

Table 6.0-B.—transfer status as of June 2001, and if they transferred, according to the type of institution 

Table 6.0-B.—that was the destination of the first transfer, by first institution type and initial degree goal

 Private Private

 not-for- for-profit Other Never 

Public Public profit less-than institu- trans-

 2-year 4-year 4-year 4-year tions ferred 

 Total 9.9 14.1 3.7 2.7 1.7 67.9

Type of first institution

 Public 2-year 11.1 20.4 4.4 3.7 1.9 58.5

 Public 4-year 9.8 11.3 3.3 1.1 1.5 73.0

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 7.6 10.0 4.4 1.1 0.6 76.3

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 8.3 1.7 0.8 3.8 2.7 82.7

 Other institutions 10.5 6.5 3.4 4.1 2.2 73.3

Level of first institution

 4-year 9.1 10.8 3.7 1.1 1.2 74.2

 2-year 11.1 19.1 4.3 3.8 2.0 59.8

 Less-than-2-year 7.6 1.5 0.1 3.9 2.6 84.4

First 4-year institution type and highest offering

 Public non-doctorate-granting 10.4 13.7 3.7 1.4 1.8 69.1

 Public doctorate-granting 9.4 9.8 3.0 1.0 1.3 75.5

 Private not-for-profit non-doctorate-granting 9.1 11.3 3.8 1.5 0.7 73.7

 Private not-for-profit doctorate-granting 4.8 7.7 5.4 0.3 0.6 81.2

Degree plans at first institution

 Certificate 9.3 3.3 0.4 3.8 2.0 81.2

 Associate’s degree 11.7 21.1 5.4 3.5 2.3 56.1

 Bachelor’s degree 8.8 10.9 3.6 1.0 1.1 74.5

Degree goal in 1995–96

 Certificate 9.2 1.5 0.4 3.2 2.2 83.6

 Associate’s degree 8.9 16.8 4.8 3.7 2.1 63.7

 Bachelor’s degree 8.8 16.8 4.2 1.1 1.3 67.8

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 10.6 17.8 4.3 2.7 1.6 62.9

 Delayed 9.4 8.0 2.8 2.6 2.0 75.2

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary 

Students Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Type of institution of first transfer destination

_______

141
Table 6.1-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who transferred as of 

Table 6.1-A.—June 2001, according to the last year enrolled at the first institution attended, by first 

Table 6.1-A.—institution type, initial degree goal, and transfer type

 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2001*

 Total 40.6 30.0 19.1 7.0 3.3

Type of first institution

 Public 2-year 33.3 28.9 24.3 8.9 4.6

 Public 4-year 48.2 30.4 14.1 5.3 2.1

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 51.5 31.9 11.4 4.6 0.7

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 60.3 32.3 4.6 1.6 1.2

 Other institutions 53.9 37.9 6.3 1.5 0.5

Level of first institution

 4-year 49.3 31.1 13.0 5.0 1.6

 2-year 34.3 29.3 23.3 8.6 4.5

 Less-than-2-year 65.4 30.8 3.7 0.1 #

First 4-year institution type and highest offering

 Public non-doctorate-granting 51.5 26.7 13.3 5.5 3.1

 Public doctorate-granting 45.6 33.3 14.7 5.1 1.3

 Private not-for-profit non-doctorate-granting 50.2 33.5 11.4 4.9 #

 Private not-for-profit doctorate-granting 54.9 27.4 11.4 3.8 2.6

Degree plans at first institution

 Certificate 59.3 27.0 10.2 2.7 0.8

 Associate’s degree 33.7 28.8 23.4 9.3 4.8

 Bachelor’s degree 48.9 32.0 12.7 4.8 1.7

Degree goal in 1995–96

 Certificate 49.5 34.8 11.9 3.5 0.3

 Associate’s degree 23.4 35.8 26.4 9.4 5.1

 Bachelor’s degree 39.9 29.5 19.9 7.5 3.2

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 39.4 30.3 19.2 7.9 3.2

 Delayed 43.0 30.3 18.6 5.1 3.0

First transfer direction

 Upward transfer 26.1 31.6 27.8 8.9 5.7

 Lateral transfer 47.1 29.1 14.6 7.1 2.1

 Downward transfer 57.6 28.4 10.0 3.0 1.1

First transfer by institution level

 4-year to 4-year 44.6 32.5 15.1 6.0 1.8

 4-year to 2-year 54.7 30.1 10.3 3.6 1.4

 2-year to 4-year 22.6 31.6 30.0 9.6 6.2

 2-year to 2-year 48.6 25.9 14.5 8.5 2.6

See footnotes at end of table.

 Last academic year enrolled at first institution before transfer

Students who transferred

_______

142
Table 6.1-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who transferred as of 

Table 6.1-A.—June 2001, according to the last year enrolled at the first institution attended, by first 

Table 6.1-A.—institution type, initial degree goal, and transfer type—Continued

 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2001*

First transfer by institution control

 Public to public 35.7 30.3 22.3 7.9 3.7

 Public to private not-for-profit 37.4 31.3 14.6 9.9 6.8

 Private not-for-profit to public 53.1 31.8 11.0 3.7 0.4

 Private not-for-profit to private not-for-profit 41.6 39.0 10.7 7.1 1.6

 

Degree attained before transfer

 None 49.6 30.6 14.6 4.8 0.4

 Certificate 36.4 36.9 21.5 4.8 0.3

 Associate’s degree † 33.7 38.3 18.3 9.7

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

*Two academic years.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary 

Students Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

 Last academic year enrolled at first institution before transfer

Students who transferred

_______

143
Table 6.1-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who transferred as of 

Table 6.1-B.—June 2001, according the type of institution that was the destination of the first transfer, 

Table 6.1-B.—by first institution type, initial degree goal, and transfer type

Private Private

 not-for- for-profit Other

Public Public profit less-than institu-

 2-year 4-year 4-year 4-year tions

 Total 31.0 43.9 11.4 8.4 5.3

Type of first institution

 Public 2-year 26.8 49.2 10.5 8.9 4.6

 Public 4-year 36.3 41.9 12.1 4.2 5.5

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 32.1 42.3 18.4 4.6 2.7

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 48.3 9.5 4.4 22.3 15.5

 Other institutions 39.3 24.3 12.8 15.4 8.2

Level of first institution

 4-year 35.2 41.6 14.1 4.4 4.7

 2-year 27.6 47.5 10.8 9.3 4.9

 Less-than-2-year 48.4 9.8 0.6 24.7 16.5

First 4-year institution type and highest offering

 Public non-doctorate-granting 33.6 44.3 11.9 4.5 5.8

 Public doctorate-granting 38.5 40.1 12.2 4.0 5.2

 Private not-for-profit non-doctorate-granting 34.5 42.8 14.4 5.7 2.6

 Private not-for-profit doctorate-granting 25.6 40.9 29.0 1.6 3.0

Degree plans at first institution

 Certificate 49.5 17.5 2.3 20.4 10.4

 Associate’s degree 26.6 48.0 12.2 8.1 5.2

 Bachelor’s degree 34.7 42.9 14.1 4.1 4.3

Degree goal in 1995–96

 Certificate 55.9 9.2 2.3 19.6 13.1

 Associate’s degree 24.5 46.4 13.3 10.1 5.7

 Bachelor’s degree 27.5 52.2 12.9 3.5 3.9

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 28.7 48.1 11.7 7.3 4.3

 Delayed 37.8 32.4 11.1 10.4 8.2

First transfer direction

 Upward transfer 5.2 74.7 16.7 0.9 2.5

 Lateral transfer 42.4 33.9 11.5 8.2 3.9

 Downward transfer 61.3 † † 24.4 14.3

See footnotes at end of table.

Type of institution of first transfer destination

Students who transferred

_______

144
Table 6.1-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who transferred as of 

Table 6.1-B.—June 2001, according the type of institution that was the destination of the first transfer, 

Table 6.1-B.—by first institution type, initial degree goal, and transfer type—Continued

Private Private

 not-for- for-profit Other

Public Public profit less-than institu-

 2-year 4-year 4-year 4-year tions

First transfer by institution level

 4-year to 4-year † 73.0 24.8 † 2.3

 4-year to 2-year 90.0 † † 6.1 4.0

 2-year to 4-year † 80.1 18.1 † 1.8

 2-year to 2-year 83.5 † † 12.8 3.7

First transfer by institution control

 Public to public 37.6 59.8 † † 2.5

 Public to private not-for-profit † † 85.2 † 14.8

 Private not-for-profit to public 43.7 56.1 † † 0.3

 Private not-for-profit to private not-for-profit † † 95.0 † 5.0

Degree before transfer

 None 26.8 43.3 11.9 12.2 5.8

 Certificate 54.1 19.8 3.7 8.6 13.9

 Associate’s degree 7.7 65.7 23.3 0.5 2.7

Last academic year at first institution

 1995–96 39.6 32.0 9.2 12.1 7.1

 1996–97 30.5 45.4 13.2 5.0 6.0

 1997–98 17.8 62.5 9.8 8.2 1.7

 1998–99 26.6 50.6 16.0 4.3 2.5

 1999–00 or 2000–01 15.7 56.3 21.4 2.5 4.0

†Not applicable.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary 

Students Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Type of institution of first transfer destination

Students who transferred

_______

145
Table 6.1-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who transferred as of 

Table 6.1-C.—June 2001, according to the first year they enrolled at the destination institution of the first 

Table 6.1-C.—transfer, by first institution type, initial degree goal, transfer type, and last year enrolled at 

Table 6.1-C.—the first institution attended

 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01

 Total 7.4 29.5 31.9 14.3 10.7 6.1

Type of first institution

 Public 2-year 6.9 24.1 31.8 18.3 12.6 6.4

 Public 4-year 8.6 36.3 33.9 8.6 7.0 5.6

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 9.1 42.5 31.2 7.4 5.6 4.3

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 6.0 26.4 27.9 13.0 16.5 10.2

 Other institutions 5.6 48.0 30.1 4.9 8.0 3.4

First institution level

 4-year 8.9 38.5 32.6 8.3 6.6 5.1

 2-year 7.0 24.3 32.1 17.7 12.4 6.6

 Less-than-2-year 2.2 36.9 25.3 11.7 17.7 6.4

First 4-year institution type and highest offering

 Public non-doctorate-granting 10.8 37.2 31.4 8.9 7.4 4.3

 Public doctorate-granting 6.9 35.6 35.9 8.4 6.7 6.6

 Private not-for-profit

 non-doctorate-granting 8.7 42.0 32.1 6.8 6.3 4.1

 Private not-for-profit doctorate-granting 10.2 43.7 28.8 8.9 3.7 4.7

Degree plans at first institution

 Certificate 5.6 36.8 21.7 14.9 16.0 5.1

 Associate’s degree 6.8 23.6 33.1 18.1 11.3 7.1

 Bachelor’s degree 8.8 38.7 33.4 8.2 6.1 4.8

Degree goal in 1995–96

 Certificate 4.1 30.7 23.0 15.4 21.4 5.4

 Associate’s degree 3.5 18.8 36.7 20.4 12.6 8.0

 Bachelor’s degree 7.9 33.3 31.8 13.2 8.5 5.3

Delayed enrollment

 Did not delay 7.4 30.9 33.4 12.6 9.8 5.9

 Delayed 7.5 26.3 29.2 17.6 13.5 6.0

First transfer direction

 Upward transfer 4.8 21.6 36.2 21.0 8.9 7.5

 Lateral transfer 7.3 34.9 29.0 11.4 12.6 4.8

 Downward transfer 13.2 35.0 29.1 6.3 10.5 5.9

See footnotes at end of table.

First academic year at transfer destination

Students who transferred

_______

146
Table 6.1-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who transferred as of 

Table 6.1-C.—June 2001, according to the first year they enrolled at the destination institution of the first 

Table 6.1-C.—transfer, by first institution type, initial degree goal, transfer type, and last year enrolled at 

Table 6.1-C.—the first institution attended—Continued

 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01

First transfer by institution level

 4-year to 4-year 6.7 39.7 33.5 9.3 6.7 4.2

 4-year to 2-year 11.1 36.9 32.3 6.8 6.1 6.9

 2-year to 4-year 5.1 19.9 37.1 21.5 8.8 7.7

 2-year to 2-year 8.1 30.9 25.4 13.9 16.6 5.1

First transfer by institution control

 Public to public 6.7 28.4 33.0 15.8 10.3 5.9

 Public to private not-for-profit 11.7 19.6 34.2 12.8 12.6 9.1

 Private not-for-profit to public 8.5 44.0 31.0 6.8 6.6 3.1

 Private not-for-profit to private not-for-profit 7.1 37.6 40.6 5.3 4.2 5.4

Degree before transfer

 None 9.0 42.7 28.7 14.1 4.5 1.1

 Certificate 0.6 19.1 28.2 29.0 12.6 10.5

 Associate’s degree † 6.6 40.6 29.0 14.4 9.3

Last academic year at first institution

1995–96 18.3 52.5 17.1 4.9 3.9 3.3

1996–97 † 27.4 57.5 4.9 6.0 4.3

1997–98 † † 40.8 39.4 15.8 4.0

1998–99 † † † 47.9 38.1 14.0

1999–00 or 2000–01 †††† 48.3 51.7

†Not applicable.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary 

Students Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

First academic year at transfer destination

Students who transferred

_______

147
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
149 

Section 7: Retention and Attainment at the First Institution at 

the End of Each Year (Beginners at 4-Year 

Institutions) 

The tables in section 7 show the retention and attainment of 1995–96 beginning students 

who had a bachelor’s degree goal (90 percent of the beginners at 4-year institutions) at the first 

(4-year) college or university they attended. The section contains six separate tables that show the 

percentage distribution of the beginners by their attainment or enrollment status at the first 

institution at the end of each academic year from 1995–96 to 2000–2001. 

At the end of each of the six academic years, the tables show the cumulative percentage 

who had attained any degrees (by highest type of degree) at that institution, the cumulative 

percentage who had transferred from the first institution and enrolled elsewhere, and the 

cumulative percentage of students who had left postsecondary education directly from the first 

institution and never enrolled anywhere else by June 2001. The percentage of students still 

enrolled at the first institution without a degree at the end of each year is the residual after 

classifying all those who had attained degrees at that institution in that year and prior years, who 

had transferred out of that institution in that year and prior years, or who had left postsecondary 

education from that institution in that year or prior years. 

Institutional Retention 

Table 7.1: At the end of the first year (1995–96) 

• Among the students who started at a 4-year institution with a bachelor’s degree goal in 

1995–96, 86 percent were still enrolled at that institution at the end of the first 

academic year. Ten percent had left to transfer somewhere else and 3 percent had left 

postsecondary education and never enrolled anywhere in the subsequent five years. 

• About one-fourth of the beginners who were always enrolled part time at the first 

institution transferred by the end of the first year, and another fourth of the part-time 

students left postsecondary education without a degree by the end of the first year. 

• Among the beginners who had a GPA of less than 2.25 at the first institution during the 

first year, 20 percent had transferred elsewhere and 9 percent had left postsecondary 

education by the end of the first year. 
Section 7: Retention and Attainment at the First Institution at the End of Each Year 

150 

Table 7.2: At the end of the second year (1996–97) 

• At the end of the second academic year (1996–97), three-fourths (73 percent) of the 

1995–96 beginners who had a bachelor’s degree goal and first attended a 4-year 

institution were still enrolled at that first institution. 

• Those who had left the first institution by the end of the second year included 18 

percent who had transferred (including the 10 percent who had transferred by the end 

of the first year) and 6 percent who had left postsecondary education permanently 

(including the 3 percent who had left by the end of the first year at the institution). 

• Institutional freshmen “dropout rates” are sometimes measured as the percentage of 

first-time first-year freshmen who did not return to the same institution at the 

beginning of the second year. Such freshmen dropout rates, based on a survey of about 

1,500 4-year institutions and about 900 2-year institutions, are reported annually by the 

American College Testing program (ACT). For many years these institutional 

freshmen dropout rates have averaged about 25 percent at 4-year institutions (see the 

ACT website: www.act.org). 

The ACT approach is different from the one used in this study, which measures what 

happened during each academic year and reports the cumulative percentage of students 

who had left the institution at the end of each academic year, rather than their status at 

the beginning of the next academic year. The closest equivalent to the ACT freshmen 

dropout measure is the percentage of 1995–96 beginners who were not enrolled at the 

first institution at the end of the second year, which includes all those beginners who 

did not return in the second year. It also includes those who returned but then left 

before June of the second year (so the second year rate should be somewhat greater 

than the ACT dropout rate). The results are similar. By the end of the second academic 

year (1996–97) approximately one-fourth of the beginners had dropped out of the first 

institution. However, 6 percent had actually left postsecondary education, and 18 

percent had transferred to a different institution. (Not shown are another 2 percent who 

were stopouts not enrolled in the second year, but returned to the institution later. 

These would also be reported as first-year dropouts by institutions.) 

Table 7.3: At the end of the third year (1997–98) 

• By the end of the third year, two-thirds (65 percent) of the beginners with a bachelor’s 

degree goal who started at a 4-year institution were still enrolled there, and a small 

percentage had attained degrees there. Twenty-two percent had transferred elsewhere 

and 9 percent had left postsecondary education since 1995–96. 

• By the end of the third year, about one-half (50 percent) of the beginners who had 

combined SAT scores in the bottom quartile (400–700) were still enrolled at the 

college or university where they had started in 1995–96. Thirty-one percent had 

transferred to a different institution and 15 percent had left postsecondary education 

without a degree by the end of the third year after they had started. 
 Section 7: Retention and Attainment at the First Institution at the End of Each Year 

151 

Table 7.4: At the end of the fourth year (1998–99) 

• By the end of the fourth year, about one-third (34 percent) of the beginners had 

completed a bachelor’s degree at the same institution where they had started, about 

one-third (30 percent) were still enrolled there without having completed a degree, and 

about one-third had left the institution (sum of the 23 percent who had transferred and 

the 11 percent who had left postsecondary education). 

Table 7.5: At the end of the fifth year (1999–2000) 

• By the end of the fifth year, about one-half (51 percent) of the beginners who had a 

bachelor’s degree goal and first enrolled at a 4-year college or university in 1995–96 

had completed a bachelor’s degree at that same institution and 11 percent were still 

enrolled there without a degree. 

Table 7.6: At the end of the sixth year (2000–01) 

• At the end of the sixth year in June 2001, 55 percent of the beginners with a bachelor’s 

degree goal who started at a 4-year institution in 1995–96 had completed a bachelor’s 

degree at that same institution, and 7 percent were still enrolled there without a degree. 

Among those who had not been continuously enrolled at the first institution (stopouts), 

30 percent were still enrolled without a degree in 2001. 

• By June 2001, 23 percent of the 1995–96 beginners with a bachelor’s degree goal who 

had first enrolled in a 4-year institution had left that institution and transferred 

somewhere else and another 13 percent had left postsecondary education without a 

degree directly from that institution and were not enrolled anywhere else. 
Table 7.1.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a 

Table 7.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status at the first 

Table 7.1.—institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

Table 7.1.—institution and student characteristics: End of the first year, 1995–96

Highest degree 

attained at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Trans- Left

 degree degree Certificate enrolled this year ferred PSE*

 Total 4-year institutions † † 0.1 86.2 † 10.4 3.4

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year † † 0.1 85.5 † 10.6 3.9

 Non-doctorate-granting † † # 80.9 † 12.8 6.3

 Doctorate-granting † † 0.1 88.0 † 9.4 2.6

 Private not-for-profit 4-year † † # 87.6 † 10.0 2.4

 Non-doctorate-granting † † # 86.3 † 10.6 3.1

 Doctorate-granting † † # 89.9 † 8.9 1.3

Attendance intensity—first institution spell

 Always full-time † † 0.1 86.2 † 10.7 3.0

 Mixed † † # 92.8 † 5.5 1.7

 Always part-time † † # 48.6 † 26.1 25.3

Enrollment continuity at first institution

 Continuously enrolled † † # 84.5 † 11.6 3.9

 Not continuously enrolled † † 0.2 99.8 † # #

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None † † 0.1 83.5 † 12.1 4.3

 One † † # 91.4 † 7.4 1.2

 Two or more † † # 93.7 † 5.6 0.7

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less † † 0.2 80.7 † 14.9 4.2

 B+ to A- † † # 88.3 † 10.1 1.6

 Mostly A’s † † 0.1 91.8 † 7.2 0.9

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) † † # 78.4 † 15.2 6.4

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) † † 0.1 84.7 † 12.1 3.1

 High quartile (1030–1600) † † # 92.8 † 6.6 0.6

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 † † 0.1 70.9 † 20.0 9.0

 2.25–3.25 † † # 90.1 † 8.2 1.7

 Over 3.25 † † 0.1 92.2 † 6.5 1.3

See footnotes at end of table.

Institutional retention at end of first year (1995–96)

No degree at first institution

_______

152
Table 7.1.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a 

Table 7.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status at the first 

Table 7.1.—institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

Table 7.1.—institution and student characteristics: End of the first year, 1995–96—Continued

Highest degree 

attained at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Trans- Left

 degree degree Certificate enrolled this year ferred PSE*

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay † † 0.1 87.8 † 10.0 2.1

 Delayed † † # 77.4 † 12.1 10.6

Gender

 Male † † 0.1 85.8 † 10.2 3.9

 Female † † 0.1 86.5 † 10.5 3.0

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic † † # 86.2 † 10.4 3.4

 Black, non-Hispanic † † 0.2 83.3 † 11.7 4.9

 Hispanic † † 0.2 83.2 † 12.4 4.3

 Asian/Pacific Islander † † # 93.2 † 5.8 0.9

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent † † 0.1 87.0 † 10.4 2.6

 Independent † † # 77.6 † 8.5 13.9

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 † † # 85.0 † 11.3 3.8

 $25,000–44,999 † † # 84.5 † 11.0 4.6

 $45,000–69,999 † † 0.1 88.1 † 10.0 1.9

 $70,000 or greater † † 0.1 89.1 † 9.8 1.1

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None † † # 88.5 † 9.8 1.7

 One † † 0.2 82.6 † 11.1 6.1

 Two or more † † # 74.4 † 12.3 13.3

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, 

financial independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full time while enrolled. Details may not sum to 

100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary 

Students Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Institutional retention at end of first year (1995–96)

No degree at first institution

_______

153
Table 7.2.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a 

Table 7.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status at the first 

Table 7.1.—institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

Table 7.1.—institution and student characteristics: End of the second year, 1996–97

Highest degree 

attained at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Trans- Left

 degree degree Certificate enrolled this year ferred PSE*

 Total 4-year institutions † 0.3 0.2 73.4 1.6 18.1 6.3

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year † 0.4 0.3 71.9 2.1 18.4 7.0

 Non-doctorate-granting † 0.6 0.5 65.0 2.8 21.1 10.1

 Doctorate-granting † 0.3 0.1 75.7 1.6 17.0 5.3

 Private not-for-profit 4-year † 0.2 0.2 76.7 0.9 17.5 4.6

 Non-doctorate-granting † 0.3 0.4 73.8 0.6 19.4 5.6

 Doctorate-granting † # # 81.8 1.4 14.0 2.9

Attendance intensity—first institution spell

 Always full-time † 0.4 0.3 73.8 1.6 18.4 5.6

 Mixed † 0.1 0.2 79.4 1.2 13.6 5.5

 Always part-time † # 0.2 30.6 4.1 34.7 30.4

Enrollment continuity at first institution

 Continuously enrolled † 0.3 0.2 73.0 # 19.7 6.7

 Not continuously enrolled † 0.7 0.3 77.0 14.5 5.2 2.4

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None † 0.3 0.4 68.9 2.1 21.0 7.4

 One † # # 81.2 1.1 14.0 3.7

 Two or more † 0.4 # 85.7 0.8 11.2 1.8

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less † 0.4 0.3 61.7 2.8 26.4 8.4

 B+ to A- † 0.1 # 74.6 1.7 19.6 4.1

 Mostly A’s † 0.5 0.1 84.9 0.8 11.7 2.0

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) † 0.4 0.6 58.0 2.7 26.6 11.7

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) † 0.1 0.1 72.1 1.6 20.4 5.8

 High quartile (1030–1600) † 0.5 0.1 83.6 1.5 12.3 2.0

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 † 0.2 0.3 50.7 3.2 30.8 14.8

 2.25–3.25 † 0.3 0.3 78.3 1.6 16.2 3.4

 Over 3.25 † 0.3 0.1 84.3 0.2 12.0 3.1

See footnotes at end of table.

Institutional retention at end of second year (1996–97)

No degree at first institution

_______

154
Table 7.2.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a 

Table 7.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status at the first 

Table 7.1.—institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

Table 7.1.—institution and student characteristics: End of the second year, 1996–97—Continued

Highest degree 

attained at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Trans- Left

 degree degree Certificate enrolled this year ferred PSE*

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay † 0.2 0.1 76.2 1.3 17.9 4.3

 Delayed † 1.2 1.0 58.4 3.3 19.4 16.7

Gender

 Male † 0.2 0.3 72.7 1.7 17.8 7.2

 Female † 0.4 0.2 74.0 1.5 18.4 5.5

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic † 0.2 0.2 74.7 1.6 17.6 5.7

 Black, non-Hispanic † 0.3 0.8 67.0 2.1 19.4 10.5

 Hispanic † # 0.3 67.8 1.1 22.0 8.9

 Asian/Pacific Islander † # # 81.3 2.4 14.3 2.1

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent † 0.3 0.2 74.7 1.4 18.3 5.1

 Independent † # 0.9 59.6 4.2 15.2 20.1

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 † 0.1 0.3 68.9 2.6 21.0 7.1

 $25,000–44,999 † 0.6 0.1 71.0 1.5 19.0 7.9

 $45,000–69,999 † 0.3 0.2 76.1 1.0 18.1 4.3

 $70,000 or greater † 0.2 0.2 79.7 1.0 16.3 2.7

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None † # 0.1 77.3 1.3 17.7 3.6

 One † 1.6 0.9 65.7 2.5 18.6 10.6

 Two or more † # 0.7 55.1 3.2 20.4 20.6

†Not applicable.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, 

financial independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full time while enrolled. Details may not sum to 

100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary 

Students Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Institutional retention at end of second year (1996–97)

No degree at first institution

_______

155
Table 7.3.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a 

Table 7.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status at the first 

Table 7.1.—institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

Table 7.1.—institution and student characteristics: End of the third year, 1997–98

Highest degree 

attained at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Trans- Left

 degree degree Certificate enrolled this year ferred PSE*

 Total 4-year institutions 2.3 1.0 0.7 64.7 1.3 21.5 8.5

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year 2.5 0.9 0.7 62.6 1.5 22.3 9.6

 Non-doctorate-granting 1.9 1.4 0.9 55.4 1.7 25.4 13.3

 Doctorate-granting 2.8 0.6 0.5 66.5 1.4 20.7 7.5

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 1.8 1.2 0.5 69.3 1.0 20.1 6.2

 Non-doctorate-granting 1.7 1.5 0.5 65.7 0.8 22.5 7.4

 Doctorate-granting 2.1 0.5 0.6 75.8 1.3 15.7 4.1

Attendance intensity—first institution spell

 Always full-time 2.5 1.1 0.5 65.7 1.1 21.6 7.7

 Mixed 1.5 1.1 1.7 66.5 2.4 18.6 8.3

 Always part-time # 0.6 0.7 26.0 3.0 35.7 34.1

Enrollment continuity at first institution

 Continuously enrolled 2.4 1.1 0.6 64.3 # 23.1 8.6

 Not continuously enrolled 1.5 0.8 0.9 68.0 12.0 8.9 8.0

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 1.7 1.2 0.9 59.9 1.6 24.7 10.0

 One 3.4 0.1 0.6 71.6 1.3 17.6 5.3

 Two or more 4.5 0.6 0.3 77.5 0.5 13.4 3.2

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 0.9 1.3 0.6 52.6 1.5 31.3 11.8

 B+ to A- 1.8 0.6 0.2 67.6 1.0 22.0 6.8

 Mostly A’s 3.7 0.7 0.5 76.8 0.9 14.8 2.7

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 1.3 1.4 0.6 49.8 1.3 30.5 15.2

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 1.6 0.8 0.7 63.4 1.3 24.2 8.1

 High quartile (1030–1600) 3.6 0.6 0.3 76.3 1.4 14.6 3.2

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 0.4 0.6 0.8 41.5 2.7 35.6 18.4

 2.25–3.25 2.2 1.2 0.6 69.9 1.1 19.2 5.9

 Over 3.25 3.9 1.2 0.6 74.7 0.5 14.9 4.2

See footnotes at end of table.

Institutional retention at end of third year (1997–98)

No degree at first institution

_______

156
Table 7.3.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a 

Table 7.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status at the first 

Table 7.1.—institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

Table 7.1.—institution and student characteristics: End of the third year, 1997–98—Continued

Highest degree 

attained at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Trans- Left

 degree degree Certificate enrolled this year ferred PSE*

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 1.0 0.8 0.5 69.0 1.2 21.3 6.3

 Delayed 9.6 2.5 1.7 41.3 2.0 22.4 20.6

Gender

 Male 2.7 1.0 0.9 63.2 1.4 21.3 9.6

 Female 1.9 1.1 0.5 65.9 1.3 21.7 7.6

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 2.5 0.9 0.6 66.6 1.4 20.6 7.4

 Black, non-Hispanic 0.9 0.7 1.2 56.2 1.0 24.6 15.5

 Hispanic 2.1 1.6 0.6 56.3 1.4 26.6 11.4

 Asian/Pacific Islander 2.5 0.2 0.3 73.6 1.5 16.8 5.1

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 2.3 0.9 0.6 66.3 1.2 21.7 7.1

 Independent 1.9 2.5 2.0 46.3 3.4 17.9 26.1

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 2.1 1.1 0.4 59.5 1.6 25.4 10.0

 $25,000–44,999 3.2 1.1 0.5 60.3 1.4 23.3 10.2

 $45,000–69,999 1.9 0.7 0.3 69.5 0.7 21.2 5.7

 $70,000 or greater 2.2 0.8 0.9 72.0 1.2 18.7 4.2

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 2.2 0.7 0.3 69.4 0.9 21.0 5.6

 One 3.1 1.9 1.9 56.0 2.2 22.4 12.5

 Two or more 1.8 2.0 1.9 41.1 3.5 23.9 25.9

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, 

financial independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full time while enrolled. Details may not sum to 

100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary 

Students Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Institutional retention at end of third year (1997–98)

No degree at first institution

_______

157
Table 7.4.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a 

Table 7.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status at the first 

Table 7.1.—institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

Table 7.1.—institution and student characteristics: End of the fourth year, 1998–99

Highest degree 

attained at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Trans- Left

 degree degree Certificate enrolled this year ferred PSE*

 Total 4-year institutions 33.5 1.1 0.6 30.2 1.2 22.7 10.7

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year 23.6 1.0 0.6 37.4 1.4 23.8 12.1

 Non-doctorate-granting 17.9 1.5 0.8 35.0 2.3 26.9 15.5

 Doctorate-granting 26.7 0.8 0.5 38.7 1.0 22.0 10.3

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 50.8 1.0 0.4 18.3 0.7 21.0 7.9

 Non-doctorate-granting 47.1 1.4 0.5 17.7 0.6 23.5 9.3

 Doctorate-granting 57.6 0.3 0.3 19.3 0.8 16.4 5.4

Attendance intensity—first institution spell

 Always full-time 37.9 1.0 0.4 27.7 1.1 22.4 9.4

 Mixed 15.2 1.7 1.8 45.5 1.4 21.8 12.8

 Always part-time 2.3 0.6 0.7 19.8 1.8 37.5 37.2

Enrollment continuity at first institution

 Continuously enrolled 36.1 1.1 0.6 28.0 # 24.2 10.0

 Not continuously enrolled 12.6 0.9 0.8 47.6 10.6 11.3 16.4

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 26.0 1.2 0.9 31.7 1.6 26.2 12.5

 One 42.2 0.0 0.4 31.8 0.6 18.3 6.7

 Two or more 57.1 0.5 0.1 22.7 0.7 14.1 4.7

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 16.4 1.3 0.7 32.5 1.8 33.0 14.3

 B+ to A- 31.3 0.6 0.1 34.7 0.7 23.8 8.8

 Mostly A’s 51.9 0.7 0.4 27.3 0.6 15.4 3.7

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 11.9 1.7 0.7 32.6 2.5 32.8 17.9

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 27.8 0.9 0.7 34.1 1.0 25.4 10.2

 High quartile (1030–1600) 52.8 0.5 0.1 25.1 1.0 15.4 5.1

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 10.4 0.9 1.0 26.3 2.6 37.2 21.7

 2.25–3.25 32.9 1.0 0.5 36.8 0.8 20.4 7.6

 Over 3.25 52.3 1.3 0.5 24.6 0.5 15.5 5.4

See footnotes at end of table.

Institutional retention at end of fourth year (1998–99)

No degree at first institution

_______

158
Table 7.4.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a 

Table 7.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status at the first 

Table 7.1.—institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

Table 7.1.—institution and student characteristics: End of the fourth year, 1998–99—Continued

Highest degree 

attained at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Trans- Left

 degree degree Certificate enrolled this year ferred PSE*

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 35.6 0.8 0.4 31.5 0.9 22.6 8.2

 Delayed 21.7 2.9 1.9 23.1 2.6 23.2 24.6

Gender

 Male 28.6 1.1 0.8 33.4 1.3 23.1 11.8

 Female 37.5 1.1 0.5 27.6 1.1 22.4 9.8

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 37.3 0.9 0.5 29.1 1.2 21.7 9.4

 Black, non-Hispanic 17.6 0.8 1.0 33.8 1.7 26.6 18.5

 Hispanic 21.5 2.4 1.0 32.9 1.1 27.7 13.4

 Asian/Pacific Islander 40.9 # 0.2 31.6 0.2 18.0 9.2

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 35.3 0.9 0.5 30.4 1.0 22.9 9.0

 Independent 12.7 3.0 2.0 27.4 3.3 19.7 31.9

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 23.1 1.4 0.5 34.3 1.1 27.1 12.5

 $25,000–44,999 31.4 1.1 0.3 29.2 1.5 24.2 12.4

 $45,000–69,999 35.5 0.8 0.4 31.2 1.0 22.9 8.2

 $70,000 or greater 45.6 0.5 0.8 28.0 0.7 19.3 5.1

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 38.8 0.7 0.2 30.4 0.7 22.0 7.3

 One 21.4 2.1 1.8 32.4 2.9 24.2 15.2

 Two or more 10.1 2.4 2.2 25.3 2.8 26.1 31.1

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, 

financial independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full time while enrolled. Details may not sum to 

100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary 

Students Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Institutional retention at end of fourth year (1998–99)

No degree at first institution

_______

159
Table 7.5.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a 

Table 7.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status at the first 

Table 7.1.—institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

Table 7.1.—institution and student characteristics: End of the fifth year, 1999–2000

Highest degree 

attained at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Trans- Left

 degree degree Certificate enrolled this year ferred PSE*

 Total 4-year institutions 51.4 1.0 0.8 10.7 0.8 23.1 12.3

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year 45.1 1.1 0.9 13.7 0.9 24.3 14.1

 Non-doctorate-granting 35.5 1.5 1.2 15.1 1.2 27.8 17.6

 Doctorate-granting 50.2 0.8 0.7 13.0 0.8 22.3 12.2

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 63.0 0.7 0.3 5.5 0.6 21.1 8.9

 Non-doctorate-granting 59.5 1.0 0.4 5.2 0.6 23.5 9.9

 Doctorate-granting 69.3 0.1 0.2 6.1 0.6 16.8 7.0

Attendance intensity—first institution spell

 Always full-time 56.1 0.8 0.5 8.7 0.8 22.7 10.5

 Mixed 34.7 1.8 2.2 21.0 0.8 22.4 17.2

 Always part-time 3.5 0.6 2.1 13.8 1.6 39.3 39.2

Enrollment continuity at first institution

 Continuously enrolled 54.4 1.0 0.7 8.1 # 24.4 11.4

 Not continuously enrolled 26.7 0.7 1.3 31.3 7.2 12.8 19.9

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 44.6 1.0 1.1 11.8 0.8 26.7 14.1

 One 61.9 # 0.4 9.2 1.0 18.9 8.5

 Two or more 72.4 0.5 # 6.3 0.7 14.2 5.9

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 32.9 1.0 0.6 15.4 0.5 33.8 15.9

 B+ to A- 52.4 0.4 0.3 11.2 0.6 24.2 10.9

 Mostly A’s 70.7 0.7 0.5 7.0 0.9 15.6 4.6

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 27.1 1.6 1.1 16.5 0.8 33.1 19.8

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 48.5 0.7 0.7 11.5 0.8 25.9 11.8

 High quartile (1030–1600) 69.7 0.5 0.2 7.0 0.8 15.5 6.5

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 20.8 0.9 1.0 14.9 0.6 37.7 24.2

 2.25–3.25 57.2 0.9 0.8 10.6 1.1 20.7 8.9

 Over 3.25 68.1 1.2 0.6 7.0 0.7 15.9 6.5

See footnotes at end of table.

Institutional retention at end of fifth year (1999–2000)

No degree at first institution

_______

160
Table 7.5.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a 

Table 7.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status at the first 

Table 7.1.—institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

Table 7.1.—institution and student characteristics: End of the fifth year, 1999–2000—Continued

Highest degree 

attained at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Trans- Left

 degree degree Certificate enrolled this year ferred PSE*

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 55.0 0.7 0.5 10.5 0.7 22.9 9.8

 Delayed 31.5 2.8 2.4 12.0 1.3 23.9 26.1

Gender

 Male 47.6 1.0 0.9 12.5 1.0 23.3 13.7

 Female 54.4 1.0 0.7 9.2 0.6 22.9 11.2

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 55.3 0.7 0.6 9.3 0.9 22.1 11.0

 Black, non-Hispanic 36.5 1.0 1.0 13.9 0.8 26.6 20.3

 Hispanic 36.1 2.2 1.5 15.5 0.6 28.2 15.9

 Asian/Pacific Islander 60.5 # # 10.8 # 18.7 10.0

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 53.9 0.8 0.6 10.4 0.7 23.2 10.5

 Independent 21.2 3.0 3.2 13.7 2.7 20.8 35.5

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 41.4 1.2 0.8 14.7 0.9 27.2 13.8

 $25,000–44,999 48.6 0.9 0.2 11.3 0.7 24.8 13.5

 $45,000–69,999 55.7 0.8 0.4 9.0 0.7 23.1 10.3

 $70,000 or greater 64.1 0.3 0.8 8.3 0.5 19.6 6.5

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 58.1 0.5 0.3 9.6 0.6 22.2 8.7

 One 38.8 2.3 1.8 14.0 1.7 24.4 17.0

 Two or more 16.9 2.4 3.1 14.1 1.5 28.0 34.1

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, 

financial independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full time while enrolled. Details may not sum to 

100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary 

Students Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Institutional retention at end of fifth year (1999–2000)

No degree at first institution

_______

161
Table 7.6.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a 

Table 7.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status at the first 

Table 7.1.—institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

Table 7.1.—institution and student characteristics: End of the sixth year, 2000–01

Highest degree 

attained at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Trans- Left

 degree degree Certificate enrolled this year ferred PSE*

 Total 4-year institutions 55.3 1.0 0.7 6.8 † 23.2 13.2

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year 50.0 1.1 0.7 8.7 † 24.3 15.2

 Non-doctorate-granting 40.3 1.7 1.2 9.9 † 27.9 19.0

 Doctorate-granting 55.2 0.7 0.4 8.1 † 22.4 13.2

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 65.3 0.5 0.3 3.5 † 21.1 9.3

 Non-doctorate-granting 62.0 0.8 0.4 3.2 † 23.5 10.2

 Doctorate-granting 71.4 0.1 0.2 3.9 † 16.8 7.6

Attendance intensity—first institution spell

 Always full-time 59.8 0.8 0.4 5.0 † 22.8 11.3

 Mixed 40.7 1.7 1.8 15.0 † 22.4 18.5

 Always part-time 3.5 0.9 2.1 14.8 † 39.3 39.5

Enrollment continuity at first institution

 Continuously enrolled 58.3 1.0 0.6 3.9 † 24.4 11.9

 Not continuously enrolled 31.2 1.1 1.4 29.9 † 12.8 23.7

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 49.0 1.0 0.9 7.4 † 26.7 15.1

 One 64.8 # 0.5 6.8 † 18.9 9.0

 Two or more 74.8 0.6 # 4.4 † 14.2 6.1

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 38.2 1.0 0.6 9.0 † 33.8 17.5

 B+ to A- 56.9 0.3 0.1 6.6 † 24.2 11.9

 Mostly A’s 73.8 0.7 0.4 4.8 † 15.6 4.8

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 32.9 1.7 0.6 9.9 † 33.1 21.7

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 53.2 0.6 0.7 7.2 † 26.0 12.4

 High quartile (1030–1600) 72.0 0.5 0.2 4.7 † 15.5 7.2

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 25.4 0.9 1.0 8.9 † 37.7 26.1

 2.25–3.25 61.3 0.9 0.6 6.9 † 20.8 9.6

 Over 3.25 71.3 1.1 0.5 4.6 † 15.9 6.7

See footnotes at end of table.

Institutional retention at end of sixth year (2000–01)

No degree at first institution

_______

162
Table 7.6.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a 

Table 7.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status at the first 

Table 7.1.—institution attended at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year 

Table 7.1.—institution and student characteristics: End of the sixth year, 2000–01—Continued

Highest degree 

attained at first institution

 Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Trans- Left

 degree degree Certificate enrolled this year ferred PSE*

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 59.2 0.6 0.4 6.3 † 23.0 10.5

 Delayed 34.2 2.8 2.4 9.3 † 23.9 27.4

Gender

 Male 52.0 1.0 0.8 8.1 † 23.4 14.7

 Female 58.0 1.0 0.6 5.7 † 22.9 11.9

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 59.0 0.7 0.7 5.8 † 22.1 11.8

 Black, non-Hispanic 40.9 1.0 0.9 8.9 † 26.6 21.6

 Hispanic 41.3 2.2 1.0 10.8 † 28.2 16.6

 Asian/Pacific Islander 63.8 # # 6.8 † 18.7 10.7

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 57.9 0.8 0.5 6.3 † 23.2 11.3

 Independent 23.9 3.0 3.2 13.2 † 20.8 35.9

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 46.8 1.3 0.6 9.6 † 27.2 14.6

 $25,000–44,999 52.3 0.9 0.2 6.8 † 24.9 14.9

 $45,000–69,999 59.7 0.7 0.4 5.2 † 23.1 11.0

 $70,000 or greater 67.5 0.4 0.6 4.8 † 19.7 7.1

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 62.3 0.5 0.2 5.4 † 22.2 9.4

 One 42.6 2.3 1.4 11.2 † 24.6 18.0

 Two or more 19.2 2.5 3.1 11.8 † 28.0 35.4

†Not applicable.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, 

financial independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full time while enrolled. Details may not sum to 

100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary 

Students Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Institutional retention at end of sixth year (2000–01)

No degree at first institution

_______

163
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
165 

Section 8: Student Persistence and Attainment Anywhere at the 

End of Each Year (Beginners at 4-Year Institutions) 

The tables in section 8 show the persistence and attainment of 1995–96 beginning students 

who had a bachelor’s degree goal (90 percent of the beginners at 4-year institutions) at any 

postsecondary institutions they attended in the six years under study. The section contains six 

separate tables that show the percentage distribution of the beginners by their attainment or 

enrollment status at any institution at the end of each academic year from 1995–96 to 2000–2001. 

These tables are comparable to the tables in section 7, which show retention and attainment of 

the same students at the first institution attended. The difference is that the categories used in the 

tables in this section include what happened to the students who were classified as transfers in 

section 7. 

At the end of each of the six academic years, the tables in section 8 show the cumulative 

percentage who had attained any degrees (by highest type of degree) at any institution, and the 

cumulative percentage who had left postsecondary education and were never again enrolled 

anywhere by June 2001. The tables also show the percentage of stopouts who were not enrolled 

at any time during that academic year, but returned in a following year and enrolled at some 

postsecondary institution. The stopout percentages are not cumulative, because in a future year 

the stopouts will again be classified as enrolled or as having attained a degree. Stopouts who 

were not enrolled at all during the year represented 2 to 4 percent of the students in the second 

through fifth academic years. Since the survey period stopped in June 2001, the percentage of 

stopouts in the last year cannot be known (since we do not know who might return in some future 

year), and they are included with those who left postsecondary education (permanently, as far as 

we know). This means that the true rate of permanent attrition (without a degree) from 

postsecondary education will always be somewhat lower than that measured at any particular 

point in time. 

The percentage of students still enrolled in postsecondary education without a degree at the 

end of each year is the residual after classifying all those who had attained degrees in that year 

and prior years, all those who had left postsecondary education permanently in that year and prior 

years, and those who were stopouts and not enrolled at all that year. 
Section 8: Student Persistence and Attainment Anywhere at the End of Each Year

166 

The yearly percentage distributions from the tables in section 8 are equivalent to those 

shown in figure 3 in the text of the report. 

Student Persistence Anywhere 

Table 8.1: At the end of the first year (1995–96) 

• By the end of the first academic year that they were enrolled, 97 percent of the 1995–

96 beginning students with a bachelor’s degree goal who had started at a 4-year 

institution were still enrolled in postsecondary education.

• Just 3 percent of the beginners had left postsecondary education permanently by the 

end of the first year and never enrolled anywhere in the subsequent five years. Among 

the students who were always enrolled part time in the first year, 41 percent had left 

postsecondary education by the end of the first year.

Table 8.2: At the end of the second year (1996–97) 

• By the end of the second academic year, 89 percent of the 1995–96 beginning students 

with a bachelor’s degree goal who had started at a 4-year institution were still enrolled 

in postsecondary education. Another 4 percent were stopouts who were not enrolled at 

all in the second year, but returned in a subsequent year.

• Among the students who were not always continuously enrolled during the six years 

(that is, had a stopout period of more than 4 months at some time), 18 percent stopped 

out in the second year and were not enrolled anywhere in 1996–97. 

• By the end of the second year, 6 percent of the 1995–96 beginning students with a 

bachelor’s degree goal who had started at a 4-year institution had left postsecondary 

education permanently (including the 3 percent who had left by the end of the first 

year). However, among those who started as financially independent students, one-fifth 

(20 percent) had left postsecondary education by the end of the second year. 

Table 8.3: At the end of the third year (1997–98) 

• By the end of the third academic year, 82 percent of the 1995–96 beginning students 

with a bachelor’s degree goal who had started at a 4-year institution were still enrolled 

in postsecondary education, and a small percentage had attained some degree. 

• By the end of the third year, 10 percent of the 1995–96 beginning students with a 

bachelor’s degree goal who had started at a 4-year institution had left postsecondary 

education permanently (including the 6 percent who had left by the end of the second 

year). Another 3 percent were stopouts who were not enrolled at all in the third year, 

but returned in a subsequent year.
 Section 8: Student Persistence and Attainment Anywhere at the End of Each Year 

167 

• Among beginning students who were always enrolled part time, about one-half (54 

percent) had left postsecondary education without a degree by the end of the third year.

Table 8.4: At the end of the fourth year (1998–99) 

• By the end of the fourth academic year, 36 percent of the 1995–96 beginning students 

with a bachelor’s degree goal who had started at a 4-year institution had completed a 

bachelor’s degree, 43 percent were still enrolled in postsecondary education without a 

degree, and 13 percent had left postsecondary education. 

• Among the beginners who had a GPA of less than 2.25 at the end of the first year, and 

among those who had started with a combined SAT score in the lowest quartile (400–

700), about one-fourth (27 and 24 percent, respectively) had left postsecondary 

education without a degree by the end of the fourth year after they had started. 

Table 8.5: At the end of the fifth year (1999–2000) 

• By the end of the fifth academic year, 57 percent of the 1995–96 beginning students 

with a bachelor’s degree goal who had started at a 4-year institution had completed a 

bachelor’s degree, 19 percent were still enrolled in postsecondary education without a 

degree, and 17 percent had left postsecondary education.

Table 8.6: At the end of the sixth year (2000–01) 

• By the end of the sixth academic year, 63 percent of the 1995–96 beginning students 

with a bachelor’s degree goal who had started at a 4-year institution had completed a 

bachelor’s degree, 14 percent were still enrolled in postsecondary education without a 

degree, and 18 percent had left postsecondary education. Students who may have 

stopped out in this last year cannot be identified until they return in some future year, 

and they are included in the percentage that had left postsecondary education. 
Table 8.1.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a

Table 8.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status anywhere 

Table 8.1.—at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year institution and student

Table 8.1.—characteristics: End of the first year, 1995–96

Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Left

degree degree Certificate enrolled this year PSE*

 Total 4-year institutions † † 0.1 96.7 † 3.2

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year † † 0.1 96.3 † 3.6

 Non-doctorate-granting † † # 94.0 † 6.0

 Doctorate-granting † † 0.2 97.5 † 2.3

 Private not-for-profit 4-year † † # 97.8 † 2.2

 Non-doctorate-granting † † # 97.2 † 2.8

 Doctorate-granting † † # 98.8 † 1.1

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time † † # 96.5 † 3.5

 Mixed † † 0.1 99.1 † 0.8

 Always part-time † † 1.8 56.7 † 41.4

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled † † # 96.0 † 4.0

 Not continuously enrolled † † 0.3 99.7 † #

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None † † 0.1 96.0 † 3.9

 One † † # 98.9 † 1.1

 Two or more † † # 99.3 † 0.7

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less † † 0.2 96.1 † 3.7

 B+ to A- † † # 98.5 † 1.5

 Mostly A’s † † 0.1 99.1 † 0.8

 SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) † † # 93.9 † 6.1

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) † † 0.1 97.1 † 2.8

 High quartile (1030–1600) † † # 99.5 † 0.5

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 † † 0.2 91.4 † 8.4

 2.25–3.25 † † # 98.5 † 1.5

 Over 3.25 † † 0.1 98.6 † 1.3

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay † † 0.1 98.1 † 1.9

 Delayed † † 0.2 89.7 † 10.1

See footnotes at end of table.

Highest degree attained anywhere No degree anywhere

Student persistence at end of first year (1995–96)

_______

168
Table 8.1.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a

Table 8.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status anywhere 

Table 8.1.—at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year institution and student

Table 8.1.—characteristics: End of the first year, 1995–96—Continued

Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Left

degree degree Certificate enrolled this year PSE*

Gender

 Male † † 0.1 96.3 † 3.7

 Female † † 0.1 97.1 † 2.8

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic † † # 96.9 † 3.1

 Black, non-Hispanic † † 0.4 95.4 † 4.2

 Hispanic † † 0.2 95.6 † 4.1

 Asian/Pacific Islander † † # 99.1 † 0.9

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent † † 0.1 97.6 † 2.3

 Independent † † 0.4 85.8 † 13.7

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 † † # 96.6 † 3.4

 $25,000–44,999 † † # 96.0 † 4.0

 $45,000–69,999 † † 0.1 98.3 † 1.7

 $70,000 or greater † † 0.1 98.8 † 1.1

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None † † # 98.4 † 1.5

 One † † 0.2 94.4 † 5.4

 Two or more † † 0.3 86.8 † 12.8

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, 

financial independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full time while enrolled. Detail may not sum to 

100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Highest degree attained anywhere No degree anywhere

Student persistence at end of first year (1995–96)

_______

169
Table 8.2.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a

Table 8.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status anywhere 

Table 8.1.—at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year institution and student

Table 8.1.—characteristics: End of the second year, 1996–97

Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Left

degree degree Certificate enrolled this year PSE*

 Total 4-year institutions † 0.4 0.4 89.2 3.6 6.4

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year † 0.5 0.4 87.5 4.5 7.1

 Non-doctorate-granting † 0.8 0.6 82.6 5.6 10.5

 Doctorate-granting † 0.3 0.3 90.1 3.9 5.3

 Private not-for-profit 4-year † 0.3 0.3 92.6 2.1 4.7

 Non-doctorate-granting † 0.4 0.4 91.6 2.0 5.7

 Doctorate-granting † 0.1 0.2 94.5 2.4 2.7

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time † 0.5 0.3 89.6 2.6 7.1

 Mixed † 0.3 0.5 90.5 5.7 3.1

 Always part-time † # 4.8 44.3 3.5 47.5

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled † 0.4 0.4 91.7 † 7.5

 Not continuously enrolled † 0.5 0.5 79.4 17.7 1.9

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None † 0.5 0.6 86.9 4.6 7.5

 One † # 0.3 93.7 2.5 3.5

 Two or more † 0.5 # 96.0 1.2 2.4

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less † 0.7 0.4 85.5 5.4 8.1

 B+ to A- † 0.3 0.2 91.6 3.7 4.2

 Mostly A’s † 0.5 0.2 95.7 1.4 2.3

 SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) † 0.5 0.7 80.1 5.8 12.9

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) † 0.2 0.2 89.9 3.9 5.8

 High quartile (1030–1600) † 0.6 0.2 94.8 2.4 2.0

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 † 0.3 0.7 75.1 8.4 15.5

 2.25–3.25 † 0.4 0.3 93.2 2.8 3.4

 Over 3.25 † 0.6 0.1 94.8 1.3 3.1

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay † 0.3 0.3 92.1 2.9 4.5

 Delayed † 1.3 1.2 73.3 7.6 16.6

See footnotes at end of table.

Highest degree attained anywhere No degree anywhere

Student persistence at end of second year (1996–97)

_______

170
Table 8.2.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a

Table 8.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status anywhere 

Table 8.1.—at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year institution and student

Table 8.1.—characteristics: End of the second year, 1996–97—Continued

Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Left

degree degree Certificate enrolled this year PSE*

Gender

 Male † 0.3 0.5 87.9 4.2 7.2

 Female † 0.6 0.4 90.2 3.2 5.7

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic † 0.4 0.3 89.8 3.7 5.8

 Black, non-Hispanic † 0.3 1.3 85.3 2.9 10.1

 Hispanic † # 0.3 86.1 4.1 9.5

 Asian/Pacific Islander † # # 94.0 3.8 2.2

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent † 0.4 0.3 90.7 3.3 5.3

 Independent † # 1.4 71.7 7.4 19.5

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 † 0.3 0.5 87.0 4.7 7.5

 $25,000–44,999 † 0.6 0.3 86.9 4.5 7.8

 $45,000–69,999 † 0.5 0.4 92.5 2.2 4.4

 $70,000 or greater † 0.3 0.2 94.2 2.4 2.9

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None † 0.2 0.2 93.2 2.7 3.9

 One † 1.7 1.0 81.1 5.5 10.6

 Two or more † # 1.5 70.6 8.1 19.8

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, 

financial independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full time while enrolled. Detail may not sum to 

100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Student persistence at end of second year (1996–97)

Highest degree attained anywhere No degree anywhere

_______

171
Table 8.3.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a

Table 8.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status anywhere 

Table 8.1.—at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year institution and student

Table 8.1.—characteristics: End of the third year, 1997–98

Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Left

degree degree Certificate enrolled this year PSE*

 Total 4-year institutions 2.4 1.6 1.2 81.8 2.9 10.1

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year 2.7 1.5 1.3 80.5 3.0 11.2

 Non-doctorate-granting 1.9 2.3 1.5 75.5 3.6 15.3

 Doctorate-granting 3.1 1.0 1.1 83.2 2.7 8.9

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 1.9 1.6 0.9 85.2 2.5 7.8

 Non-doctorate-granting 1.8 2.1 0.9 83.0 2.7 9.6

 Doctorate-granting 2.2 0.7 1.0 89.2 2.2 4.7

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 2.8 1.6 0.8 82.9 1.5 10.4

 Mixed 1.7 1.6 1.9 82.2 5.2 7.5

 Always part-time # 1.1 5.7 31.2 8.5 53.5

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 2.8 1.7 1.0 83.7 † 10.8

 Not continuously enrolled 0.7 1.2 2.1 74.8 13.9 7.3

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 1.8 1.8 1.5 79.5 3.6 11.9

 One 3.6 0.8 1.0 86.1 3.0 5.5

 Two or more 4.8 0.8 0.6 87.8 0.8 5.3

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 0.9 2.2 1.2 77.4 4.1 14.3

 B+ to A- 1.8 1.3 0.7 84.9 2.7 8.5

 Mostly A’s 4.1 1.1 0.6 89.8 1.2 3.3

 SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 1.3 1.8 1.7 73.2 3.1 19.0

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 1.7 1.6 1.0 83.0 3.1 9.6

 High quartile (1030–1600) 3.9 0.9 0.6 88.0 2.2 4.4

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 0.4 1.5 2.5 67.6 6.4 21.7

 2.25–3.25 2.3 1.7 0.8 86.2 1.8 7.2

 Over 3.25 4.3 1.6 0.7 86.6 1.7 5.2

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 1.1 1.4 1.0 86.4 2.5 7.7

 Delayed 9.8 2.9 2.3 56.9 5.0 23.1

See footnotes at end of table.

Highest degree attained anywhere No degree anywhere

Student persistence at end of third year (1997–98)

_______

172
Table 8.3.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a

Table 8.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status anywhere 

Table 8.1.—at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year institution and student

Table 8.1.—characteristics: End of the third year, 1997–98—Continued

Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Left

degree degree Certificate enrolled this year PSE*

Gender

 Male 2.7 1.6 1.4 79.9 3.4 11.2

 Female 2.2 1.6 1.1 83.5 2.4 9.2

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 2.6 1.6 0.9 82.9 2.9 9.1

 Black, non-Hispanic 1.1 1.0 2.8 75.1 3.8 16.2

 Hispanic 2.5 1.8 1.5 78.7 2.2 13.4

 Asian/Pacific Islander 2.5 0.5 0.6 87.7 1.5 7.2

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 2.5 1.5 1.0 84.0 2.5 8.6

 Independent 1.9 3.0 3.7 56.3 8.1 27.0

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 2.1 1.6 1.4 80.2 2.9 11.8

 $25,000–44,999 3.3 1.3 1.0 79.8 2.7 11.8

 $45,000–69,999 2.0 1.3 0.7 86.1 2.6 7.2

 $70,000 or greater 2.6 1.6 1.1 87.3 1.9 5.6

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 2.3 1.3 0.7 86.5 2.1 7.1

 One 3.4 2.3 2.6 73.5 4.1 14.2

 Two or more 1.8 2.4 3.6 57.3 7.7 27.2

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, 

financial independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full time while enrolled. Detail may not sum to 

100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Student persistence at end of third year (1997–98)

Highest degree attained anywhere No degree anywhere

_______

173
Table 8.4.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a

Table 8.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status anywhere 

Table 8.1.—at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year institution and student

Table 8.1.—characteristics: End of the fourth year, 1998–99

Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Left

degree degree Certificate enrolled this year PSE*

 Total 4-year institutions 35.8 2.1 1.4 43.4 4.1 13.3

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year 25.5 2.2 1.3 51.7 4.5 14.6

 Non-doctorate-granting 20.2 2.7 1.6 51.6 4.8 19.2

 Doctorate-granting 28.5 2.0 1.2 51.8 4.4 12.1

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 53.9 1.7 1.1 29.5 3.3 10.7

 Non-doctorate-granting 49.7 2.1 1.3 30.1 3.9 13.0

 Doctorate-granting 61.4 0.9 0.8 28.3 2.1 6.5

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 44.1 1.9 0.9 37.9 2.4 12.8

 Mixed 21.1 2.6 2.0 55.0 7.3 12.0

 Always part-time # 1.1 7.0 25.5 5.6 60.8

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 43.2 1.8 1.1 40.9 † 13.1

 Not continuously enrolled 6.9 3.3 2.6 53.1 20.0 14.1

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 28.0 2.2 1.7 47.1 5.2 15.8

 One 44.7 1.2 0.8 42.7 3.1 7.6

 Two or more 60.6 1.0 0.3 29.4 2.0 6.7

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 18.1 3.1 1.6 53.7 5.5 18.0

 B+ to A- 34.2 2.0 0.8 48.0 3.3 11.7

 Mostly A’s 54.8 1.1 0.6 36.0 2.8 4.7

 SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 13.0 3.0 2.3 51.0 7.0 23.8

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 29.9 2.4 1.3 49.7 4.0 12.7

 High quartile (1030–1600) 56.2 0.8 0.3 33.2 2.9 6.6

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 10.7 3.2 3.3 46.7 8.9 27.3

 2.25–3.25 35.4 1.7 0.9 49.6 3.0 9.5

 Over 3.25 55.7 1.9 0.5 33.2 1.8 6.9

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 38.3 1.8 1.1 44.8 3.5 10.6

 Delayed 22.4 3.9 3.0 35.2 7.6 28.0

See footnotes at end of table.

Highest degree attained anywhere No degree anywhere

Students persistence at end of fourth year (1998–99)

_______

174
Table 8.4.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a

Table 8.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status anywhere 

Table 8.1.—at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year institution and student

Table 8.1.—characteristics: End of the fourth year, 1998–99—Continued

Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Left

degree degree Certificate enrolled this year PSE*

Gender

 Male 30.1 2.0 1.4 47.3 4.7 14.6

 Female 40.5 2.2 1.4 40.1 3.6 12.2

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 39.8 2.0 1.1 41.5 3.6 12.1

 Black, non-Hispanic 18.8 1.7 3.2 48.6 7.6 20.1

 Hispanic 23.5 3.8 2.1 48.7 5.4 16.6

 Asian/Pacific Islander 42.5 0.5 0.4 43.5 1.6 11.6

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 37.7 2.0 1.1 43.9 3.7 11.6

 Independent 13.2 3.4 4.7 35.9 9.5 33.3

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 25.1 2.6 1.6 49.3 5.9 15.6

 $25,000–44,999 33.1 2.3 1.1 43.2 4.6 15.8

 $45,000–69,999 37.5 1.9 0.7 46.3 3.3 10.4

 $70,000 or greater 49.4 1.4 1.2 38.9 2.1 7.1

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 41.3 1.8 0.8 43.4 2.9 9.8

 One 23.8 2.9 2.8 44.6 8.0 17.9

 Two or more 10.3 2.8 4.4 41.0 8.3 33.1

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, 

financial independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full time while enrolled. Detail may not sum to 

100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Students persistence at end of fourth year (1998–99)

Highest degree attained anywhere No degree anywhere

_______

175
Table 8.5.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a

Table 8.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status anywhere 

Table 8.1.—at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year institution and student

Table 8.1.—characteristics: End of the fifth year, 1999–2000

Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Left

degree degree Certificate enrolled this year PSE*

 Total 4-year institutions 57.1 2.5 1.9 19.4 2.4 16.6

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year 50.6 2.9 2.0 23.4 2.7 18.4

 Non-doctorate-granting 42.3 3.3 2.7 26.0 2.6 23.1

 Doctorate-granting 55.0 2.6 1.7 22.0 2.8 15.9

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 69.4 1.9 1.2 12.5 2.0 13.1

 Non-doctorate-granting 65.7 2.2 1.3 12.9 2.4 15.6

 Doctorate-granting 76.1 1.2 0.9 12.0 1.2 8.7

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 67.4 1.9 1.1 13.3 1.3 14.9

 Mixed 39.5 3.8 3.2 31.4 4.6 17.5

 Always part-time # 1.1 9.5 20.1 3.6 65.8

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 67.6 1.8 1.3 13.9 † 15.4

 Not continuously enrolled 16.5 5.4 4.3 40.8 11.9 21.1

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 50.1 2.6 2.5 22.3 3.0 19.4

 One 67.6 2.0 1.2 16.3 2.3 10.6

 Two or more 78.9 1.0 0.2 10.0 1.0 8.9

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 38.0 3.8 2.0 30.4 3.1 22.8

 B+ to A- 59.2 1.9 1.6 19.2 2.9 15.2

 Mostly A’s 77.5 1.8 0.8 11.9 1.5 6.6

 SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 29.9 3.4 3.3 30.5 4.5 28.3

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 54.9 3.2 1.9 21.2 2.7 16.1

 High quartile (1030–1600) 76.2 0.8 0.4 12.0 1.4 9.2

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 24.0 4.7 3.6 29.3 4.8 33.5

 2.25–3.25 63.8 2.1 1.7 18.2 2.0 12.3

 Over 3.25 75.2 1.7 0.9 12.2 1.5 8.6

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 61.5 2.2 1.5 18.8 2.2 13.9

 Delayed 33.0 4.5 4.4 23.2 3.8 31.1

See footnotes at end of table.

Highest degree attained anywhere No degree anywhere

Student persistence at end of fifth year (1999–2000)

_______

176
Table 8.5.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a

Table 8.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status anywhere 

Table 8.1.—at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year institution and student

Table 8.1.—characteristics: End of the fifth year, 1999–2000—Continued

Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Left

degree degree Certificate enrolled this year PSE*

Gender

 Male 52.5 2.3 1.7 22.0 2.6 18.9

 Female 60.9 2.8 2.1 17.3 2.3 14.6

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 61.5 2.4 1.6 17.5 2.0 15.1

 Black, non-Hispanic 39.6 2.4 3.6 25.4 4.5 24.5

 Hispanic 41.0 4.2 2.8 26.0 4.3 21.7

 Asian/Pacific Islander 66.6 0.9 0.2 18.1 0.4 13.9

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 60.1 2.4 1.5 19.1 2.3 14.7

 Independent 21.9 3.9 7.9 22.9 4.8 38.6

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 46.4 2.8 2.3 26.2 3.4 19.0

 $25,000–44,999 53.9 2.8 1.2 19.8 3.0 19.3

 $45,000–69,999 61.9 2.8 0.9 18.2 2.2 13.9

 $70,000 or greater 71.7 1.5 1.6 14.7 1.1 9.4

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 64.8 2.1 1.0 17.6 1.8 12.8

 One 43.4 4.3 3.0 22.2 5.4 21.7

 Two or more 17.6 3.1 7.8 29.8 3.5 38.3

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, 

financial independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full time while enrolled. Detail may not sum to 

100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Student persistence at end of fifth year (1999–2000)

Highest degree attained anywhere No degree anywhere

_______

177
Table 8.6.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a

Table 8.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status anywhere 

Table 8.1.—at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year institution and student

Table 8.1.—characteristics: End of the sixth year, 2000–01

Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Left

degree degree Certificate enrolled this year PSE*

 Total 4-year institutions 62.7 2.7 2.1 14.2 † 18.3

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year 57.3 3.0 2.2 17.2 † 20.3

 Non-doctorate-granting 48.9 3.7 3.4 18.9 † 25.2

 Doctorate-granting 61.8 2.7 1.6 16.3 † 17.6

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 73.0 1.8 1.3 9.2 † 14.7

 Non-doctorate-granting 69.6 2.1 1.5 9.7 † 17.2

 Doctorate-granting 79.3 1.3 1.1 8.3 † 10.1

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 72.8 2.0 1.1 8.1 † 16.0

 Mixed 45.7 4.0 3.7 26.0 † 20.6

 Always part-time # 1.1 9.5 21.8 † 67.6

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 73.6 1.8 1.3 7.2 † 16.2

 Not continuously enrolled 20.4 6.2 5.2 41.6 † 26.5

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 56.3 3.0 2.8 16.4 † 21.5

 One 72.1 1.5 1.2 13.7 † 11.6

 Two or more 82.3 1.1 0.2 6.6 † 9.8

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 45.5 4.0 2.4 21.1 † 27.0

 B+ to A- 65.2 2.3 1.6 13.9 † 17.0

 Mostly A’s 82.0 1.5 0.6 8.7 † 7.2

 SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 37.4 3.7 3.6 23.1 † 32.2

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 61.6 3.3 2.1 15.2 † 17.8

 High quartile (1030–1600) 79.6 0.8 0.4 8.9 † 10.4

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 30.3 4.7 4.3 23.6 † 37.1

 2.25–3.25 69.6 2.1 1.8 12.6 † 13.8

 Over 3.25 79.7 1.8 0.7 8.4 † 9.4

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 67.4 2.2 1.5 13.3 † 15.6

 Delayed 36.8 5.4 5.2 19.5 † 33.0

See footnotes at end of table.

Highest degree attained anywhere No degree anywhere

Student persistence at end of sixth year (2000–01)

_______

178
Table 8.6.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a

Table 8.1.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to the highest degree attained or enrollment status anywhere 

Table 8.1.—at the end of each academic year (cumulative), by first type of 4-year institution and student

Table 8.1.—characteristics: End of the sixth year, 2000–01—Continued

Bachelor’s Associate’s Still Stopout Left

degree degree Certificate enrolled this year PSE*

Gender

 Male 58.7 2.2 2.0 16.1 † 21.0

 Female 66.0 3.1 2.2 12.7 † 16.1

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 66.8 2.5 1.8 12.2 † 16.7

 Black, non-Hispanic 45.7 2.8 4.2 20.2 † 27.1

 Hispanic 47.3 5.0 2.8 21.0 † 23.9

 Asian/Pacific Islander 70.5 1.2 0.2 13.6 † 14.6

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 65.8 2.5 1.6 13.6 † 16.5

 Independent 25.3 4.3 8.6 22.1 † 39.7

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 53.7 3.6 2.6 19.1 † 21.1

 $25,000–44,999 59.1 2.7 1.5 15.1 † 21.6

 $45,000–69,999 67.6 2.8 1.0 12.7 † 15.9

 $70,000 or greater 76.6 1.4 1.6 9.8 † 10.6

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 70.6 2.0 1.1 11.9 † 14.4

 One 49.0 4.3 3.0 19.8 † 23.9

 Two or more 20.9 5.0 9.1 24.7 † 40.4

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, 

financial independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full time while enrolled. Detail may not sum to 

100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Student persistence at end of sixth year (2000–01)

Highest degree attained anywhere No degree anywhere

_______

179
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
181 

Section 9: Persistence Track Status at the End of Each 

Academic Year (Beginners at 4-Year Institutions) 

The persistence track concept was developed by Carroll as a tool for analyzing the 

persistence path of beginners with bachelor’s degree goals starting at 4-year institutions (Carroll 

1989). Students are classified as staying on the persistence track of progress towards a bachelor’s 

degree as long as they remain continuously enrolled at 4-year institutions during each academic 

year. This includes students who transfer from one 4-year institution to another without a break 

in enrollment continuity. They are classified as leaving the persistence track once they start a 

stopout period (defined in this study as a break in enrollment continuity of more than 4 months), 

transfer downward to a less-than-4-year institution, or leave postsecondary education entirely 

before completing a bachelor’s degree. In these tables it is also assumed that if a student with a 

bachelor’s degree goal attains a sub-baccalaureate degree (certificate or associate’s degree), the 

student has left the persistence track. 

The tables in section 9 show the status of beginning students with a bachelor’s degree goal 

who started at a 4-year institution on the persistence track at the end of each academic year. The 

tables show the percentage of all beginning students who are still “on track” (enrolled 

continuously at 4-year institutions) each year or complete a bachelor’s degree in a given year. 

Then they show the percentage who left the persistence track that year because they started a 

stopout period, transferred to a less-than-4-year institution, attained a sub-baccalaureate degree, 

or left postsecondary education entirely. Those who stopped out and then transferred are 

classified as delayed transfers (rather than stopouts). In order to maintain a percentage 

distribution that includes all of the beginners each year, the percentage who had left the 

persistence track in prior years and the percentage who had attained bachelor’s degrees in prior 

years are cumulated on each table. 

The percentages may also be interpreted as representing the persistence track status of 

1,000 beginners (100.0 percent of the initial cohort) at the end of each academic year. For 

example, at the end of the first year, 857 (85.7 percent) of 1,000 beginners were still on the 

persistence track (table 9.1). At the end of the second year, 760 (76.0 percent of the total) were 

still on the persistence track (table 9.2). The conditional persistence rate between the first and the 

second year may be estimated by calculating 760/857=88.7 percent. At the end of the third year, 

674 of the initial 1,000 were still on the persistence track and 23 attained a bachelor’s degree that 
Section 9: Persistence Track Status at the End of Each Academic Year

182 

year (table 9.3). Combining the latter, the conditional persistence rate between the second and 

third years may be estimated as (674+23)/760=91.7 percent. 

Tables 9.1 through 9.6 show the persistence track status of the students at the end of each 

of the six academic years. Table 9.7 displays the percentage of students who stayed on the 

persistence track and the cumulative percentage of students who experienced the four types of 

departure from the persistence track as of June 2001. By interpreting the percentages as 

representing 1,000 beginning students, table 9.7 shows that of the original 1,000 beginners, 578 

were continuously enrolled at 4-year institutions and completed a bachelor’s degree by June 2001 

(the 45 who attained in the sixth year plus the 533 who had attained in prior years as shown in 

table 9.6), and 52 had been enrolled continuously but had not yet completed a bachelor’s degree. 

Of the original 1,000 beginners, 369 had left the persistence track towards a bachelor’s degree: 

127 had transferred to a less-than-4-year institution, 110 had stopped out for more than 4 months, 

19 had attained sub-baccalaureate degrees, and 113 had left postsecondary education without 

completing any degree. 
Table 9.1.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.1.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.1.—institution and student characteristics: End of first year, 1995–96

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

 Total 4-year institutions 85.7 † 0.1 6.3 4.8 3.2 First institution type and highest offering Public 4-year 83.7 † 0.1 6.8 5.8 3.6  Non-doctorate-granting 79.1 † # 8.3 6.5 6.0  Doctorate-granting 86.1 † 0.2 6.0 5.4 2.3  Private not-for-profit 4-year 89.6 † # 5.4 2.8 2.2  Non-doctorate-granting 88.2 † # 6.1 2.9 2.8  Doctorate-granting 92.1 † # 4.1 2.7 1.1 Attendance intensity—first institution spell Always full-time 86.5 † 0.1 6.3 4.4 2.8  Mixed 92.2 † # 3.9 2.3 1.7  Always part-time 24.6 † 1.0 21.7 29.5 23.2 Attendance intensity through 2001 Always full-time 89.4 † # 3.9 3.2 3.5  Mixed 81.0 † 0.1 11.0 7.1 0.8  Always part-time 28.0 † 1.8 8.1 20.7 41.4 Enrollment continuity through 2001 Continuously enrolled 93.8 † # 2.1 † 4.0  Not continuously enrolled 53.9 † 0.2 22.7 23.3 # 

See footnotes at end of table.

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

End of first year (1995–96)

_______

183
Table 9.1.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.1.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.1.—institution and student characteristics: End of first year, 1995–96—Continued

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken None 82.6 † 0.1 7.9 5.5 3.9  One 90.1 † # 3.9 4.9 1.1  More than one 94.4 † # 1.8 3.1 0.7 Grade-point average in high school B’s or less 79.8 † 0.1 10.4 6.0 3.7  B+ to A- 88.0 † # 6.0 4.5 1.5  Mostly A’s 93.2 † 0.1 3.2 2.7 0.8 SAT combined score Low quartile (400–700) 75.8 † # 10.5 7.6 6.1  Middle quartiles (710–1020) 84.9 † 0.1 7.6 4.6 2.8  High quartile (1030–1600) 93.0 † # 2.8 3.6 0.5 GPA first year enrolled Less than 2.25 67.0 † 0.2 15.8 8.6 8.4  2.25–3.25 90.6 † # 3.8 4.1 1.5  Over 3.25 93.3 † 0.1 3.0 2.4 1.3 Delayed postsecondary enrollment Did not delay 88.5 † 0.1 5.9 3.7 1.9  Delayed 70.1 † 0.2 8.8 10.8 10.1 

See footnotes at end of table.

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

End of first year (1995–96)

_______

184
Table 9.1.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.1.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.1.—institution and student characteristics: End of first year, 1995–96—Continued

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

Gender Male 84.2 † # 7.0 5.1 3.7  Female 86.9 † 0.1 5.7 4.5 2.8 Race/ethnicity White, non-Hispanic 86.1 † # 6.0 4.8 3.1  Black, non-Hispanic 82.3 † 0.4 7.8 5.3 4.2  Hispanic 83.0 † 0.2 9.3 3.4 4.1  Asian/Pacific Islander 88.4 † # 4.2 6.6 0.9 Dependent family income in 1994 Less than $25,000 82.2 † # 8.1 6.4 3.4  $25,000–44,999 83.2 † # 6.9 5.9 4.0  $45,000–69,999 88.9 † 0.1 5.8 3.6 1.7  $70,000 or greater 91.9 † 0.1 4.6 2.4 1.1 Number of risk factors when first enrolled None 89.7 † # 5.6 3.2 1.5  One 79.3 † 0.2 6.9 8.2 5.4  Two or more 64.0 † 0.3 10.7 12.1 12.8 

†Not applicable.#Rounds to zero.*Postsecondary education.NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, financial independence, having chilparent, and working full time while enrolled. Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, Second F

End of first year (1995–96)

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

_______

185
Table 9.2.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.2.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.2.—institution and student characteristics: End of second year, 1996–97

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

 Total 4-year institutions 76.0 † 0.4 3.8 2.8 2.7 First institution type and highest offering Public 4-year 73.6 † 0.4 4.0 2.8 2.9  Non-doctorate-granting 68.6 † 0.8 3.9 2.3 3.5  Doctorate-granting 76.3 † 0.2 4.0 3.1 2.5  Private not-for-profit 4-year 81.0 † 0.4 3.3 2.7 2.1  Non-doctorate-granting 78.6 † 0.6 3.7 2.9 2.5  Doctorate-granting 85.4 † 0.1 2.7 2.4 1.5 Attendance intensity—first institution spell Always full-time 77.8 † 0.5 3.4 2.4 2.5  Mixed 77.0 † 0.2 5.8 5.3 3.8  Always part-time 15.6 † # 4.5 2.1 2.4 Attendance intensity through 2001 Always full-time 81.7 † 0.5 2.1 2.0 3.0  Mixed 67.3 † 0.2 7.2 4.4 1.8  Always part-time 19.5 † # 2.8 1.3 4.3 Enrollment continuity through 2001 Continuously enrolled 88.3 † 0.5 1.7 † 3.4  Not continuously enrolled 28.1 † 0.2 11.9 13.7 † 

See footnotes at end of table.

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

End of second year (1996–97)

_______

186
Table 9.2.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9..2—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.2.—institution and student characteristics: End of second year, 1996–97—Continued

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken None 71.4 † 0.6 4.5 3.2 2.9  One 83.4 † # 2.4 1.9 2.5  More than one 88.2 † # 2.8 1.9 1.6 Grade-point average in high school B’s or less 64.5 † 0.6 6.6 4.5 3.6  B+ to A- 79.3 † 0.1 3.5 2.7 2.3  Mostly A’s 88.6 † 0.2 2.0 1.3 1.2 SAT combined score Low quartile (400–700) 61.8 † 1.0 6.3 2.4 4.3  Middle quartiles (710–1020) 75.8 † 0.1 3.7 2.8 2.5  High quartile (1030–1600) 86.1 † 0.2 3.0 2.3 1.5 GPA first year enrolled Less than 2.25 49.1 † 0.4 7.2 4.8 5.5  2.25–3.25 82.7 † 0.4 3.4 2.6 1.6  Over 3.25 88.3 † 0.2 1.9 1.2 1.7 Delayed postsecondary enrollment Did not delay 80.2 † 0.1 3.7 2.4 2.1  Delayed 52.7 † 1.9 4.5 4.9 6.1 

See footnotes at end of table.

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

End of second year (1996–97)

_______

187
Table 9.2.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.2.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.2.—institution and student characteristics: End of second year, 1996–97—Continued

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

Gender Male 73.4 † 0.4 4.2 3.1 3.1  Female 78.1 † 0.4 3.5 2.5 2.3 Race/ethnicity White, non-Hispanic 77.7 † 0.4 3.3 2.4 2.3  Black, non-Hispanic 67.4 † 1.0 4.5 4.9 4.6  Hispanic 71.2 † # 4.5 3.1 4.2  Asian/Pacific Islander 79.7 † # 4.3 3.3 1.0 Dependent family income in 1994 Less than $25,000 70.8 † 0.6 5.0 3.0 2.9  $25,000–44,999 73.2 † 0.4 3.8 3.1 2.8  $45,000–69,999 80.6 † 0.2 3.5 2.2 2.4  $70,000 or greater 84.4 † 0.2 3.1 2.4 1.8 Number of risk factors when first enrolled None 82.1 † 0.1 3.6 2.1 1.8  One 64.6 † 1.5 4.0 4.6 4.7  Two or more 45.2 † 0.7 5.6 5.9 6.7 

†Not applicable.#Rounds to zero.*Postsecondary education.NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, financial independence, having chilparent, and working full time while enrolled. Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, Second F

End of second year (1996–97)

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

_______

188
Table 9.3.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.3.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.3.—institution and student characteristics: End of third year, 1997–98

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

 Total 4-year institutions 67.4 2.3 0.7 1.7 2.0 2.0 First institution type and highest offering Public 4-year 64.6 2.4 0.6 1.8 2.1 2.1  Non-doctorate-granting 58.5 1.6 1.3 2.0 2.5 2.7  Doctorate-granting 67.9 2.9 0.3 1.7 1.9 1.7  Private not-for-profit 4-year 73.4 1.9 0.5 1.6 1.8 1.9  Non-doctorate-granting 70.5 1.8 0.5 2.0 1.7 2.2  Doctorate-granting 78.7 2.2 0.6 0.9 1.9 1.2 Attendance intensity—first institution spell Always full-time 69.5 2.5 0.5 1.5 1.8 2.0  Mixed 66.2 1.5 1.6 2.7 3.1 2.0  Always part-time 12.3 # 1.1 0.4 # 1.8 Attendance intensity through 2001 Always full-time 73.9 2.7 0.5 1.1 1.2 2.2  Mixed 57.0 1.5 1.0 2.9 3.5 1.5  Always part-time 14.3 # 2.0 # # 3.3 Enrollment continuity through 2001 Continuously enrolled 81.7 2.8 0.7 0.6 † 2.5  Not continuously enrolled 11.7 † 0.8 6.0 9.5 † 

See footnotes at end of table.

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

End of third year (1997–98)

_______

189
Table 9.3.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.3.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.3.—institution and student characteristics: End of third year, 1997–98—Continued

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken None 62.9 1.6 0.8 1.9 2.1 2.2  One 74.4 3.6 0.5 1.8 1.6 1.5  More than one 79.1 4.8 # 1.1 1.8 1.4 Grade-point average in high school B’s or less 53.8 0.7 0.4 2.7 3.7 3.2  B+ to A- 71.7 1.8 0.4 1.3 1.3 2.8  Mostly A’s 80.5 3.9 0.2 1.6 1.7 0.7 SAT combined score Low quartile (400–700) 52.0 1.3 0.5 2.7 2.7 2.6  Middle quartiles (710–1020) 67.5 1.6 0.7 1.9 1.9 2.2  High quartile (1030–1600) 78.1 3.7 0.1 1.2 1.9 1.1 GPA first year enrolled Less than 2.25 39.0 0.4 0.9 3.2 2.6 2.9  2.25–3.25 74.5 2.0 0.7 1.7 1.7 2.2  Over 3.25 80.0 4.3 0.7 0.4 1.6 1.2 Delayed postsecondary enrollment Did not delay 73.2 1.1 0.4 1.7 1.9 1.9  Delayed 35.3 8.9 2.2 1.8 2.0 2.5 

See footnotes at end of table.

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

End of third year (1997–98)

_______

190
Table 9.3.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.3.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.3.—institution and student characteristics: End of third year, 1997–98—Continued

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

Gender Male 64.1 2.5 0.8 1.9 2.2 2.0  Female 70.1 2.1 0.7 1.5 1.8 2.0 Race/ethnicity White, non-Hispanic 69.7 2.5 0.7 1.4 1.8 1.6  Black, non-Hispanic 56.7 0.8 0.2 2.8 2.5 4.5  Hispanic 60.5 2.5 2.1 2.5 2.3 1.4  Asian/Pacific Islander 70.8 1.9 # 1.7 1.8 3.5 Dependent family income in 1994 Less than $25,000 60.2 1.9 0.9 2.5 2.8 2.6  $25,000–44,999 63.4 3.0 0.3 2.1 2.1 2.3  $45,000–69,999 73.4 2.0 0.3 1.5 2.0 1.3  $70,000 or greater 77.6 2.5 0.5 1.0 1.3 1.6 Number of risk factors when first enrolled None 74.4 2.2 0.4 1.5 1.6 2.0  One 53.5 3.4 0.6 2.4 3.6 1.2  Two or more 33.6 1.3 3.3 2.1 1.8 3.1 

†Not applicable.#Rounds to zero.*Postsecondary education.NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, financial independence, having chilparent, and working full time while enrolled. Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, Second F

End of third year (1997–98)

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

_______

191
Table 9.4.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.4.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.4.—institution and student characteristics: End of fourth year, 1998–99

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

 Total 4-year institutions 31.9 32.0 0.4 0.8 1.0 1.4 First institution type and highest offering Public 4-year 39.0 21.8 0.4 0.9 1.2 1.3  Non-doctorate-granting 38.3 17.1 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.3  Doctorate-granting 39.4 24.3 0.4 1.1 1.5 1.3  Private not-for-profit 4-year 20.4 50.2 0.2 0.6 0.7 1.5  Non-doctorate-granting 20.8 46.4 0.3 0.7 0.7 1.7  Doctorate-granting 19.7 56.9 # 0.4 0.6 1.1 Attendance intensity—first institution spell Always full-time 30.1 36.4 0.2 0.5 0.9 1.3 

 Mixed 45.2 14.0 1.1 2.3 1.7 2.0  Always part-time 12.3 # #### 

Attendance intensity through 2001 Always full-time 31.5 39.8 0.2 0.4 0.7 1.4 

 Mixed 33.5 18.1 0.8 1.6 1.7 1.3  Always part-time 14.3 # #### 

Enrollment continuity through 2001 Continuously enrolled 39.4 40.2 0.4 0.1 † 1.7  Not continuously enrolled 3.0 † 0.4 3.3 5.0 † 

See footnotes at end of table.

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

End of fourth year (1998–99)

_______

192
Table 9.4.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.4.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.4.—institution and student characteristics: End of fourth year, 1998–99—Continued

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 34.1 25.0 0.4 0.9 0.9 1.6  One 31.9 39.5 # 0.7 1.5 0.8  More than one 23.4 53.4 0.1 0.3 1.3 0.7 Grade-point average in high school B’s or less 33.5 16.1 0.6 0.9 1.4 1.4  B+ to A- 36.9 31.1 0.2 1.4 1.0 1.2  Mostly A’s 28.6 49.3 0.2 0.3 1.3 0.8 SAT combined score Low quartile (400–700) 34.9 11.2 0.7 1.6 1.3 2.3  Middle quartiles (710–1020) 37.0 27.1 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.4  High quartile (1030–1600) 25.4 50.3 # 0.5 1.1 0.9 GPA first year enrolled Less than 2.25 25.9 9.4 0.6 0.8 0.7 1.6  2.25–3.25 39.8 31.6 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.2  Over 3.25 27.4 49.7 0.4 0.5 1.3 0.9 Delayed postsecondary enrollment Did not delay 34.0 35.8 0.3 0.8 1.1 1.3  Delayed 20.2 11.4 0.8 0.6 0.8 1.6 

See footnotes at end of table.

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

End of fourth year (1998–99)

_______

193
Table 9.4.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.4.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.4.—institution and student characteristics: End of fourth year, 1998–99—Continued

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

Gender

 Male 34.1 26.0 0.4 1.1 1.2 1.4  Female 30.1 37.0 0.4 0.5 0.9 1.3 Race/ethnicity White, non-Hispanic 30.6 35.7 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.3  Black, non-Hispanic 35.2 17.4 # 1.1 1.4 1.7  Hispanic 35.5 20.5 1.2 0.9 1.0 1.5  Asian/Pacific Islander 31.6 36.6 # 0.4 0.9 1.3 

Dependent family income in 1994 Less than $25,000 34.7 21.4 0.4 1.0 1.3 1.3  $25,000–44,999 31.8 28.2 0.4 0.5 0.9 1.7  $45,000–69,999 35.6 34.3 0.3 0.9 1.0 1.2  $70,000 or greater 29.9 45.1 0.2 0.6 0.7 1.0 Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 33.6 37.7 0.3 0.6 1.0 1.3  One 30.6 18.7 0.3 1.2 1.2 1.4  Two or more 20.1 7.5 1.1 1.5 1.3 2.0 

†Not applicable.#Rounds to zero.*Postsecondary education.NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, financial independence, having chilparent, and working full time while enrolled. Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, Second F

End of fourth year (1998–99)

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

_______

194
Table 9.5.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.5.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.5.—institution and student characteristics: End of fifth year, 1999–2000

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

 Total 4-year institutions 10.3 19.1 0.3 0.1 0.5 1.6 First institution type and highest offering Public 4-year 12.9 23.0 0.5 0.2 0.5 1.9  Non-doctorate-granting 14.6 20.4 0.9 0.2 0.3 1.9  Doctorate-granting 12.0 24.5 0.3 0.1 0.7 1.9  Private not-for-profit 4-year 6.0 12.7 # 0.1 0.4 1.1  Non-doctorate-granting 5.9 13.2 # 0.1 0.6 1.0  Doctorate-granting 6.3 11.7 0.1 0.1 0.1 1.4 Attendance intensity—first institution spell Always full-time 8.7 19.5 0.1 0.1 0.4 1.2  Mixed 19.4 19.8 1.3 0.2 0.9 3.6  Always part-time 7.2 1.2 0.5 # # 3.4 Attendance intensity through 2001 Always full-time 8.7 21.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 1.3  Mixed 13.4 15.9 0.7 0.3 1.1 2.2  Always part-time 10.8 # # # # 3.5 Enrollment continuity through 2001 Continuously enrolled 13.0 24.0 0.4 # † 2.0  Not continuously enrolled # † 0.1 0.5 2.4 † 

See footnotes at end of table.

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

End of fifth year (1999–2000)

_______

195
Table 9.5.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.5.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.5.—institution and student characteristics: End of fifth year, 1999–2000—Continued

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken None 11.4 19.9 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.6  One 8.0 20.9 0.2 0.3 0.4 2.1  More than one 6.6 15.7 # # 0.1 1.0 Grade-point average in high school B’s or less 12.9 17.7 0.1 0.5 0.8 1.6  B+ to A- 12.0 22.2 0.3 0.2 0.5 1.8  Mostly A’s 7.3 20.0 0.2 # 0.3 0.8 SAT combined score Low quartile (400–700) 16.1 15.3 0.4 0.4 1.0 1.7  Middle quartiles (710–1020) 11.5 22.6 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.6  High quartile (1030–1600) 6.4 17.5 # # 0.2 1.3 GPA first year enrolled Less than 2.25 11.3 11.4 0.3 0.2 0.8 1.9  2.25–3.25 11.2 25.8 0.5 0.2 0.4 1.7  Over 3.25 8.6 17.4 0.1 0.1 0.2 1.1 Delayed postsecondary enrollment Did not delay 10.6 21.0 0.3 0.1 0.5 1.6  Delayed 9.1 8.3 0.6 0.1 0.5 1.6 

See footnotes at end of table.

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

End of fifth year (1999–2000)

_______

196
Table 9.5.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.5.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.5.—institution and student characteristics: End of fifth year, 1999–2000—Continued

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

Gender Male 11.5 20.0 0.1 0.1 0.6 1.9  Female 9.4 18.3 0.5 0.2 0.4 1.4 Race/ethnicity White, non-Hispanic 8.9 19.1 0.3 0.2 0.5 1.6  Black, non-Hispanic 12.8 19.5 0.4 # 0.5 1.9  Hispanic 16.0 16.5 0.5 0.2 0.4 1.9  Asian/Pacific Islander 9.1 21.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.9 Dependent family income in 1994 Less than $25,000 14.3 18.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 1.4  $25,000–44,999 10.8 19.0 # 0.2 0.5 1.4  $45,000–69,999 10.1 22.5 0.3 0.1 0.7 1.9  $70,000 or greater 8.0 19.8 0.3 0.2 0.5 1.2 Number of risk factors when first enrolled None 10.4 21.0 0.2 0.1 0.4 1.5  One 10.0 17.5 0.4 0.1 1.2 1.4  Two or more 9.8 5.6 1.5 0.2 0.5 2.6 

†Not applicable.#Rounds to zero.*Postsecondary education.NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, financial independence, having chilparent, and working full time while enrolled. Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, Second F

End of fifth year (1999–2000)

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

_______

197
Table 9.6.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.6.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.6.—institution and student characteristics: End of sixth year, 2000–01

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

 Total 4-year institutions 5.2 4.5 0.1 # † 0.5 First institution type and highest offering Public 4-year 6.6 5.6 0.1 # † 0.6  Non-doctorate-granting 8.0 5.6 0.3 # † 0.8  Doctorate-granting 5.9 5.6 # # † 0.5  Private not-for-profit 4-year 2.8 2.7 0.1 # † 0.4  Non-doctorate-granting 2.7 2.7 0.1 # † 0.3  Doctorate-granting 3.0 2.6 # # † 0.7 Attendance intensity—first institution spell Always full-time 3.8 4.3 0.1 # † 0.6  Mixed 12.7 6.3 0.1 # † 0.4  Always part-time 6.2 0.6 # # † 0.3 Attendance intensity through 2001 Always full-time 3.6 4.6 # # † 0.6  Mixed 8.1 4.6 0.2 # † 0.6  Always part-time 10.8 # ##†# Enrollment continuity through 2001 Continuously enrolled 6.5 5.7 0.1 # † 0.7  Not continuously enrolled # † ##†† 

See footnotes at end of table.

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

End of sixth year (2000–01)

_______

198
Table 9.6.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.6.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.6.—institution and student characteristics: End of sixth year, 2000–01—Continued

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken None 5.7 5.0 0.1 # † 0.6  One 4.0 3.6 0.1 # † 0.2  More than one 3.3 3.0 # # † 0.3 Grade-point average in high school B’s or less 5.7 5.8 0.2 # † 1.3  B+ to A- 6.1 5.0 0.1 # † 0.8  Mostly A’s 3.4 3.6 # # † 0.2 SAT combined score Low quartile (400–700) 8.1 6.4 0.4 # † 1.3  Middle quartiles (710–1020) 5.3 5.5 0.1 # † 0.5  High quartile (1030–1600) 3.5 2.5 # # † 0.4 GPA first year enrolled Less than 2.25 5.6 4.7 0.1 # † 1.0  2.25–3.25 5.5 5.0 0.2 # † 0.6  Over 3.25 4.5 3.9 # # † 0.2 Delayed postsecondary enrollment Did not delay 5.1 4.8 0.1 # † 0.6  Delayed 5.9 2.9 # # † 0.3 

See footnotes at end of table.

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

End of sixth year (2000–01)

_______

199
Table 9.6.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a bachelor’s degree goal, acco

Table 9.6.—stayed on the persistence track or the first type of exit from the persistence track during each academic year, by the 

Table 9.6.—institution and student characteristics: End of sixth year, 2000–01—Continued

Attained Attained 

Still bachelor’s Associate’s Downward Began 

enrolled, degree degree or or delayed stopout Left 

no degree this year certificate transfer period PSE* 

Gender Male 5.9 4.8 0.1 # † 0.7  Female 4.6 4.2 0.1 # † 0.4 Race/ethnicity White, non-Hispanic 4.1 4.3 0.1 # † 0.5  Black, non-Hispanic 7.0 4.7 0.2 # † 1.0  Hispanic 9.6 5.4 0.3 # † 0.8  Asian/Pacific Islander 5.3 3.8 # # † 0.1 Dependent family income in 1994 Less than $25,000 7.8 6.0 0.1 # † 0.5  $25,000–44,999 5.6 4.3 0.2 # † 0.7  $45,000–69,999 4.8 4.8 # # † 0.5  $70,000 or greater 3.4 3.9 0.2 # † 0.5 Number of risk factors when first enrolled None 5.0 4.8 0.1 # † 0.6  One 5.3 4.3 0.1 # † 0.4  Two or more 7.2 2.5 # # † 0.1 

†Not applicable.#Rounds to zero.*Postsecondary education.NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, financial independence, having chilparent, and working full time while enrolled. Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, Second F

End of sixth year (2000–01)

Stayed on persistence track Left persistence track this year

_______

200
Table 9.7.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a

Table 9.7.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to whether they stayed on the persistence track or the first 

Table 9.7.—type of exit from the persistence track, by the first type of 4-year institution and student

Table 9.7.—characteristics: Status in June 2001

Attained

Still Attained associate’s Downward

enrolled, bachelor’s degree or or delayed Left

no degree degree certificate transfer Stopout PSE*

 Total 4-year institutions 5.2 57.8 1.9 12.7 11.0 11.3

First institution type and highest offering

 Public 4-year 6.6 52.8 2.1 13.6 12.5 12.3

 Non-doctorate-granting 8.0 44.7 3.6 15.0 12.5 16.3

 Doctorate-granting 5.9 57.2 1.3 12.9 12.5 10.2

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 2.8 67.4 1.2 11.0 8.4 9.2

 Non-doctorate-granting 2.7 64.1 1.4 12.5 8.8 10.4

 Doctorate-granting 3.0 73.4 0.8 8.1 7.7 7.0

Attendance intensity—first institution spell

 Always full-time 3.8 62.7 1.5 11.8 9.9 10.2

 Mixed 12.7 41.5 4.2 14.9 13.3 13.5

 Always part-time 6.2 1.8 2.6 26.6 31.6 31.2

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 3.6 68.2 1.4 7.5 7.3 12.0

 Mixed 8.1 40.1 2.9 23.0 17.9 8.1

 Always part-time 10.8 # 3.8 10.8 22.0 52.6

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 6.5 72.7 2.0 4.5 † 14.2

 Not continuously enrolled † † 1.6 44.5 53.9 †

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 5.7 51.6 2.4 15.3 12.4 12.7

 One 4.0 67.6 0.8 9.1 10.4 8.1

 More than one 3.3 76.8 0.2 5.9 8.0 5.8

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 5.7 40.2 2.0 21.0 16.4 14.7

 B+ to A- 6.1 60.1 1.2 12.3 10.0 10.3

 Mostly A’s 3.4 76.8 0.9 7.1 7.3 4.5

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 8.1 34.2 3.0 21.4 15.0 18.3

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 5.3 56.8 1.8 14.1 10.9 11.1

 High quartile (1030–1600) 3.5 73.9 0.4 7.5 9.1 5.7

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 5.6 26.0 2.5 27.3 17.5 21.2

 2.25–3.25 5.5 64.3 2.0 9.7 9.8 8.7

 Over 3.25 4.5 75.2 1.5 5.9 6.6 6.2

See footnotes at end of table.

Stayed on persistence track Persistence track exit type

_______

201
Table 9.7.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning students at 4-year institutions who had a

Table 9.7.—bachelor’s degree goal, according to whether they stayed on the persistence track or the first 

Table 9.7.—type of exit from the persistence track, by the first type of 4-year institution and student

Table 9.7.—characteristics: Status in June 2001—Continued

Attained

Still Attained associate’s Downward

enrolled, bachelor’s degree or or delayed Left

no degree degree certificate transfer Stopout PSE*

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 5.1 62.6 1.3 12.2 9.6 9.3

 Delayed 5.9 31.6 5.7 15.8 19.0 22.0

Gender

 Male 5.9 53.2 1.7 14.2 12.2 12.7

 Female 4.6 61.6 2.1 11.5 10.1 10.1

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 4.1 61.6 1.7 11.6 10.6 10.4

 Black, non-Hispanic 7.0 42.3 2.2 16.2 14.6 17.9

 Hispanic 9.6 44.8 4.2 17.3 10.2 13.9

 Asian/Pacific Islander 5.3 63.4 0.1 10.7 12.8 7.7

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 7.8 47.7 2.2 16.7 13.7 11.9

 $25,000–44,999 5.6 54.5 1.2 13.4 12.4 12.9

 $45,000–69,999 4.8 63.6 1.2 11.8 9.5 9.1

 $70,000 or greater 3.4 71.4 1.4 9.4 7.2 7.2

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 5.0 65.6 1.1 11.4 8.3 8.7

 One 5.3 43.8 3.1 14.6 18.7 14.5

 Two or more 7.2 17.0 7.0 20.0 21.6 27.3

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

*Postsecondary education.

NOTE: Persistence risk factors include: delayed postsecondary enrollment, no high school diploma, part-time enrollment, financial 

independence, having children, being a single parent, and working full time while enrolled. Details may not sum to 100 due to 

rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Stayed on persistence track Persistence track exit type

_______

202
203 

Section 10: Student and Institutional Bachelor’s Degree 

Completion Rates 

The tables in section 10 display the bachelor’s degree completion rates of the 1995–96 

beginning students who had a bachelor’s degree goal and started at a public 4-year or a private 

not-for-profit 4-year college or university. The tables show the percentage of these beginning 

students who completed a bachelor’s degree in 4 years or less (48 months or less after they had 

started), in five years (49–60 months) or in six years (61–72 months), and the total percentage 

who had completed a bachelor’s degree by June 2001, the sixth year since the beginning of the 

study in 1995–96. 

The tables show the completion rates from two perspectives, completion rates at the first 

institution attended and student completion rates at any 4-year institution. As shown previously, 

institutional attainment rates understate the attainment of students in postsecondary education 

because they do not account for the experience of students who have transferred elsewhere. The 

difference is discussed in detail in the text of the report. 

These completion rates are based on the number of months between first enrollment and the 

bachelor’s degree completion date. These rates may differ slightly from the bachelor’s degree 

attainment percentages displayed on other tables in this report which measure the bachelor’s 

degree attainment at the end of the fourth or fifth academic years (as of June 1999 and June 2000, 

respectively) rather than the percentage who completed the degree within 48 or within 49–60 

months after beginning. Some of the 1995–96 beginners did not start until the spring of 1996. 

Students who started in the spring of 1996 and completed the degree in 48 months, for example, 

would have finished during the fifth academic year (1999–2000) of this study. 

The relationships of academic preparation, enrollment patterns, demographic characteristics 

of students, and persistence risk factors to bachelor’s degree completion is discussed in the text 

of the report, and was previously shown in detail for beginners at public 4-year and at private 

not-for-profit 4-year institutions in compendium sections 2 (student attainment anywhere) and 

section 3 (institutional attainment) of this compendium. 
Table 10.1-A.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at public 4-year institutions with a bachelor’s 

Table 10.1-A.—degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first institution attended in 4 years 

Table 10.1-A.—or less, in 5 years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s degree by 

Table 10.1-A.—June 2001 at the first institution attended, by academic preparation and attendance patterns

4 years or less 5 years 6 years Total

 Total 24.3 21.2 4.5 50.0

Highest offering of first institution

 Non-doctorate-granting 18.6 17.5 4.2 40.3

 Doctorate-granting 27.4 23.2 4.6 55.2

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 19.3 19.8 4.9 44.0

 One 30.5 26.3 2.8 59.6

 More than one 45.1 24.4 2.8 72.4

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 8.4 13.3 6.1 27.8

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 21.2 23.2 4.7 49.1

 High quartile (1030–1600) 39.7 24.2 3.3 67.2

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 9.5 16.7 5.7 31.9

 B+ to A- 22.6 24.2 4.9 51.6

 Mostly A’s 40.3 26.4 3.9 70.6

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 23.3 20.1 5.6 49.0

 Less than bachelor’s ††††

 Bachelor’s degree 17.5 15.0 4.0 36.5

 Advanced degree 26.7 23.3 4.2 54.2

Attendance intensity—first institution spell

 Always full-time 27.7 22.8 4.4 54.9

 Mixed 13.5 18.1 5.6 37.2

 Always part-time 2.4 0.1 # 2.5

Transfer status

 Never transferred 32.3 28.1 6.0 66.4

 Transferred ††††

Enrollment continuity at first institution

 Continuously enrolled 26.6 22.5 4.6 53.8

 Not continuously enrolled 7.5 11.7 3.4 22.6

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 7.3 10.7 4.3 22.3

 2.25–3.25 25.6 28.0 5.0 58.5

 Over 3.25 42.4 21.3 3.6 67.3

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion rate at first institution 

Beginners at public 4-year institutions

_______

204
Table 10.1-B.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at public 4-year institutions with a bachelor’s 

Table 10.1-B.—degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first institution attended in 4 years 

Table 10.1-B.—or less, in 5 years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage completing a bach elor’s degree by 

Table 10.1-B.—June 2001 at the first institution attended, by demographic characteristics

4 years or less 5 years 6 years Total

 Total 24.3 21.2 4.5 50.0

Gender

 Male 20.5 21.5 4.6 46.6

 Female 27.5 20.9 4.4 52.8

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 25.9 23.7 4.9 54.5

 19 years 26.2 16.6 3.0 45.8

 20–23 years 9.7 8.2 1.9 19.8

 24–29 years 13.9 1.6 # 15.5

 30 or older 6.5 # 6.2 12.6

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 27.4 22.2 3.9 53.5

 Black, non-Hispanic 13.2 18.5 4.5 36.2

 Hispanic 14.4 14.5 7.7 36.5

 Asian/Pacific Islander 28.6 26.4 3.5 58.5

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡‡‡‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 25.7 22.3 4.6 52.7

 Single, no children (independent) 7.0 14.6 2.2 23.8

 Single with children 8.1 6.0 # 14.1

 Married 10.0 2.1 5.4 17.5

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 15.3 15.9 6.0 37.2

 Some postsecondary 18.0 22.4 4.2 44.6

 Bachelor’s degree 31.6 23.1 3.3 58.0

 Advanced degree 33.1 24.9 4.0 62.1

Student/employee role 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 30.6 22.8 3.9 57.2

 Student working 21.2 21.5 5.0 47.7

 Employee who is enrolled 17.6 9.6 2.4 29.6

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 17.8 19.8 6.4 44.0

 $25,000–44,999 25.1 18.2 4.1 47.3

 $45,000–69,999 24.1 25.7 4.6 54.4

 $70,000 or greater 34.0 24.0 3.7 61.7

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion rate at first institution 

Beginners at public 4-year institutions

_______

205
Table 10.1-C.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at public 4-year institutions with a bachelor’s 

Table 10.1-C.—degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first institution attended in 4 years 

Table 10.1-C.—or less, in 5 years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s degree by 

Table 10.1-C.—June 2001 at the first institution attended, by persistence risk factors when they first enrolled

4 years or less 5 years 6 years Total

 Total 24.3 21.2 4.5 50.0

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 28.5 23.8 4.9 57.1

 One 16.6 19.1 4.1 39.7

 Two or three 5.9 5.6 3.1 14.6

 Four or more 8.5 4.9 # 13.3

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 24.6 21.4 4.6 50.6

 GED/high school equivalent* 3.0 8.8 # 11.9

 None* ‡‡‡‡

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 25.3 23.5 4.9 53.6

 Delayed* 19.7 9.5 2.5 31.7

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 25.6 22.4 4.4 52.4

 Part-time* 14.2 12.7 5.6 32.5

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 25.7 22.3 4.6 52.7

 Independent* 8.4 7.7 2.6 18.6

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 25.1 21.9 4.6 51.6

 One or more* 8.9 4.5 2.6 15.9

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 24.9 21.6 4.6 51.1

 Single parent* 8.1 6.0 # 14.1

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 30.6 22.8 3.9 57.2

 Worked part time 21.5 21.2 5.2 47.9

 Worked full time* 13.5 12.2 4.1 29.7

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

*Risk factor.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion rate at first institution 

Beginners at public 4-year institutions

_______

206
Table 10.2-A.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions with a 

Table 10.2-A.—bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first institution attended in 

Table 10.2-A.—4 years or less, in 5 years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s 

Table 10.2-A.—degree by June 2001 at the first institution attended, by academic preparation and 

Table 10.2-A.—attendance patterns

4 years or less 5 years 6 years Total

 Total 51.5 12.0 1.8 65.3

Highest offering of first institution

 Non-doctorate-granting 48.2 11.9 1.9 62.0

 Doctorate-granting 57.6 12.2 1.6 71.4

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 42.3 15.4 2.1 59.7

 One 62.8 10.3 1.5 74.6

 More than one 70.6 6.1 0.7 77.4

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 24.6 18.2 2.2 45.0

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 44.6 15.1 2.5 62.2

 High quartile (1030–1600) 68.3 8.6 0.8 77.6

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 31.3 18.4 1.5 51.2

 B+ to A- 50.1 14.3 2.1 66.5

 Mostly A’s 69.2 7.8 1.2 78.2

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 54.5 11.8 2.2 68.5

 Less than bachelor’s ††††

 Bachelor’s degree 32.7 16.7 2.0 51.3

 Advanced degree 55.3 11.7 1.6 68.6

Attendance intensity—first institution spell

 Always full-time 55.8 10.7 1.2 67.7

 Mixed 22.1 24.8 7.6 54.4

 Always part-time # 7.5 # 7.5

Transfer status

 Never transferred 65.5 15.3 2.3 83.1

 Transferred ††††

Enrollment continuity at first institution

 Continuously enrolled 54.1 10.9 1.5 66.6

 Not continuously enrolled 24.5 23.7 4.4 52.6

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 21.7 11.8 1.8 35.3

 2.25–3.25 50.1 15.3 1.7 67.1

 Over 3.25 66.9 9.4 1.8 78.1

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion rate at first institution 

Beginners at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

_______

207
Table 10.2-B.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions with a

Table 10.1-B.—bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first institution attended in

Table 10.2-B.—4 years or less, in 5 years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s 

Table 10.2-B.—degree by June 2001 at the first institution attended, by demographic characteristics

4 years or less 5 years 6 years Total

 Total 51.5 12.0 1.8 65.3

Gender

 Male 45.9 14.8 2.1 62.9

 Female 55.9 9.8 1.5 67.3

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 54.8 12.6 1.6 69.0

 19 years 44.1 11.1 1.2 56.3

 20–23 years 22.7 6.3 4.0 33.1

 24–29 years ‡‡‡‡

 30 or older ‡‡‡‡

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 55.4 11.6 1.6 68.6

 Black, non-Hispanic 31.9 14.7 3.5 50.1

 Hispanic 41.1 11.6 1.1 53.8

 Asian/Pacific Islander 58.6 11.5 2.0 72.1

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡‡‡‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 53.3 12.3 1.7 67.3

 Single, no children (independent) 41.8 6.6 5.8 54.2

 Single with children ‡‡‡‡

 Married 11.8 6.5 3.3 21.6

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 36.4 15.0 2.7 54.1

 Some postsecondary 42.1 13.2 0.7 56.0

 Bachelor’s degree 53.9 13.6 1.8 69.3

 Advanced degree 65.4 9.1 1.0 75.5

Student/employee role 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 58.0 11.3 1.2 70.5

 Student working 50.0 12.9 2.1 65.0

 Employee who is enrolled 25.3 10.8 3.0 39.1

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 36.9 15.0 2.2 54.2

 $25,000–44,999 44.3 14.9 2.2 61.4

 $45,000–69,999 58.8 8.9 1.4 69.1

 $70,000 or greater 62.1 12.0 1.3 75.3

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion rate at first institution 

Beginners at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

_______

208
Table 10.2-C.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions with a

Table 10.1-A.—bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree at the first institution attended in 

Table 10.2-C.—4 years or less, in 5 years, or in 6 years, and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s 

Table 10.2-C.—degree by June 2001 at the first institution attended, by persistence risk factors when they 

Table 10.2-C.—first enrolled

4 years or less 5 years 6 years Total

 Total 51.5 12.0 1.8 65.3

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 56.7 12.0 1.6 70.3

 One 33.6 14.7 1.9 50.3

 Two or three 26.4 9.0 1.3 36.7

 Four or more 14.2 7.5 7.3 29.0

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 52.3 12.2 1.7 66.1

 GED/high school equivalent* 17.9 5.6 6.1 29.6

 None* ‡‡‡‡

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 54.2 12.6 1.5 68.3

 Delayed* 32.5 7.6 3.7 43.8

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 54.3 11.9 1.7 67.8

 Part-time* 11.2 18.3 5.0 34.5

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 53.3 12.3 1.7 67.3

 Independent* 27.1 7.5 3.6 38.2

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 52.6 12.2 1.8 66.7

 One or more* 16.1 5.8 # 21.9

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 52.1 12.1 1.8 66.0

 Single parent* ‡‡‡‡

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 58.0 11.3 1.2 70.5

 Worked part time 51.0 12.4 1.7 65.1

 Worked full time* 24.5 13.3 4.5 42.3

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

*Risk factor.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion rate at first institution 

Beginners at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

_______

209
Table 10.3-A.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at public 4-year institutions with a bachelor’s 

Table 10.1-A.—degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree in 4 years or less, in 5 years, or in 6 years, 

Table 10.1-A.—and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s degree anywhere by June 2001, by 

Table 10.1-A.—academic preparation and attendance patterns

4 years or less 5 years 6 years Total

 Total 26.3 24.9 6.1 57.3

Highest offering of first institution

 Non-doctorate-granting 20.9 22.2 5.8 48.9

 Doctorate-granting 29.2 26.3 6.3 61.8

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 21.0 23.7 6.6 51.3

 One 33.4 29.7 4.8 67.8

 More than one 47.2 27.3 3.9 78.4

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 9.5 15.5 7.7 32.7

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 23.1 27.8 6.6 57.4

 High quartile (1030–1600) 42.6 27.1 4.3 74.0

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 10.8 19.9 8.2 39.0

 B+ to A- 25.0 28.1 6.2 59.3

 Mostly A’s 43.2 30.3 5.6 79.1

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 25.0 22.6 7.4 55.0

 Less than bachelor’s ††††

 Bachelor’s degree 19.1 18.9 6.7 44.6

 Advanced degree 28.9 27.0 5.5 61.4

First degree attained by 2001

 Certificate 8.3 2.5 6.2 17.0

 Associate’s degree 6.9 5.6 4.7 17.2

Attendance intensity—first institution spell

 Always full-time 30.1 26.8 6.1 63.0

 Mixed 14.1 20.7 6.7 41.5

 Always part-time 2.8 1.7 2.2 6.7

Transfer status

 Never transferred 32.3 28.1 6.0 66.4

 Transferred 8.0 14.9 6.4 29.4

Enrollment continuity at first institution

 Continuously enrolled 28.8 26.6 6.4 61.8

 Not continuously enrolled 8.6 12.3 3.6 24.5

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 7.6 14.2 5.7 27.5

 2.25–3.25 28.2 31.8 6.6 66.5

 Over 3.25 45.5 25.8 5.4 76.6

†Not applicable.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion rate anywhere

Beginners at public 4-year institutions

_______

210
Table 10.3-B.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at public 4-year institutions with a bachelor’s 

Table 10.1-B.—degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree in 4 years or less, in 5 years, or in 6 years, 

Table 10.1-B.—and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s degree anywhere by June 2001, by 

Table 10.3-B.—demographic characteristics

4 years or less 5 years 6 years Total

 Total 26.3 24.9 6.1 57.3

Gender

 Male 22.0 25.1 6.3 53.4

 Female 29.9 24.7 5.9 60.5

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 28.2 28.0 6.4 62.7

 19 years 27.7 18.4 5.5 51.6

 20–23 years 9.7 8.2 1.9 19.8

 24–29 years 13.9 2.6 4.2 20.7

 30 or older 6.5 # 6.2 12.6

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 29.6 25.9 5.6 61.2

 Black, non-Hispanic 14.2 20.8 6.2 41.2

 Hispanic 15.8 17.9 8.9 42.6

 Asian/Pacific Islander 29.6 31.0 4.1 64.8

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡‡‡‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 27.9 26.3 6.3 60.5

 Single, no children (independent) 7.0 15.7 3.3 26.0

 Single with children 8.1 6.0 2.2 16.3

 Married 10.0 2.1 5.4 17.5

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 17.3 18.8 7.6 43.7

 Some postsecondary 19.9 25.9 5.4 51.2

 Bachelor’s degree 33.5 27.7 4.9 66.0

 Advanced degree 35.6 28.7 5.6 69.9

Student/employee role 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 32.8 27.1 5.4 65.4

 Student working 23.3 24.9 6.7 55.0

 Employee who is enrolled 17.6 10.0 3.3 30.8

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 20.1 23.1 8.4 51.6

 $25,000–44,999 26.3 22.1 5.5 53.9

 $45,000–69,999 25.7 30.6 6.1 62.4

 $70,000 or greater 37.3 27.9 5.3 70.4

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion rate anywhere

Beginners at public 4-year institutions

_______

211
Table 10.3-C.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at public 4-year institutions with a bachelor’s 

Table 10.1-C.—degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree in 4 years or less, in 5 years, or in 6 years, 

Table 10.1-C.—and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s degree anywhere by June 2001, by 

Table 10.3-C.—persistence risk factors when they first enrolled

4 years or less 5 years 6 years Total

 Total 26.3 24.9 6.1 57.3

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 30.7 28.2 6.6 65.5

 One 18.7 21.1 5.7 45.5

 Two or three 5.9 7.7 3.6 17.2

 Four or more 8.5 4.9 1.4 14.7

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 26.7 25.1 6.2 57.9

 GED/high school equivalent* 3.0 8.8 # 11.9

 None* ‡‡‡‡

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 27.5 27.7 6.6 61.8

 Delayed* 20.2 10.6 3.6 34.4

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 27.8 26.3 5.9 60.0

 Part-time* 14.9 13.5 6.7 35.1

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 27.9 26.3 6.3 60.5

 Independent* 8.4 8.0 3.7 20.0

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 27.2 25.8 6.2 59.2

 One or more* 8.9 4.5 3.9 17.3

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 26.9 25.4 6.2 58.6

 Single parent* 8.1 6.0 2.2 16.3

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 32.8 27.1 5.4 65.4

 Worked part time 23.2 24.9 7.0 55.1

 Worked full time* 15.9 13.2 5.5 34.6

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

*Risk factor.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion rate anywhere

Beginners at public 4-year institutions

_______

212
Table 10.4-A.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions with a 

Table 10.1-A.—bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree in 4 years or less, in 5 years, or in 

Table 10.4-A.—6 years, and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s degree anywhere by June 2001, by 

Table 10.4-A.—academic preparation and attendance patterns

4 years or less 5 years 6 years Total

 Total 54.6 15.5 3.0 73.0

Highest offering of first institution

 Non-doctorate-granting 50.8 15.6 3.2 69.6

 Doctorate-granting 61.5 15.3 2.5 79.3

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken

 None 44.9 19.0 3.4 67.4

 One 64.5 13.6 2.4 80.5

 More than one 75.7 9.1 1.6 86.5

SAT combined score

 Low quartile (400–700) 25.4 19.7 3.6 48.7

 Middle quartiles (710–1020) 47.6 19.4 4.0 70.9

 High quartile (1030–1600) 72.4 12.1 1.6 86.1

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 34.0 22.3 2.9 59.2

 B+ to A- 54.4 18.4 3.3 76.1

 Mostly A’s 72.4 11.6 2.3 86.2

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 57.9 13.9 3.4 75.2

 Less than bachelor’s ††††

 Bachelor’s degree 35.4 20.5 2.5 58.4

 Advanced degree 58.5 15.3 2.9 76.6

First degree attained by 2001

 Certificate 10.7 5.5 # 16.2

 Associate's degree 21.3 13.3 5.1 39.7

Attendance intensity—first institution spell

 Always full-time 59.1 14.5 2.4 76.0

 Mixed 22.8 25.6 8.3 56.7

 Always part-time 6.8 8.4 # 15.1

Transfer status

 Never transferred 65.6 15.4 2.3 83.3

 Transferred 14.1 15.9 5.4 35.3

Enrollment continuity at first institution

 Continuously enrolled 57.4 14.7 2.7 74.8

 Not continuously enrolled 25.8 23.7 5.1 54.7

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 22.1 14.1 3.2 39.4

 2.25–3.25 52.6 20.3 3.6 76.5

 Over 3.25 71.0 12.1 2.3 85.4

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion rate anywhere

Beginners at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

_______

213
Table 10.4-B.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions with a 

Table 10.1-A.—bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree in 4 years or less, in 5 years, or in 

Table 10.4-A.—6 years, and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s degree anywhere by June 2001, by 

Table 10.4-B.—demographic characteristics

4 years or less 5 years 6 years Total

 Total 54.6 15.5 3.0 73.0

Gender

 Male 47.6 18.6 3.5 69.7

 Female 60.1 13.0 2.5 75.6

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 58.1 16.3 2.9 77.3

 19 years 45.9 14.1 2.0 62.0

 20–23 years 22.7 6.3 4.0 33.1

 24–29 years ‡‡‡‡

 30 or older ‡‡‡‡

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 58.8 15.4 2.6 76.8

 Black, non-Hispanic 32.8 16.5 5.1 54.4

 Hispanic 44.3 13.9 1.9 60.1

 Asian/Pacific Islander 61.1 16.0 2.3 79.4

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡‡‡‡

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 56.5 16.0 2.9 75.4

 Single, no children (independent) 44.0 7.1 5.8 56.8

 Single with children ‡‡‡‡

 Married 11.8 6.5 3.3 21.6

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 38.1 18.1 4.2 60.5

 Some postsecondary 44.2 15.7 2.9 62.8

 Bachelor’s degree 57.4 17.4 2.0 76.9

 Advanced degree 69.4 12.4 2.3 84.1

Student/employee role 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 60.5 14.9 2.3 77.8

 Student working 53.8 16.2 3.2 73.2

 Employee who is enrolled 25.7 11.4 3.9 40.9

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 38.6 17.8 3.5 59.9

 $25,000–44,999 46.9 18.6 3.2 68.7

 $45,000–69,999 61.8 12.3 2.8 76.9

 $70,000 or greater 66.4 16.3 2.6 85.3

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion rate anywhere

Beginners at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

_______

214
Table 10.4-C.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning students at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions with a 

Table 10.1-A.—bachelor’s degree goal who completed a bachelor’s degree in 4 years or less, in 5 years, or in 

Table 10.4-A.—6 years, and the total percentage completing a bachelor’s degree anywhere by June 2001, by 

Table 10.4-C.—persistence risk factors when they first enrolled

4 years or less 5 years 6 years Total

 Total 54.6 15.5 3.0 73.0

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 59.9 15.7 2.9 78.6

 One 37.1 18.3 3.0 58.4

 Two or three 28.0 9.0 1.3 38.3

 Four or more 14.2 7.5 7.3 29.0

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 55.3 15.6 2.9 73.9

 GED/high school equivalent* 20.8 8.7 6.1 35.6

 None* ‡‡‡‡

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 57.5 16.4 2.8 76.7

 Delayed* 33.5 8.5 4.2 46.2

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 57.1 15.3 2.8 75.2

 Part-time* 13.7 18.6 6.0 38.3

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 56.5 16.0 2.9 75.4

 Independent* 28.6 7.7 3.6 39.9

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 55.7 15.8 3.0 74.5

 One or more* 17.5 5.8 # 23.4

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 55.2 15.6 3.0 73.8

 Single parent* ‡‡‡‡

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 60.5 14.9 2.3 77.8

 Worked part time 54.4 15.7 3.0 73.1

 Worked full time* 27.1 14.6 4.5 46.2

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

#Rounds to zero.

*Risk factor.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Bachelor’s degree completion rate anywhere

Beginners at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions

_______

215
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
217 

Section 11: Student Characteristics and Experiences 

Table 11.1-A: Distance education 

• About one-fifth (20 percent) of respondents who had ever been enrolled part time had 

taken a distance education course, compared with 14 percent of respondents who had 

never been enrolled part time. 

• Those students who were not continuously enrolled were more likely to have taken a 

distance education course than those who were continuously enrolled (22 vs. 15 

percent, respectively). 

Table 11.1-B: Academic performance 

• Men were more likely than women to repeat a course for a higher grade (27 vs. 21 

percent, respectively) and withdraw from a course they were failing (21 percent of 

men, 15 percent of women), while women who earned bachelor’s degrees were more 

likely than their male counterparts to graduate with honors; 43 percent of women and 

33 percent of men graduated with honors. 

• About 7 percent of students who were age 30 or older when they began postsecondary 

education had received an incomplete or repeated a course for a higher grade, and 

about 5 percent had withdrawn from a course they were failing. Students who were 18, 

19 or 20–23 when they began postsecondary education were more likely to have 

experienced academic difficulties: 19–21 percent of these age groups had received an 

incomplete, between 15 and 31 percent had repeated a course for a higher grade, and 

between 15 and 22 percent had withdrawn from a course. No differences were detected 

between students aged 24 to 29 and those who were 30 or older.

• Those students who attained their bachelor’s degree within four years were less likely 

than those who took longer to attain their bachelor’s degrees to have received an 

incomplete (7 vs. 16 percent), repeated a course (15 vs. 42 percent), or withdrawn 

when failing (11 vs. 24 percent).

• Students who completed their bachelor’s degrees more quickly were more likely to 

have graduated with honors than students who took five or six years to complete their 

degrees; 46 percent of students who finished in four years graduated with honors 

compared with 31 percent of students who finished in five to six years. 
Section 11: Student Characteristics and Experiences 

218 

Table 11.1-C: Graduate school enrollment 

• About two-fifths (42 percent) of college graduates who had expected to attain a 

doctoral or professional degree when they began their postsecondary education in 

1995–96 had enrolled in graduate school by June of 2001. While about 6 percent were 

just taking classes, the rest were split between master’s degree programs and doctoral 

or professional degree programs (47 percent each). 

• No differences could be detected in graduate school enrollment by dependent student 

family income in 1994. 

• Students who were employed part time or full time while enrolled in graduate school 

were more likely to be enrolled in a master’s degree program (74 percent of part-time 

and 77 percent of full-time students) than were graduate students who did not work 

while enrolled (38 percent). The latter were more likely to be enrolled in doctoral or 

professional degree programs (60 percent) than were part-time (20 percent) or full-time 

(6 percent) employees. 

Table 11.2-A: Relationship between job in June 2001 and courses taken 

• Among respondents who were employed full time, those with the lowest annual 

salaries (less than $20,000) were more likely than respondents who earned more than 

$20,000 annually to report that their coursework was unrelated to their current job (58 

percent of respondents earning less than $20,000 compared with 34 percent of 

respondents earning between $20,000 and $60,000 and 27 percent who earned over 

$60,000 per year). Likewise, respondents who earned less than $20,000 per year were 

less likely than those earning more to report that the classes they took while enrolled 

were closely related to their current jobs; 27 percent of respondents earning less than 

$20,000 reported a close relationship between their job and classes, compared with 45–

52 percent of those earning more than $20,000.

• Respondents who had not attained any degree were less likely to be working in fields 

related to the courses they took while enrolled. About one-half (55 percent) of 

respondents who had not attained a degree reported no relationship between the 

courses they took and their current jobs (compared with 21 to 34 percent of 

respondents who attained degrees). About one-half of respondents with certificates (55 

percent), associate’s degrees, or bachelor’s degrees (53 percent each) reported a close 

relationship, compared with 28 percent of respondents who had no degree.

• In general, respondents whose job required a degree and respondents who were 

satisfied overall with their jobs were more likely to report a close relationship between 

their jobs and the courses they took while enrolled; 64 percent of respondents working 

in jobs that required a degree reported a close relationship compared with 30 percent of 

those whose jobs did not require a degree, and 45 percent of satisfied respondents 

compared with 27 percent of unsatisfied respondents reported that their jobs were 

related to their coursework. 
 Section 11: Student Characteristics and Experiences 

219 

Table 11.2-B: Autonomy in current job 

• Among respondents who were employed by someone else full time in 2001, men 

reported having more autonomy in their jobs than women, with 15 percent of men 

reporting being basically their own boss, compared with 7 percent of females.

• In 2001, respondents working for someone else and earning over $60,000 per year 

were three times more likely than those earning less than $20,000 per year to report 

having the highest level of autonomy (18 vs. 5 percent, respectively). 

Table 11.2-C: Relocated for current job 

• Younger respondents were more likely to have relocated for their current job than older 

students; 19 percent of respondents who began postsecondary education when they 

were 18 years old relocated for their current job, compared with between 4 and 9 

percent of respondents who began their education at age 20 or higher. 

• Respondents with higher paying jobs had been more willing to move—31 percent of 

respondents whose annual salary in 2001 exceeded $60,000 moved for the job, 

compared with 11 percent of respondents earning below $20,000 annually. 

Table 11.2-D: Benefits 

• In 2001, most full-time employees were receiving medical insurance (88 percent) and 

dental or vision insurance (81 percent). About three-fourths of them were receiving 

retirement benefits (78 percent) and life insurance (71 percent), 40 percent were 

receiving stock options. About one-third (31 percent) had employer-provided flexible 

spending accounts, and 26 percent received a fitness benefit. 

• Those respondents with higher paying jobs in 2001 (over $60,000) were more likely 

than those with jobs paying less than $20,000 per year to receive each benefit. 

• Respondents who considered the job they had in 2001 to be the beginning of their 

careers were more likely to receive each benefit than those who did not see their job as 

the beginning of a career. 

Table 11.2-E: Licenses and certifications 

• Men were more likely than women to hold a professional certification (19 vs. 13 

percent, respectively), but the opposite was true for occupational licensure; 23 percent 

of women and 19 percent of men reported holding an occupational license. 

• Asian/Pacific Islander respondents were less likely than White, non-Hispanic or 

Hispanic respondents to hold a professional certification (7 percent vs. 16–20 percent). 

• Respondents whose highest degree was a certificate in 2001 were more likely than 

respondents who had not attained any degree and those who had attained an associate’s 

or a bachelor’s degree to hold a professional certification (33 vs. 11–19 percent), and 
Section 11: Student Characteristics and Experiences 

220 

more likely than those who had not attained any degree and those who had attained a 

bachelor’s degree to hold an occupational license (39 vs. 14 and 22 percent, 

respectively). 

Table 11.3-A: Community service 

• About one-half (47 percent) of respondents who earned over $60,000 annually reported 

participating in community service in 2001, compared with one-quarter (25 percent) of 

those with salaries less than $20,000. However, those with the lowest income were 

more likely to volunteer more than 20 hours per month than those who earned more 

than $60,000 per year (25 percent vs. 10 percent). 

• Respondents who had attained a bachelor’s degree were more likely to participate in 

community service (46 percent) than those who had not attained any degree (29 

percent) and those who had attained a certificate (22 percent) or an associate’s degree 

(31 percent). 

• Nearly one-half (47 percent) of respondents who last attended a private not-for-profit 

4-year institution performed community service, compared with 20 to 27 percent of 

respondents who had attended less-than-4-year institutions, and 38 percent of 

respondents who had attended public 4-year institutions. 

• Although no difference could be detected in community service participation by hours 

worked per week, full-time employees were more likely than part-time employees to 

volunteer less than 10 hours per month, with one-half (51 percent) of full-time 

employees and 38 percent of part-time employees doing so. 

• Respondents who reported that volunteer work was required as a part of their 

education were more likely to have participated in community service activities than 

respondents for whom community service work was not required (42 percent vs. 32 

percent). 

Table 11.3-B: Type of community service 

• Single, never married respondents who participated in community service were more 

likely than those who were married to volunteer with kids in an education-related 

activity—18 percent of single respondents volunteered with kids, compared with 8 to 

10 percent of respondents who were married. 

• Women were more likely than men to volunteer in the health services field (15 vs. 6 

percent, respectively), while men (19 percent) were more likely than women (11 

percent) to volunteer for neighborhood improvement or cleanup. 

• Respondents who volunteered more than 20 hours per month were more likely to do 

other work with kids (such as coaching or mentoring) than any other volunteer 

activity—one-third (33 percent) volunteered with kids, compared with 4–16 percent in 

each of the other volunteer types. 
 Section 11: Student Characteristics and Experiences 

221 

Table 11.3-C: Voting and political participation 

• Respondents who had attained bachelor’s degrees were more likely than respondents 

who had attained certificates and those who had not attained any degree to have voted 

in the 2000 presidential elections (67 vs. 55–56 percent), written to a public official 

(15 vs. 8–12 percent), and participated in political activities (15 vs. 7–11 percent). 

• Respondents who performed community service were more active in the political arena 

as well; 68 percent voted compared with 55 percent of non-volunteers, 23 percent 

wrote to public officials and 20 percent participated in political activities compared 

with 7 percent each of non-volunteers. 

Table 11.4-A: Cumulative student loan amounts 

• Fifty-five percent of students who attained associate’s degrees and 59 percent of 

students who attained bachelor’s degrees received student loans. The amounts 

borrowed, however, were quite different: students who attained associate’s degrees 

borrowed an average of about $11,000, compared to the $18,000 average loan amount 

for bachelor’s degree recipients. 

• Although no difference could be detected between respondents who last attended a 

public institution and those who last attended a private not-for-profit institution in the 

proportion who borrowed, respondents who last attended private not-for-profit 

institutions borrowed larger amounts than those who last attended public institutions 

(about $19,000 and $14,000, respectively). 

• Among respondents who last attended a private not-for-profit 4-year institution, onethird had undergraduate student loans of more than $20,000, compared with 5 to 18 

percent of respondents who last attended public 2-year, public 4-year, or private forprofit less-than-4-year institutions. 

• Respondents who took more than four years to attain their bachelor’s degrees were 

more likely to have borrowed than respondents who graduated within the normal four 

years; nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of respondents who took five to six years to 

complete a bachelor’s degree borrowed compared with 55 percent who finished in four 

years. However, no difference could be detected in the average amounts borrowed by 

the two groups. 

Table 11.4-B: Student loan repayment

• One quarter (25 percent) of respondents were repaying student loans in 2001. Of these, 

one-half (50 percent) were paying more than $150 per month. 

• Respondents who had attained bachelor’s degrees were more likely to be in repayment 

(37 percent) than respondents who had attained no degree (14 percent), a certificate (16 

percent), or an associate’s degree (21 percent). 
Section 11: Student Characteristics and Experiences 

222 

• Respondents who last attended a private not-for-profit 4-year institution were more 

likely to be in repayment in 2001 than respondents who last attended public 2-year or 

public 4-year institutions (37 percent vs. 11 and 26 percent, respectively); these 

respondents were paying more each month ($222 monthly, on average) than were 

respondents who last attended public 2-year institutions ($113 per month) and public 

4-year institutions ($170 monthly). 

Table 11.4-C: Number of credit cards 

• Black, non-Hispanic and Hispanic respondents were more likely than White, nonHispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander respondents to have no credit cards; 42 percent of 

Black, non-Hispanic and 32 percent of Hispanic respondents had no credit cards, 

compared with 24 percent of White, non-Hispanic and 15 percent of Asian/Pacific 

Islander respondents. 

• About one-third (35 percent) of those who paid off their credit card balances each 

month had 3 or more credit cards, compared with 42 percent of those who carried 

balances. 

Table 11.4-D: Credit card balance 

• Respondents with three or more credit cards were more likely than respondents with 

one or two credit cards to have a balance over $2,000 (36 percent vs. 17 percent, 

respectively).

• Respondents who were enrolled in graduate school in 2001 were less likely than those 

who were not enrolled in graduate school to have a credit card balance higher than 

$2,000; 15 percent of graduate students had a balance over $2,000, compared with onefourth (25 percent) of respondents who did not enroll in graduate school. 

• Those student who had borrowed to finance their postsecondary education were more 

likely than those who had not borrowed to have a credit card balance of over $2,000; 

30 percent of borrowers, compared with 18 percent of non-borrowers had balances that 

high. 

Table 11.4-E: Lifetime learning tax credit 

• Black, non-Hispanic respondents were less informed about the lifetime learning tax 

credit than were White, non-Hispanic students; 27 percent of Black respondents had 

never heard of the lifetime learning tax credits, compared with 16 percent of White 

students. 

• Married respondents were more likely to have claimed the lifetime learning tax credit 

in 1999 than were single respondents (28 vs. 17 percent). 
Table 11.1-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to distance 

Table 11.1-A.—education participation and, of those who participated, the number of courses taken as of 

Table 11.1-A.—June 2001, by selected demographic and institutional characteristics

No distance Took distance

education class education class One More than one

 Total 83.1 16.9 42.3 57.7

Gender

 Male 82.2 17.8 46.5 53.5

 Female 83.8 16.2 38.3 61.7

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 83.2 16.8 41.7 58.3

 Black, non-Hispanic 85.5 14.5 41.9 58.1

 Hispanic 82.7 17.3 45.1 54.9

 Asian/Pacific Islander 78.9 21.1 35.9 64.1

 American Indian/Alaska Native 71.1 28.9 ‡ ‡

Disability reported in 2001

 No disability reported 83.3 16.7 42.5 57.5

 Disability reported 79.0 21.0 54.2 45.8

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 82.1 18.0 41.7 58.3

 Delayed 84.2 15.8 42.4 57.7

Highest degree attained by 2001

 None 83.3 16.7 38.8 61.2

 Certificate 90.9 9.1 52.5 47.5

 Associate’s degree 76.1 23.9 39.7 60.3

 Bachelor’s degree 82.0 18.1 48.0 52.0

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year 83.2 16.8 42.5 57.6

 Public 4-year 79.8 20.2 42.9 57.1

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 82.1 17.9 44.0 56.0

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 92.4 7.6 38.5 61.5

 Other institutions 91.6 8.4 ‡ ‡

Part-time enrollment through 2001

 No part-time enrollment 86.0 14.0 46.7 53.3

 Part-time enrollment 80.0 20.1 39.5 60.5

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 85.5 14.5 39.0 61.0

 Not continuously enrolled 77.7 22.3 46.6 53.4

Worked while enrolled in 1995-96

 Did not work 84.3 15.7 50.9 49.1

 Worked part time 82.2 17.9 37.9 62.1

 Worked full time 84.2 15.8 45.1 54.9

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Ever took distance education class

 Number of distance education classes taken

_______

223
Table 11.1-B.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to postsecondary 

Table 11.1-B.—academic performance, by selected demographic and institutional characteristics

Bachelor’s degree

Ever repeated recipients only

Took remedial Ever received course for Ever withdrew Graduated

courses 1995-96 an incomplete higher grade when failing with honors

 Total 18.6 17.4 24.0 17.6 38.9

Gender

 Male 19.5 18.2 27.1 21.2 33.2

 Female 17.9 16.7 21.4 14.6 43.2

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 18.5 18.9 29.8 21.8 38.8

 19 years 21.5 21.4 30.6 20.9 34.1

 20–23 years 20.4 19.5 14.9 14.9 39.3

 24–29 years 17.1 13.8 9.5 5.0 ‡

 30 or older 16.4 7.0 7.0 4.9 ‡

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 17.4 16.2 22.5 16.3 38.6

 Black, non-Hispanic 24.3 20.7 29.0 22.7 30.8

 Hispanic 23.2 19.9 24.3 20.0 39.0

 Asian/Pacific Islander 13.8 16.8 31.0 18.6 41.8

 American Indian/Alaska Native 18.4 24.5 35.8 10.3 ‡

Current annual salary in 2001

 Under $20,000 20.5 22.6 21.8 17.4 33.3

 $20,000–60,000 17.0 15.8 22.1 17.7 34.9

 Over $60,000 12.5 6.7 17.3 12.7 54.6

Disability reported in 2001

 No disability reported 18.3 17.2 24.1 17.7 38.7

 Disability reported 24.2 21.7 20.6 15.2 50.5

Highest degree attained by 2001

 None 24.8 24.6 24.7 22.0 †

 Certificate 7.3 9.5 8.6 4.9 †

 Associate’s degree 23.0 10.9 27.4 13.1 †

 Bachelor’s degree 11.4 10.9 28.1 17.0 38.9

Type of last institution attended

 Public 4-year 18.9 17.9 37.1 23.4 35.7

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 10.9 13.2 20.0 15.4 44.2

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 26.3 23.8 37.7 28.2 17.4

 B+ to A- 16.9 16.6 30.2 21.4 32.2

 Mostly A’s 6.9 11.7 19.8 12.5 49.4

Cumulative grade-point average in 2001

 B’s or less 23.8 24.1 44.7 31.0 10.9

 B+ to A- 13.0 11.6 18.9 11.1 53.6

 Mostly A’s 16.8 7.8 5.2 2.2 92.7

Years to complete bachelor’s degree

 No bachelor’s degree 21.6 20.1 22.3 17.8 †

 4 years or less 6.7 6.5 15.2 10.6 46.4

 5 to 6 years 16.6 15.8 42.3 24.0 30.6

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

†Not applicable.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

All students

_______

224
Table 11.1-C.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who completed a bachelor’s degree,

Table 11.1-C.—according to post-baccalaureate enrollment and graduate degree plans, by selected 

Table 11.1-C.—demographic and institutional characteristics

Just Post- Doctoral/

Graduate taking baccalaureate Master’s professional

enrollment classes certificate degree degree

 Total 23.6 6.4 1.5 63.1 29.0

Gender

 Male 21.2 5.2 1.1 54.9 38.8

 Female 25.5 7.2 1.8 68.1 22.9

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 23.2 6.3 1.2 62.1 30.4

 Black, non-Hispanic 26.6 6.6 # 78.0 15.4

 Hispanic 20.9 10.0 5.3 63.0 21.7

 Asian/Pacific Islander 28.8 5.0 # 50.3 44.7

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Bachelor’s degree or less 5.7 15.0 6.6 70.0 8.4

 Post-baccalaureate certificate or master’s degree 21.5 5.2 1.6 78.7 14.6

 Doctoral/professional degree 42.2 5.8 0.5 46.9 46.9

Highest degree expectation in 2001

 Post-baccalaureate certificate or master’s degree 14.8 8.5 2.5 87.9 1.1

 Doctoral/professional degree 52.8 4.9 1.0 49.2 45.0

Grade-point average in high school

 B’s or less 12.5 4.2 3.7 80.2 12.0

 B+ to A- 17.5 10.6 1.4 65.9 22.2

 Mostly A’s 32.4 5.7 0.9 57.9 35.6

Cumulative grade-point average in 2001

 B’s or less 13.4 10.5 2.4 64.3 22.8

 B+ to A- 29.2 4.4 1.3 65.9 28.6

 Mostly A’s 42.5 6.4 1.2 57.1 35.4

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 22.9 7.4 0.7 65.1 26.8

 $25,000–44,999 20.7 8.2 1.9 67.8 22.1

 $45,000–69,999 21.6 4.0 2.7 62.9 30.4

 $70,000 or greater 27.0 7.1 0.8 60.3 31.8

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 24.3 6.6 1.6 63.1 28.7

 One 19.9 7.4 0.6 63.4 28.5

 Two or more 23.9 1.2 2.7 61.1 35.0

Graduated with honors

 Did not graduate with honors 17.2 7.8 1.4 67.1 23.8

 Graduated with honors 33.7 5.5 1.6 59.3 33.5

Intensity of graduate attendance

 Part-time 100.0 2.3 2.6 93.3 1.9

 Full-time 100.0 0.6 1.3 61.5 36.6

Worked while enrolled in graduate school

 Did not work 100.0 1.9 1.1 37.5 59.6

 Worked part time 100.0 4.0 1.7 74.3 20.0

 Worked full time 100.0 15.4 1.8 76.8 6.0

#Rounds to zero.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students 

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Type of graduate program

_______

225
Table 11.2-A.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were employed 

Table 11.2-A.—full time as of June 2001 (and, if enrolled, were primarily employees), according to studentTable 11.2-A.—reported relationship between their current job and postsecondary education, by selected 

Table 11.2-A.—demographic and institutional characteristics

Not related Somewhat related Closely related

 Total 38.6 19.6 41.8

Gender

 Male 38.4 19.3 42.3

 Female 38.8 20.0 41.3

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 36.7 21.6 41.7

 19 years 41.8 23.0 35.2

 20–23 years 46.0 18.4 35.6

 24–29 years 37.0 10.4 52.6

 30 or older 36.7 15.3 48.0

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 35.7 19.3 45.1

 Black, non-Hispanic 50.5 21.2 28.4

 Hispanic 48.8 19.8 31.4

 Asian/Pacific Islander 33.6 23.3 43.0

 American Indian/Alaska Native 34.5 11.6 53.9

Current annual salary in 2001

 Under $20,000 58.1 14.5 27.4

 $20,000–60,000 34.2 20.5 45.3

 Over $60,000 26.5 21.4 52.1

Highest degree attained by 2001

 None 55.0 17.0 28.0

 Certificate 30.5 14.7 54.9

 Associate’s degree 34.0 13.5 52.5

 Bachelor’s degree 20.6 26.6 52.7

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year 49.5 15.6 34.8

 Public 4-year 30.3 23.5 46.2

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 30.4 24.3 45.4

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 38.1 17.6 44.3

 Other institutions 43.8 13.3 42.9

Autonomy in current job

 Someone else decides what you do and how you do it 56.8 15.6 27.6

 Someone else decides what, you decide how 37.6 19.9 42.5

 Have some freedom deciding what you do and how 35.7 20.9 43.4

 You are basically your own boss 33.7 19.2 47.1

Current job requires a degree

 No degree required 50.3 19.4 30.3

 Degree required 15.4 20.6 64.0

Satisfied overall with current job

 Not satisfied overall 54.7 18.0 27.2

 Satisfied overall 35.0 20.2 44.8

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Relationship between current job and classes

_______

226
Table 11.2-B.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were employed 

Table 11.2-B.—full time and were not self-employed as of June 2001 (and, if enrolled, were primarily 

Table 11.2-B.—employees), according to student-reported autonomy in their current job, by selected 

Table 11.2-B.—demographic and institutional characteristics

Someone else decides Someone else Have some freedom You are

what you do and decides what, in deciding what basically

how you do it you decide how you do and how your own boss

 Total 10.2 29.3 49.3 11.2

Gender

 Male 9.3 27.9 47.5 15.3

 Female 11.2 30.8 51.1 7.0

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 9.2 31.0 50.5 9.3

 19 years 16.6 26.2 48.8 8.4

 20–23 years 8.7 22.4 57.9 11.0

 24–29 years 9.0 25.8 40.5 24.7

 30 or older 12.5 30.2 42.6 14.8

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 9.6 28.1 52.0 10.3

 Black, non-Hispanic 11.9 30.5 38.9 18.8

 Hispanic 10.8 36.8 45.3 7.2

 Asian/Pacific Islander 16.4 29.2 40.1 14.3

 American Indian/Alaska Native 2.9 36.2 52.2 8.7

Current annual salary in 2001

 Under $20,000 19.1 30.5 45.1 5.3

 $20,000–60,000 8.3 28.9 51.0 11.8

 Over $60,000 4.0 28.4 49.7 18.0

Highest degree attained by 2001

 None 13.8 27.2 46.0 13.0

 Certificate 6.6 28.9 49.8 14.7

 Associate’s degree 9.8 24.6 52.5 13.1

 Bachelor’s degree 7.0 33.4 52.6 7.0

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year 13.1 27.9 45.9 13.0

 Public 4-year 8.0 30.7 52.2 9.1

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 7.3 30.0 54.1 8.6

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 11.8 30.3 45.8 12.1

 Other institutions 10.7 28.3 42.7 18.3

Relationship between current job and classes

 Not related 15.3 29.0 45.8 9.9

 Somewhat related 8.0 29.3 51.9 10.7

 Closely related 6.7 29.6 51.2 12.5

Considers current job beginning of career

 Not beginning of career 16.5 31.5 43.0 9.0

 Beginning of career 7.6 28.4 52.3 11.8

Current job requires a degree

 No degree required 12.5 28.2 47.8 11.6

 Degree required 5.9 31.6 52.1 10.5

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Autonomy in current job

_______

227
Table 11.2-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were employed 

Table 11.2-C.—full time and were not self-employed as of June 2001 (and, if enrolled, were primarily 

Table 11.2-C.—employees), according to whether the student relocated for the current job, by selected 

Table 11.2-C.—demographic and institutional characteristics

Relocated Did not relocate

 Total 15.2 84.8

Gender

 Male 16.5 83.5

 Female 13.8 86.2

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 19.4 80.7

 19 years 15.0 85.0

 20–23 years 7.1 92.9

 24–29 years 8.8 91.2

 30 or older 4.2 95.8

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 15.9 84.1

 Black, non-Hispanic 11.2 88.8

 Hispanic 11.0 89.0

 Asian/Pacific Islander 22.3 77.7

 American Indian/Alaska Native 19.0 81.0

Current annual salary in 2001

 Under $20,000 10.8 89.2

 $20,000–60,000 15.8 84.3

 Over $60,000 30.8 69.2

Highest degree attained by 2001

 None 8.4 91.7

 Certificate 7.5 92.5

 Associate’s degree 16.0 84.0

 Bachelor’s degree 26.6 73.4

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year 7.6 92.4

 Public 4-year 22.9 77.1

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 22.7 77.3

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 5.7 94.3

 Other institutions 13.3 86.7

Relationship between current job and classes

 Not related 12.9 87.1

 Somewhat related 13.4 86.6

 Closely related 18.1 81.9

Considers current job beginning of career

 Not beginning of career 11.1 88.9

 Beginning of career 17.1 82.9

Current job requires a degree

 No degree required 10.7 89.3

 Degree required 23.9 76.1

Autonomy in current job

 Someone else decides what you do and how you do it 14.4 85.6

 Someone else decides what, you decide how 17.1 82.9

 Have some freedom deciding what you do and how 15.4 84.6

 You are basically your own boss 9.8 90.2

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Relocated for current job

_______

228
Table 11.2-D.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were employed full time as of June 2001 (and, if e

Table 11.2-D.—employees), according to the employer-provided benefits in the current job, by selected demographic and institu

Medical Dental/visio

n Retirement Life Stoc

k 

insurance insurance

benefits insurance options 

 Total 88.2 80.8 77.9 71.3 40.3 Gender Male 89.6 82.5 78.3 72.3 39.9  Female 86.7 79.0 77.5 70.2 40.7 Age when first enrolle

d

 18 years or younger 88.4 81.3 79.0 70.6 38.4  19 years 89.5 79.2 76.9 72.0 46.7  20–23 years 84.6 78.5 73.4 65.5 41.7  24–29 years 88.4 81.4 79.0 76.1 44.8  30 or older 87.2 80.5 80.3 75.7 43.8 Race/ethnicit

y

 White, non-Hispanic 88.8 81.3 79.8 72.4 38.7  Black, non-Hispanic 83.4 78.2 75.4 72.9 52.4  Hispanic 88.5 80.4 71.8 64.7 38.4  Asian/Pacific Islander 87.0 78.1 72.0 64.4 40.5  American Indian/Alaska Native 95.5 82.8 56.3 58.1 37.6 Current annual salary in 2001 Under $20,000 75.2 64.3 58.4 53.0 30.1  $20,000–60,000 91.0 84.1 82.2 75.1 41.3  Over $60,000 98.6 96.5 96.0 81.3 60.1 Highest degree attained by 2001 None 86.0 79.9 75.6 70.5 42.0  Certificate 86.6 76.0 75.1 66.9 49.6  Associate’s degree 89.4 81.3 81.2 75.0 37.3  Bachelor’s degree 91.2 83.5 81.2 72.9 35.5 

See footnotes at end of table.

Currently receive benefits

_______

229
Table 11.2-D.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were employed full time as of June 2001 (and, if e

Table 11.2-D.—employees), according to the employer-provided benefits in the current job, by selected demographic and instituTable 11.2-D.——Continued

Medical Dental/visio

n Retirement Life Stoc

k 

insurance insurance

benefits insurance options 

Type of last institution attended Public 2-year 85.4 78.5 77.2 70.7 42.3  Public 4-year 89.7 82.5 80.2 72.3 38.9  Private not-for-profit 4-year 91.7 83.7 77.6 70.5 34.5  Private for-profit less-than-4-year 85.9 76.6 74.7 69.3 45.0  Other institutions 90.3 83.8 73.5 72.9 46.7 Autonomy in current job Someone else decides what you do and how to do it 87.3 79.8 77.8 73.6 40.6  Someone else decides what, you decide ho

w 90.0 80.6 80.0 75.3 40.8 

 Have some freedom deciding what you do and ho

w 87.2 81.0 77.6 68.3 39.5 

 You are basically your own boss 88.3 81.4 74.0 71.7 42.1 Relationship between current job and classes Not related 84.4 76.7 72.0 65.1 41.1  Somewhat relate

d 91.7 85.3 80.7 74.7 42.9 

 Closely related 89.9 82.3 81.9 75.2 38.3 Considers current job beginning of career Not beginning of career 82.6 74.4 69.6 61.9 36.3  Beginning of career 90.5 83.5 81.6 75.3 41.9 Current job requires a degree No degree required 86.5 79.3 74.8 69.2 41.8  Degree required 91.5 83.8 84.0 75.3 37.4 Satisfied overall with current job Not satisfied overall 77.3 70.6 67.8 60.6 29.4  Satisfied overall 90.1 82.6 79.7 73.1 42.3 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, S(BPS:96/01).

Currently receive benefits

_______

230
Table 11.2-E.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who were employed full time as of 

Table 11.2-E.—June 2001 (and, if enrolled, were primarily employees), according to occupational licensure 

Table 11.2-E.—and professional certification, by selected demographic and institutional characteristics

Holds professional certification* Holds occupational license*

 Total 16.0 20.7

Gender

 Male 18.8 18.5

 Female 13.2 22.9

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 13.6 17.9

 19 years 18.2 19.3

 20–23 years 19.4 25.1

 24–29 years 18.3 24.9

 30 or older 21.7 29.5

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 16.1 22.0

 Black, non-Hispanic 15.9 21.3

 Hispanic 20.1 11.9

 Asian/Pacific Islander 6.5 14.2

 American Indian/Alaska Native 12.8 22.1

Current annual salary in 2001

 Under $20,000 12.7 18.2

 $20,000–60,000 17.1 20.9

 Over $60,000 23.4 24.3

Highest degree attained by 2001

 None 14.5 13.7

 Certificate 32.9 39.4

 Associate’s degree 18.9 25.4

 Bachelor’s degree 10.8 21.7

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year 16.2 18.8

 Public 4-year 12.9 18.6

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 12.2 21.5

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 26.0 28.6

 Other institutions 27.2 28.1

Ever attended public 2-year institution

 Never attended public 2-year institution 16.8 21.7

 Attended public 2-year institution 15.3 19.8

Current job requires a degree

 No degree required 14.9 13.4

 Degree required 17.5 32.2

*A professional certification allows an employee to qualify for or advance in an occupational area, but is not required by law

before actually beginning work. An occupational license, however, is required by federal, state, or local government before

practicing in a profession.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

_______

231
Table 11.3-A.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to participation in 

Table 11.3-A.—community service activities in 2001 and, of those who participated, hours per month 

Table 11.3-A.—volunteered, by selected demographic and institutional characteristics

Performed Less than 10–20 More than

community 10 hours hours 20 hours

service per month per month per month

 Total 33.1 48.7 33.6 17.7

Gender

 Male 31.0 49.3 30.2 20.5

 Female 34.9 48.2 36.1 15.7

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 36.1 51.3 33.2 15.6

 19 years 28.2 51.9 31.2 16.8

 20–23 years 30.0 37.4 35.9 26.8

 24–29 years 27.1 37.8 33.3 28.9

 30 or older 31.4 50.9 36.1 13.1

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 35.0 50.2 32.3 17.4

 Black, non-Hispanic 28.0 42.7 33.1 24.2

 Hispanic 26.7 45.8 37.6 16.6

 Asian/Pacific Islander 31.8 46.4 42.6 11.0

 American Indian/Alaska Native 50.8 ‡ ‡ ‡

Current annual salary in 2001

 Under $20,000 25.3 40.4 34.3 25.4

 $20,000–60,000 33.3 50.8 34.4 14.7

 Over $60,000 47.3 55.8 34.5 9.8

Disability reported in 2001

 No disability reported 33.1 48.6 34.0 17.4

 Disability reported 34.4 47.3 27.5 25.2

Highest degree attained by 2001

 None 28.9 43.2 34.9 21.9

 Certificate 21.8 55.8 24.2 19.9

 Associate’s degree 31.3 50.3 29.2 20.5

 Bachelor’s degree 45.5 52.8 35.2 12.0

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year 27.1 43.7 31.7 24.6

 Public 4-year 37.7 50.2 35.6 14.2

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 47.0 51.9 34.5 13.6

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 20.3 49.5 31.4 19.1

 Other institutions 24.2 48.6 26.8 24.6

Hours worked per week in 2001

 Part-time 31.1 38.3 40.3 21.5

 Full-time 31.8 51.0 33.2 15.8

Service required for education

 No service required 32.1 50.1 32.9 17.0

 Service required 41.7 38.8 38.7 22.6

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary 

Students Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Hours per month volunteered

_______

232
Table 11.3-B.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who participated in community service in 2001, accord

Table 11.3-B.—activity, by selected demographic and institutional characteristics

Work with kids– Other work Homeless or Neighborhood 

education related with kids* Fundraising crisis center improvement 

 Total 14.6 22.9 12.0 11.3 14.2 Gender Male 11.7 26.4 12.1 10.8 19.3  Female 16.6 20.5 11.9 11.7 10.7 Age when first enrolled 18 years or younger 16.7 22.4 11.2 12.9 14.5  19 years 9.4 19.0 16.0 10.0 18.4  20–23 years 8.6 29.3 7.0 9.8 19.1  24–29 years 9.7 26.8 12.6 7.4 2.2  30 or older 16.6 21.2 14.5 7.9 7.4 Race/ethnicity White, non-Hispanic 13.1 24.0 12.5 11.3 14.4  Black, non-Hispanic 20.4 19.7 9.3 11.0 11.9  Hispanic 16.7 26.1 5.9 12.3 17.7  Asian/Pacific Islander 14.9 12.1 26.7 11.1 8.8 Current annual salary in 2001 Under $20,000 14.1 25.0 12.6 9.3 10.0  $20,000–60,000 13.5 23.6 14.6 11.5 15.9  Over $60,000 5.2 11.3 25.3 10.6 22.4 Marital status in 2001 Single, never married 17.9 22.9 11.4 14.1 14.0  Single, has been married 7.5 23.4 20.4 7.2 15.4  Married 9.9 22.6 11.0 6.8 14.3 

See footnotes at end of table.

Type of community service activity

_______

233
Table 11.3-B.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students who participated in community service in 2001, accord

Table 11.3-B.—activity, by selected demographic and institutional characteristics—Continued

Work with kids– Other work Homeless or Neighborhood 

education related with kids* Fundraising crisis center improvement 

Highest degree attained by 2001 None 11.2 25.4 12.5 9.7 14.1  Certificate 4.3 24.2 22.4 10.0 8.5  Associate’s degree 19.6 16.7 7.4 12.1 15.6  Bachelor’s degree 18.4 21.5 10.8 12.9 15.0 Type of last institution attended Public 2-year 12.6 26.3 14.5 8.9 9.8  Public 4-year 15.8 23.2 9.7 13.7 15.6  Private not-for-profit 4-year 18.2 20.7 13.3 9.4 14.5  Private for-profit less-than-4-year 6.4 19.9 9.4 14.4 21.3  Other institutions 3.4 15.2 20.2 4.6 10.1 Hours per month volunteered Less than 10 14.9 18.4 11.8 10.9 17.8  10 to 20 19.3 27.1 6.9 9.4 10.6  More than 20 12.7 33.1 8.3 13.8 4.2 Service required for education No service required 13.3 23.1 12.6 11.1 15.2  Service required 22.6 21.6 8.2 12.6 8.3 

*Includes coaching, mentoring, scouts, Big Brother/Big Sister, and other non-education-related activities with kids.NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, Second F

Type of community service activity

_______

234
Table 11.3-C.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to voting and political 

Table 11.3-C.—participation in 2001, by selected demographic and institutional characteristics

Voted in Wrote a Participated in

2000 elections* public official political activities

 Total 59.3 12.6 10.9

Gender

 Male 57.8 13.0 12.6

 Female 60.5 12.2 9.4

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 59.2 13.0 12.5

 19 years 52.9 9.6 9.5

 20–23 years 60.6 12.8 11.1

 24–29 years 53.2 7.7 6.8

 30 or older 69.5 16.0 7.4

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 60.9 14.0 11.6

 Black, non-Hispanic 64.4 8.0 8.7

 Hispanic 49.4 9.3 9.9

 Asian/Pacific Islander 38.9 8.7 9.3

 American Indian/Alaska Native 71.5 32.8 10.3

Current annual salary in 2001

 Under $20,000 54.9 8.6 7.8

 $20,000–60,000 60.3 12.8 10.8

 Over $60,000 64.8 17.2 23.4

Marital status in 2001

 Single, never married 58.2 12.4 12.4

 Single, has been married 59.3 14.2 10.0

 Married 61.4 12.2 8.1

Highest degree attained by 2001

 None 55.4 12.0 10.5

 Certificate 56.2 8.1 6.6

 Associate’s degree 59.0 12.7 5.9

 Bachelor’s degree 67.2 15.4 14.9

Currently enrolled in graduate school

 Not currently enrolled 58.5 12.2 10.5

 Currently enrolled 73.1 18.3 16.8

Be leader in community

 Not important 53.0 8.4 5.3

 Somewhat important 59.0 13.1 10.9

 Very important 68.8 17.7 19.0

Influence political structure

 Not important 52.5 7.4 5.1

 Somewhat important 65.9 16.0 14.7

 Very important 73.1 29.1 29.3

Performed community service in 2001

 Did not volunteer 54.8 7.2 6.6

 Volunteered 68.1 23.4 19.5

*Citizens only.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

_______

235
Table 11.4-A.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to undergraduate 

Table 11.4-A.—borrowing status, average undergraduate loan amount, and distribution of loan amounts 

Table 11.4-A.—as of June 2001, by selected demographic and enrollment characteristics

 Percentage with Average underundergraduate graduate student Less than $7,000– $14,001– More than

student loans loan amount $7,000 14,000 20,000 $20,000

 Total 51.2 $14,091 31.3 25.4 23.8 19.6

Gender

 Male 50.7 14,406 29.9 26.8 23.0 20.3

 Female 51.6 13,826 32.5 24.1 24.5 18.9

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 50.6 14,160 30.1 26.5 24.1 19.3

 Black, non-Hispanic 60.2 14,564 30.9 24.4 20.5 24.3

 Hispanic 46.9 11,866 43.3 22.0 21.9 12.9

 Asian/Pacific Islander 53.6 15,345 26.3 17.9 34.0 21.8

 American Indian/Alaska Native 84.0 ‡ ‡‡‡‡

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 53.4 14,667 28.1 25.6 25.7 20.6

 Delayed 44.6 12,436 40.1 24.6 18.2 17.0

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 52.3 14,345 29.9 25.1 25.3 19.7

 Independent 45.3 12,583 39.5 27.5 14.5 18.6

Current annual salary in 2001

 Under $20,000 54.0 12,642 37.1 23.5 21.9 17.5

 $20,000–60,000 51.3 14,919 26.2 27.0 25.1 21.7

 Over $60,000 42.9 17,583 24.0 14.0 34.0 28.0

Highest degree attained by 2001

 None 45.3 10,907 48.1 24.4 15.2 12.3

 Certificate 31.7 8,668 55.0 24.3 8.8 11.9

 Associate’s degree 55.2 10,788 42.0 27.4 21.9 8.6

 Bachelor’s degree 58.5 17,618 14.9 25.6 31.6 28.0

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year 29.0 6,999 67.1 22.8 5.4 4.6

 Public 4-year 56.7 13,818 28.1 28.7 25.2 18.0

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 63.5 19,290 15.2 19.4 32.6 32.8

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 62.1 10,494 36.6 39.9 15.4 8.2

 Other institutions 43.8 13,880 34.1 18.5 28.6 18.9

6-year attainment and enrollment status

 Attained, still enrolled 55.9 12,663 42.6 16.2 20.4 20.8

 Attained, not enrolled 54.7 16,294 19.1 27.5 29.6 23.8

 No degree, still enrolled 50.5 11,178 45.0 26.0 17.3 11.8

 No degree, not enrolled 38.5 10,363 53.9 21.5 11.8 12.9

Years to complete bachelor’s degree

 No bachelor’s degree 45.6 10,673 47.3 25.1 16.3 11.3

 4 years or less 54.6 18,056 12.6 24.7 36.1 26.7

 5 to 6 years 62.5 17,236 16.8 26.4 27.6 29.2

Graduate enrollment

 No graduate enrollment 51.1 13,757 32.9 25.6 22.6 19.0

 Graduate enrollment 52.0 17,028 17.5 23.6 34.5 24.5

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students 

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Amount borrowed

_______

236
Table 11.4-B.—Percentage of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to undergraduate 

Table 11.4-B.—student loan repayment status and average monthly loan payment in 2001, by selected 

Table 11.4-B.—demographic and enrollment characteristics

Percentage Average

 currently monthly Less than More than

repaying student $75 $75–150 $150

loans payment per month per month per month

 Total 24.9 $179 19.5 30.7 49.8

Gender

 Male 24.7 178 17.9 32.8 49.3

 Female 25.1 180 20.9 28.9 50.2

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 25.5 182 17.2 31.5 51.4

 Black, non-Hispanic 21.7 152 29.3 31.6 39.1

 Hispanic 21.7 162 26.3 32.0 41.7

 Asian/Pacific Islander 29.4 211 16.1 19.1 64.9

 American Indian/Alaska Native 50.4 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 27.6 186 18.2 29.1 52.7

 Delayed 16.9 142 27.4 39.1 33.5

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 26.8 183 18.7 29.9 51.4

 Independent 15.4 143 26.1 38.0 35.9

Current annual salary in 2001

 Under $20,000 25.7 149 24.0 38.3 37.7

 $20,000–60,000 36.3 189 16.4 28.0 55.6

 Over $60,000 33.0 262 12.9 26.0 61.1

Highest degree attained by 2001

 None 13.5 131 34.4 36.2 29.5

 Certificate 16.0 127 29.5 31.0 39.5

 Associate’s degree 21.4 137 21.7 42.5 35.8

 Bachelor’s degree 37.4 204 13.8 27.1 59.1

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year 10.9 113 39.6 43.0 17.4

 Public 4-year 25.7 170 20.3 31.0 48.7

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 37.2 222 11.0 24.2 64.7

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 36.5 133 27.0 38.2 34.7

 Other institutions 23.2 194 15.4 23.9 60.7

6-year attainment and enrollment status

 Attained, still enrolled 10.4 148 18.8 44.8 36.4

 Attained, not enrolled 35.6 194 15.5 28.5 56.0

 No degree, still enrolled 7.5 126 42.7 28.6 28.7

 No degree, not enrolled 21.7 133 30.5 39.8 29.8

Years to complete bachelor’s degree

 No bachelor’s degree 15.4 132 30.2 37.3 32.5

 4 years or less 37.9 208 13.1 27.1 59.8

 5 to 6 years 37.0 200 14.5 27.2 58.3

Graduate enrollment

 No graduate enrollment 26.0 176 19.9 30.9 49.2

 Graduate enrollment 14.9 228 13.5 27.9 58.6

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Amount repaying

_______

237
Table 11.4-C.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to number 

Table 11.4-C.—of credit cards in 2001, by selected student characteristics

None One or two Three or more

 Total 26.2 45.4 28.4

Gender

 Male 26.8 46.7 26.6

 Female 25.7 44.3 30.0

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 23.5 48.4 28.1

 Black, non-Hispanic 41.5 32.9 25.7

 Hispanic 31.6 39.8 28.6

 Asian/Pacific Islander 14.9 47.1 38.1

 American Indian/Alaska Native 35.7 40.3 24.0

Current annual salary in 2001

 Under $20,000 35.7 40.7 23.6

 $20,000–60,000 21.0 45.7 33.3

 Over $60,000 9.3 57.7 33.0

Marital status in 2001

 Single, never married 24.1 45.0 30.8

 Single, has been married 36.3 40.0 23.7

 Married 27.8 47.4 24.8

Highest degree attained by 2001

 None 32.1 41.2 26.7

 Certificate 35.9 40.6 23.5

 Associate’s degree 26.9 44.8 28.4

 Bachelor’s degree 12.4 54.4 33.2

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year 32.4 41.8 25.8

 Public 4-year 17.3 49.0 33.7

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 17.8 54.6 27.7

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 43.0 35.0 22.1

 Other institutions 37.9 38.1 24.0

Currently enrolled in graduate school

 Not currently enrolled 27.2 44.7 28.1

 Currently enrolled 9.5 57.2 33.3

Pay off credit card balance each month

 Payoff balances † 65.3 34.7

 Carry balances † 58.3 41.7

Borrowed student loans

 Did not borrow student loans 19.6 51.5 28.9

 Borrowed student loans 20.1 47.5 32.3

Repaying student loans

 Not repaying student loans 21.1 48.8 30.0

 Repaying student loans 16.8 50.6 32.7

†Not applicable.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students 

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Number of credits cards in 2001

_______

238
Table 11.4-D.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to credit 

Table 11.4-D.—card balance in 2001, by selected student characteristics

Under $500– Over

Zero $500 2,000 $2,000

 Total 49.1 7.4 19.5 24.0

Gender

 Male 52.5 6.6 17.7 23.2

 Female 46.2 8.1 21.0 24.7

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 50.6 6.8 17.8 24.8

 Black, non-Hispanic 34.1 12.8 32.0 21.0

 Hispanic 42.2 8.9 25.9 23.1

 Asian/Pacific Islander 59.8 4.5 15.4 20.3

 American Indian/Alaska Native 59.7 7.0 1.8 31.4

Current annual salary in 2001

 Under $20,000 35.7 10.2 26.4 27.7

 $20,000–60,000 51.2 5.8 17.8 25.2

 Over $60,000 65.9 1.0 14.1 19.0

Marital status in 2001

 Single, never married 49.6 7.7 19.4 23.3

 Single, has been married 35.2 9.3 28.3 27.2

 Married 50.9 6.5 17.7 25.0

Highest degree attained by 2001

 None 40.4 10.3 22.3 27.0

 Certificate 49.0 8.1 21.7 21.3

 Associate’s degree 50.9 6.3 17.8 25.0

 Bachelor’s degree 58.9 4.1 16.1 20.9

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year 40.0 9.6 24.9 25.6

 Public 4-year 51.2 5.8 17.4 25.6

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 58.3 5.5 16.8 19.4

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year 47.4 12.3 19.2 21.1

 Other institutions 54.4 7.2 14.7 23.8

Currently enrolled in graduate school

 Not currently enrolled 47.7 7.6 20.1 24.7

 Currently enrolled 67.4 5.2 12.1 15.4

Number of credit cards 2001

 None ††††

 One or two 51.8 9.4 22.2 16.6

 Three or more 44.6 4.3 15.0 36.2

Borrowed student loans

 Did not borrow student loans 59.6 6.6 15.4 18.3

 Borrowed student loans 41.4 7.2 21.5 29.9

Repaying student loans

 Not repaying student loans 51.8 7.3 18.0 23.0

 Repaying student loans 47.4 5.8 19.8 27.0

†Not applicable.

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students 

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Credit card balance due last statement

_______

239
Table 11.4-E.—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary students according to lifetime 

Table 11.4-E.—learning tax credit claims, by selected student characteristics

Never Did not Claimed

heard of it claim credit credit

 Total 17.7 62.6 19.7

Gender

 Male 18.5 62.2 19.2

 Female 17.0 62.9 20.2

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 19.2 61.9 18.9

 19 years 13.3 69.3 17.4

 20–23 years 16.0 57.4 26.6

 24–29 years 16.5 53.6 29.8

 30 or older 17.8 64.3 18.0

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 16.3 62.9 20.8

 Black, non-Hispanic 26.5 56.6 17.0

 Hispanic 18.7 63.5 17.8

 Asian/Pacific Islander 19.1 67.9 13.0

 American Indian/Alaska Native ‡‡‡

Current annual salary in 2001

 Under $20,000 20.6 64.7 14.7

 $20,000–60,000 16.3 61.6 22.2

 Over $60,000 15.4 55.6 29.0

Marital status in 2001

 Single, never married 18.5 64.3 17.2

 Single, has been married 11.4 71.8 16.9

 Married 16.6 55.5 27.9

Highest degree attained by 2001

 None 17.3 65.5 17.2

 Certificate 20.9 52.9 26.2

 Associate’s degree 14.8 62.7 22.4

 Bachelor’s degree 18.4 61.4 20.2

‡Reporting standards not met. (Too few cases for a reliable estimate.)

NOTE: Details may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Claimed lifetime learning tax credit in 1999

_______

240
241 

Appendix A—Glossary 

This glossary describes the variables used in this report. The variables were taken directly from the BPS:1996/2001 

Data Analysis System (DAS), an NCES software application that generates tables from the BPS:1996/2001 data. A 

description of the DAS software can be found in appendix B. 

In the index below, the variables are organized by general topic and, within topic, listed in the order in which they 

appear in the tables. The glossary is in alphabetical order by variable name (displayed in capital letters to the right of 

the label). 

Glossary Index 

INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Type of first institution ................................... ITNPSAS 

Transfers from public 2-year institution.......... ITNPSAS 

Level of first institution..................................... ITNPLV 

First institution type and highest offering .......... ITNPS2 

Highest offering of first institution..................... ITNPS2 

First 4-year institution type and highest 

offering............................................................. ITNPS2 

Type of last institution attended....................ITLASE2B 

Institution granting bachelor’s degree............ITHISE2B 

Type of institution of first transfer 

destination................................................... ITTRSE2B 

Transfer status............................................... ITTRSE2B 

First transfer by institution control................ITTRCT2B 

First transfer by institution level .................. ITTRLV2B 

DEGREE PROGRAM AND GOALS

Degree plans at first institution .................... DGPGMY1 

Degree goal in 1995–96................................ DGEXPY1 

Program/field at first institution.......................PGM1Y1 

Highest degree expectation in 1996 ............EPHDEGY1 

Highest degree expectation in 2001 ...............QFHIDEG 

PERSISTENCE AND ATTAINMENT 

Student persistence anywhere in 2001 ........ PRENRL2B 

Student persistence anywhere at end of each year: 

 1995–96 ................................................... PROUTYX1 

 1996–97 ................................................... PROUTYX2 

 1997–98 ................................................... PROUTYX3 

 1998–99 ................................................... PROUTYX4 

 1999–2000 ............................................... PROUTYX5 

 2000–01 ................................................... PROUTYX6 

Retention at the first institution at end of each year: 

 1995–96 ..................................................... PROUFIY1 

 1996–97 ..................................................... PROUFIY2 

 1997–98 ..................................................... PROUFIY3 

 1998–99......................................................PROUFIY4 

 1999–2000..................................................PROUFIY5 

 2000–01......................................................PROUFIY6 

Academic year last enrolled at first 

institution....................................................ENDTFI2B 

Last year enrolled without a degree............ PRENYR2B 

Persistence track outcome through 2001 .......PR4YR2B 

Persistence track outcomes at end of each year: 

 1995–96....................................................... PR4YRY1 

 1996–97....................................................... PR4YRY2 

 1997–98....................................................... PR4YRY3 

 1998–99....................................................... PR4YRY4 

 1999–2000................................................... PR4YRY5 

 2000–01....................................................... PR4YRY6 

DEGREE COMPLETION 

Highest degree attained by 2001 ................. DGREHI2B 

First degree attained by 2001 .......................... DGRE2B 

Any degrees attained ..................................DGRETY2B 

Combination of degrees attained ................DGRETY2B 

Degree attainment through 2001 ................DGRETY2B 

Degree before transfer 2001 ....................... PRTRAN2B 

Bachelor’s degree completion rate 

at first institution......................................... ELFIBA2B 

 anywhere...................................................ELFMBA2B 

Years to complete bachelor’s degree..........ELFMBA2B 

Years to complete associate’s degree .........ELFMAA2B 

ATTENDANCE AND ENROLLMENT PATTERNS

Number of institutions attended.........................ENNI2B 

Ever co-enrolled ...........................................ENEVSI2B 

Co-enrollment at two institutions..................ENEVSI2B 

Ever transferred .............................................ENTRN2B 

Transfer status ...............................................ENTRN2B 

First transfer direction .................................PRTRTY2B 

Last year enrolled at origin before transfer..PRTRLY2B 
Appendix A—Glossary

242 

First academic year at transfer destination.. PRTRBY2B 

Attendance intensity through 2001 ...............ENIPTT2B 

Attendance intensity—first institution 

spell.............................................................. ENIPSI2B 

Attendance status when first enrolled .............. ENINFM 

Enrollment continuity through 2001 ...........ENSENU2B 

Enrollment continuity at first institution ...... ENSINU2B 

Ever transferred to 4-year institution ...........TRINTY2B 

Ever attended public 2-year institution ....... ENPU2Y2B 

Part-time enrollment through 2001 ..............ENPTTT2B 

Attainment and enrollment status..................... PRAT2B 

ACADEMIC PREPARATION

Number of Advanced Placement tests 

taken........................................................ TEAPNUMB 

Grade-point average in high school ...........HCGPADER 

SAT combined score...................................TESATDER 

STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS

Subcategories of beginners .........................SB4YRBEG 

Delayed postsecondary enrollment ...............ENDELAY 

Gender ....................................................... SBGENDER 

Age when first enrolled...................................SBAGFM 

Race/ethnicity ..............................................SBRACECI 

Marital status and children when first 

enrolled ....................................................SBMRCHY1 

Parental education...........................................PBEDHI3 

Student/employee role 1995–96 ................. SEROLEY1 

Dependent family income in 1994 .................SFINDP94 

Number of risk factors when first 

enrolled ......................................................SBRSK1Y1 

High school diploma or equivalency 

 status .........................................................HSDIPLOM 

Dependency status when first enrolled.........SBDEP1Y1 

Number of children when first enrolled .........SBDPNY1 

Single parent status when first enrolled ....... SBSINGY1 

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96..............J1HOURY1 

Disability reported in 2001 ..............................QFDIS01 

Marital status in 2001 .....................................QFMARR 

EDUCATION EXPERIENCES

GPA first year enrolled ..................................SEGPAY1 

Took remedial courses in 1995–96..............RMANYY1 

Cumulative grade-point average in 2001 ....... SEGPA2B 

Ever received an incomplete.........................QCUGEX1 

Ever repeated course for higher grade ..........QCUGEX2 

Ever withdrew when failing ..........................QCUGEX3 

Graduated with honors..................................QCUGEX4 

Ever took distance education class.............. DITOOK2B 

Number of distance education classes 

 taken...........................................................QCDISTED 

Currently enrolled in graduate school .............. GSUR2B 

Graduate enrollment.....................................GRADANY 

Intensity of graduate attendance..........................QDFT1 

Type of graduate program .............................GFDEG2B 

Worked while enrolled in graduate 

 school.........................................................QDWKHR1 

POST-ENROLLMENT EMPLOYMENT

Autonomy in current job...............................QEAUTOC 

Considers current job beginning of 

career .......................................................... QECARRC 

Relationship between current job and 

 classes............................................................ QERELC 

Current job requires a degree ..........................QEDEGC 

Current annual salary in 2001.........................QEINCEC 

Hours worked per week in 2001...................... QEHRSC 

Current job benefits 

 Dental/vision insurance................................ QEBN02C 

 Flex accounts ............................................... QEBN06C 

 Fitness benefit.............................................. QEBN10C 

 Life insurance .............................................. QEBN03C 

 Medical insurance........................................ QEBN01C 

 Stock options ............................................... QEBN05C 

 Retirement benefits...................................... QEBN04C 

Currently employed 2001 .......................... QECUREMP 

Self employed 2001..........................................QESLFC 

Satisfied overall with current job................... QESAT8C 

Relocated for current job.............................. QERELOC 

Holds occupational license................................QDLIC1 

Holds professional certification..........................QDCT1 

CIVIC PARTICIPATION

Performed community service............................QFVOL 

Hours per month volunteered .......................QFVOLTM 

Type of community service activity..................QFVOL1 

Service required for education...................... QFVOLRQ 

Voted in 2000 elections................................. QFVOT00 

Participated in political activities ................... QFPOLIT 

Wrote a public official................................ QFCORRSP 

Influence political structure.............................QFIMP04 

Be leader in community...................................QFIMP01 

STUDENT FINANCES

Percentage with undergraduate student loans . QCUGLN 

Average undergraduate student loan 

 amount .......................................................... QCUGLN 

Amount borrowed (categories)....................... QCUGLN 

Borrowed student loans (categories) .............. QCUGLN 

Percentage currently repaying loans..........QCRPYAMT 

Average monthly student payment ............QCRPYAMT 

Amount repaying (categories) ...................QCRPYAMT 

Pay off credit card balance each month...... QFPAYOFF 

Repaying student loans................................. QCREPAY 

Number of credit cards in 2001 ................... QFCRDNM 

Credit card balance due last statement........QFCRDBAL 

Claimed lifetime learning tax credit in 

1999...........................................................QCLLUG99 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

243 

Degree goal in 1995–96 DGEXPY1

Highest degree expected at the first institution attended in 1995–96. 

None 

Certificate 

Associate’s degree 

Bachelor’s degree 

Degree plans at first institution DGPGMY1

First type of degree program at the first institution attended in 1995–96 as reported by the student. When studentreported degree program was missing or contradictory, information reported by the institution (regarding the student’s degree program and level of degrees actually offered) and student-reported degree expectation and field of 

study was used. 

Certificate 

Associate’s degree 

Bachelor’s degree 

First degree attained by 2001 DGRE2B

First type of degree attained by June 2001. 

None 

Certificate 

Associate’s degree 

Bachelor’s degree 

Highest degree attained by 2001 DGREHI2B

Highest type of undergraduate degree attained by June 2001. 

None 

Certificate 

Associate’s degree 

Bachelor’s degree 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

244 

Any degrees attained DGRETY2B

Combination of degrees attained 

Degree attainment through 2001 

Types of degrees attained by June 2001. Variables were grouped in various ways to produce the categories listed 

below. 

Associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree 

Associate’s degree, no bachelor’s degree 

Associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree 

Bachelor’s degree, no associate’s degree 

Attained associate’s 

Attained bachelor’s 

Attained associate’s and bachelor’s 

Ever took distance education class DITOOK2B

Indicates whether student reported ever taking a distance education class, as of 2001. 

No distance education class 

Took distance education class 

Bachelor’s degree completion rate at first institution ELFIBA2B

Number of months elapsed from the first month enrolled through the month the first bachelor’s degree was attained 

at the first institution, as of June 2001. 

 

4 years or less 48 months or less 

5 to 6 years 49 months or more 

4 years or less 48 months or less 

5 years 49–60 months 

6 years 61 months or more 

Years to complete associate’s degree ELFMAA2B

Number of months elapsed from the first month enrolled through the month the first associate’s degree was attained, 

as of June 2001. 

 

2 years or less 23 months or less 

2 to 3 years 24–35 months 

More than 3 years 36 months or more 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

245 

Years to complete bachelor’s degree ELFMBA2B

Bachelor’s degree completion rate anywhere 

Number of months elapsed from the first month enrolled through the month the first bachelor’s degree was attained. 

 

No bachelor’s degree 0 month 

4 years or less 48 months or less 

5 to 6 years 49 months or more 

4 years or less 48 months or less 

5 years 49–60 months 

6 years 61 months or more 

Delayed postsecondary enrollment ENDELAY

Indicates whether student delayed enrollment in postsecondary education, as determined by receipt of a high school 

diploma prior to 1995 or reaching the age of 20 before December 31, 1995. 

Did not delay 

Delayed 

Academic year last enrolled at first institution ENDTFI2B

The last academic year the student was enrolled at the first institution. An academic year is defined as months from 

July of the first year through June of next year. 

 

1995–1996 

1996–1997 

1997–1998 

1998–1999 

1999–2000 

2000–2001 

Ever co-enrolled ENEVSI2B

Co-enrollment at two institutions 

Indicates whether student ever simultaneously enrolled at more than one institution for at least one month, as of June 

2001. 

Never co-enrolled 

Sometimes co-enrolled 

Attendance status when first enrolled ENINFM

Attendance status of the first month enrolled in 1995–96. 

Full-time 

Part-time 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

246 

Attendance intensity—first institution spell ENIPSI2B

Pattern of attendance intensity for all months enrolled during the first institutional spell as of June 2001. 

Always full-time 

Mixed 

Always part-time 

Attendance intensity through 2001 ENIPTT2B

Pattern of attendance intensity for all months in any institutions enrolled as of June 2001. 

Always full-time 

Mixed 

Always part-time 

Number of institutions attended ENNI2B

Number of institutions attended as an undergraduate as of June 2001. Includes transfers and co-enrollment. 

One 

Two 

Three or more 

Part-time enrollment through 2001 ENPTTT2B

Number of months enrolled part-time at any institutions as of June 2001. 

No part-time enrollment 

Part-time enrollment 

Ever attended public 2-year institution ENPU2Y2B

Indicates whether or not the students had ever enrolled at a public 2-year institution as an undergraduate. 

Never attended public 2-year institution 

Attended public 2-year institution 

Enrollment continuity through 2001 ENSENU2B

Number of enrollment spells at any institution through June 2001. An enrollment spell is defined as a period of continuous enrollment without a break of more than four months. Students with two or more enrollment spells are stopouts. 

Continuously enrolled Student was continuously enrolled without any interruption of 

more than 4 months. 

Two enrollment spells Student had two enrollment spells (was not continuously enrolled) through June 2001 (one stopout period). 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

247 

Three or more enrollment spells Student had three or more enrollment spells (was not continuously enrolled) through June 2001 (more than one stopout period). 

Not continuously enrolled Student had one or more stopout periods before June 2001. 

This category combines “Two enrollment spells” and “Three 

or more enrollment spells” listed above. 

Enrollment continuity at first institution ENSINU2B

Number of enrollment spells at the first institution through June 2001. An enrollment spell is defined as a period of 

continuous enrollment (at the first institution) without a break of more than four months. It is also known as the institutional spell. Students with two or more enrollment spells (at the first institution) are stopouts at the first institution. 

Continuously enrolled 

Two enrollment spells 

Three or more enrollment spells 

Continuously enrolled 

Not continuously enrolled 

Ever transferred ENTRN2B

Transfer status 

Number of transfers between institutions as of June 2001. A transfer occurred when the student left one institution 

and enrolled at another institution for four or more months. 

Never transferred 

Transferred

Highest degree expectation in 1996 EPHDEGY1

Response to the question “What is the highest level of education you ever expect to complete?” 

Don’t know 

Less than bachelor’s degree 

Bachelor’s degree 

Advanced degree 

Type of graduate program GFDEG2B 

Degree program at first graduate school. 

Just taking classes 

Post-baccalaureate certificate 

Master's degree 

Doctoral/professional degree 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

248 

Graduate enrollment GRADANY

Indicates whether or not the students reported any graduate enrollment. Students reporting enrollment in a postbaccalaureate certificate program, Master's degree program, or Doctoral/professional degree program, or reporting 

taking mainly graduate classes or an equal mix of graduate and undergraduate classes were considered to have some 

graduate school enrollment. 

Currently enrolled in graduate school GSUR2B

Indicates whether or not the student was enrolled in graduate school at the time of the 2001 interview. 

Not currently enrolled 

Currently enrolled 

Grade-point average in high school HCGPADER

High school senior year grade point average reported by the student in the SAT or ACT test questionnaire. This variable was derived as the weighted average of grades reported in the five subject areas (English, math, foreign languages, science, and social studies). 

B’s or less 

B+ to AMostly A’s 

High school diploma or equivalency status HSDIPLOM

Response to the question “Did you receive a high school diploma, pass a General Educational Development (GED) 

test, or receive a high school completion certificate?” 

High school diploma 

GED/high school equivalent 

None 

Institution granting bachelor’s degree ITHISE2B

The type of institution where the student attained the bachelor’s degree as of June 2001. For bachelor’s degree recipients this is the same as the last undergraduate institution attended, as post-bachelor’s degree enrollment is excluded. 

Public 4-year 

Private not-for-profit 4-year 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

249 

Type of last institution attended ITLASE2B

Type of institution last attended as an undergraduate as of June 2001. For those who completed a bachelor’s degree, 

this is the institution that granted the degree. 

Public 2-year 

Public 4-year 

Private not-for-profit 4-year 

Private for-profit less-than-4-year 

Other institutions 

 

Level of first institution ITNPLV

Level of the first institution attended in 1995–96. 

4-year Denotes 4-year institutions that can award bachelor’s degrees 

or higher, including institutions that award doctorate degrees 

and first-professional degrees. 

2-year Institution that does not confer bachelor’s degrees, but does 

provide 2-year programs that result in a certificate or an associate’s degree, or 2-year programs that fulfill part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree or higher at 4-year 

institutions. 

Less-than-2-year At least one of the programs offered at the institution is three 

months or longer, and produces a terminal award or certificate. 

In addition, no program at the institution lasts longer than two 

years. 

First institution type and highest offering ITNPS2

Highest offering of first institution 

First 4-year institution type and highest offering 

Level, control and highest degree offered at the first institution in 1995–96. This variable was constructed by combining the level and control of the institution with the highest level of degree offered at that institution. 

Public 4-year 

 Non-doctorate-granting 

 Doctorate-granting 

Private not-for-profit 4-year 

 Non-doctorate-granting 

 Doctorate-granting 

Public non-doctorate-granting 

Public doctorate-granting 

Private not-for-profit non-doctorate-granting 

Private not-for-profit doctorate-granting 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

250 

Type of first institution ITNPSAS

Transfers from public 2-year institution

Level and control of the first institution attended in 1995–96. 

Public 2-year 

Public 4-year 

Private not-for-profit 4-year 

Private for-profit less-than-4-year 

Other institutions 

4-year 

 Public 

 Private not-for-profit 

 Private for-profit 

2-year 

 Public 

 Private not-for-profit 

 Private for-profit 

Less-than-2-year 

 Public 

 Private not-for-profit 

 Private for-profit 

First transfer by institution control ITTRCT2B

Control of first (origin) and second (destination) institutions attended as of June 2001 by transfer students. 

Public to public 

Public to private not-for-profit 

Private not-for-profit to public 

Private not-for-profit to private not-for-profit 

First transfer by institution level ITTRLV2B

Level of first (origin) and second (destination) institutions attended as of June 2001 by transfer students. 

4-year to 4-year 

4-year to 2-year 

2-year to 4-year 

2-year to 2-year 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

251 

Type of institution of first transfer destination ITTRSE2B

Transfer status 

The type of destination institution of the first transfer. 

Public 2-year 

Public 4-year 

Private not-for-profit 4-year 

Private for-profit less-than-4-year 

Other institutions 

Never transferred 

Never transferred 

Transferred to 4-year public 

Transferred to 4-year private 

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96 J1HOURY1

Indicates the student-reported average number of hours the student worked per week while enrolled during 1995–96. 

 

Did not work 

Worked part-time Worked an average of less than 35 hours per week 

Worked full-time Worked an average of 35 or more hours per week 

Parental education PBEDHI3

Highest educational level achieved by either or both parents. 

High school diploma or less 

Some postsecondary education 

Bachelor’s degree 

Advanced degree 

Program/field at first institution PGM1Y1

For students beginning at less than 4-year institutions, this variable indicates the first type of degree program enrolled at the first institution attended during 1995–96. Derived from institution and student-reported degree program 

and major for beginners at less-than-4-year institutions only. 

Vocational certificate 

Associate’s applied fields 

Associate’s liberal arts/uncertain 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

252 

Persistence track outcome through 2001 PR4YR2B

Cumulative persistence track outcome among bachelor’s degree seeker who started in a 4-year institution, as of June 

2001. A student had left the persistence track if any of the following happened: attained associate’s degree or certificate with no bachelor’s degree attainment later; had downward or delayed transfer; had stopped out; or had left without return. 

Still on persistence track 

On track, attained bachelor’s degree 

Left track, attained AA/certificate 

Left track, downward/delayed transfer 

Left track, stopout 

Left track, left without return 

Persistence track outcomes at the end of each year: 

Persistence track outcome 1995–96 PR4YRY1

Persistence track outcome 1996–97 PR4YRY2

Persistence track outcome 1997–98 PR4YRY3

Persistence track outcome 1998–99 PR4YRY4

Persistence track outcome 1999–2000 PR4YRY5

Persistence track outcome 2000–01 PR4YRY6 

Persistence track outcomes at the end of each academic year among bachelor’s degree seekers who started in a 4-

year institution.

Still on persistence track 

On track, attained bachelor’s degree this year 

Left track, attained AA/certificate 

Left track, downward/delayed transfer 

Left track, stopout began this year 

Left track, left without return 

Previously left track (cumulative) 

Previously attained bachelor’s degree (cumulative) 

Attainment and enrollment status PRAT2B

Indicates whether or not the students had attained any degree and/or were still enrolled as undergraduates as of June 

2001. If the students were enrolled during February through June of 2001, they were considered to be still enrolled. 

Attained, still enrolled Student had attained a certificate or associate’s degree and was 

still enrolled somewhere. 

Attained, not enrolled Student had attained a degree and was no longer enrolled as an 

undergraduate; this includes all bachelor’s degree recipients. 

No degree, still enrolled Student had not attained any degree but was still enrolled 

somewhere. 

No degree, not enrolled Student had left postsecondary education without any degree. 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

253 

Student persistence anywhere in 2001 PRENRL2B

Indicates the highest degree the student attained or the level of the institution in which the student is still enrolled if 

no degree had been attained, as of June 2001. 

Highest degree attained anywhere: 

 Bachelor’s degree 

 Associate’s degree 

 Certificate 

No degree anywhere: 

 Still enrolled 

 At 4-year institution 

 At less-than-4-year institution 

 Not enrolled 

Six-year student persistence summary: 

 Attained any degree 

 Still enrolled 

 Total persisted 

Last year enrolled without a degree PRENYR2B

For those who had not attained a degree, this variable indicates the academic year the student left postsecondary education, and had not returned by June 2001. Otherwise it indicates whether the student was still enrolled or whether 

the student had attained a degree by June 2001. 

No degree, not enrolled anywhere: 

 No degree, last year enrolled: 1995–1996 

 No degree, last year enrolled: 1996–1997 

 No degree, last year enrolled: 1997–1998 

 No degree, last year enrolled: 1998–1999 

 No degree, last year enrolled: 1999–2000 

 No degree, last year enrolled: 2000–2001 

No degree, still enrolled in 2001 

Attained by 2001 

Retention at the first institution at end of each year: 

Retention at end of 1995–96 PROUFIY1 

Retention at end of 1996–97 PROUFIY2 

Retention at end of 1997–98 PROUFIY3 

Retention at end of 1998–99 PROUFIY4 

Retention at end of 1999–2000 PROUFIY5 

Retention at end of 2000–01 PROUFIY6 

Retention outcomes at first institution attended at the end of each academic year. Shows the status of the beginning 

students in June of each academic year. Attainments, transfers, and attrition (left postsecondary education) are cumulative. 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

254 

Highest degree attained at first institution: 

 Bachelor’s degree 

 Associate’s degree 

 Certificate 

No degree at first institution: 

 Still enrolled 

 Stopout this year 

 Transferred 

 Left postsecondary education 

Student persistence anywhere at end of each year: 

Persistence at end of 1995–96 PROUTYX1

Persistence at end of 1996–97 PROUTYX2

Persistence at end of 1997–98 PROUTYX3

Persistence at end of 1998–99 PROUTYX4

Persistence at end of 1999–2000 PROUTYX5

Persistence at end of 2000–01 PROUTYX6

Student persistence anywhere in postsecondary education at the end of each academic year. Shows the status of the 

beginning students in June of each academic year. Attainments and attrition (left postsecondary education) are cumulative. 

Highest degree attained anywhere: 

 Bachelor’s degree 

 Associate’s degree 

 Certificate 

No degree anywhere: 

 Still enrolled 

 Stopout this year 

 Left postsecondary education 

Degree before transfer 2001 PRTRAN2B

Indicates whether the student had attained any degree before the first transfer, and if so, what kind of degree. 

None 

Certificate 

Associate’s degree 

First academic year at transfer destination PRTRBY2B

Indicates the first academic year the student enrolled at the destination institution after having left the first institution 

(origin). 

Academic year 1995–1996 

Academic year 1996–1997 

Academic year 1997–1998 

Academic year 1998–1999 

Academic year 1999–2000 

Academic year 2000–2001 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

255 

Last year enrolled at origin before transfer PRTRLY2B

Indicates the academic year the student last enrolled at first institution prior to transferring to another institution. 

Academic year 1995–1996 

Academic year 1996–1997 

Academic year 1997–1998 

Academic year 1998–1999 

Academic year 1999–2000 or 2000–2001 

Never transferred 

First transfer direction PRTRTY2B

Indicates the type of first transfer as of June 2001. Institution level refers to 4-year, 2-year, and less-than-2-year. 

Did not transfer 

Upward transfer Transfers involving a move from one institution to another 

with a higher level. 

Lateral transfer Transfers involving a move from one institution to another 

with the same level. 

Downward transfer Transfers involving a move from one institution to another 

with a lower level. 

Number of distance education classes taken QCDISTED

Response to the question “How many distance education courses did you take?” 

One 

More than one 

Claimed lifetime learning tax credit in 1999 QCLLUG99

Response to the question “When you filed your 1999 taxes, did you claim the federal Lifetime Learning Tax 

Credit?” 

Never heard of it 

Did not claim credit 

Claimed credit 

 

Repaying student loans QCREPAY

Response to the question “Are you repaying any education loans?” 

Not repaying student loans 

Repaying student loans 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

256 

Percentage currently repaying loans QCRPYAMT

Average monthly student payment 

Amount repaying (categories) 

Response to the question “How much do you pay each month on your education loans?” This variable was aggregated into the following categories: 

Less than $75 per month 

$75–150 per month 

More than $150 per month 

Ever received an incomplete QCUGEX1

Response to the question “Did you ever receive an incomplete grade in a course?” 

Ever repeated course for higher grade QCUGEX2

Response to the question “Did you ever repeat a course to earn a higher grade?” 

Ever withdrew when failing QCUGEX3

Response to the question “Did you ever withdraw from a course because you were failing it?” 

Graduated with honors QCUGEX4

Response to the question “Did you receive any type of academic honors?” Only asked of students who had completed bachelor’s degrees. 

Did not graduate with honors 

Graduated with honors 

Percentage with undergraduate student loans QCUGLN

Average undergraduate student loan amount 

Amount borrowed (categories) 

Borrowed student loans (categories) 

Response to the question “Other than any money you may have borrowed from family or friends, how much have 

you borrowed/did you borrow in total for your undergraduate education?” This variable was aggregated into the following categories: 

Amount borrowed: 

 Less than $7,000 

 $7,000–14,000 

 $14,000–20,000 

 More than $20,000 

Borrowed student loans: 

 Did not borrow student loans 

 Borrowed student loans 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

257 

Holds professional certification QDCT1

Response to the question “Do you hold professional certification in an occupational area?” 

Intensity of graduate attendance QDFT1

Response to the question “Have you been/were you enrolled mainly as a full-time or part-time graduate student?” 

Part-time 

Full-time 

Holds occupational license QDLIC1

Response to the question “Do you hold an occupational license that was required by the federal, state, or local government before you could practice in a profession?” 

Worked while enrolled in graduate school QDWKHR1

Response to the question “About how many hours per week do/did you work for pay while enrolled at [GRADUATE 

SCHOOL NAME]?” 

Worked part time 

Worked full time 

Autonomy in current job QEAUTOC

Response to the question “Please tell me which of the following statements best describes your job?” 

Someone else decides what you do and how you do it 

Someone else decides what, you decide how 

Have some freedom deciding what you do and how 

You are basically your own boss 

Current job benefits: 

Medical insurance QEBN01C

Response to the question “Does your employer provide you with medical insurance?” 

Dental/vision insurance QEBN02C

Response to the question “Does your employer provide you with dental, optical, or other health insurance?” 

Life insurance QEBN03C

Response to the question “Does your employer provide you with life insurance?” 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

258 

Retirement benefits QEBN04C

Response to the question “Does your employer provide you with retirement or other financial benefits, such as a 

401(k)/ 403(b)?” 

Stock options QEBN05C

Response to the question “Does your employer provide you with stock options?” 

Flex accounts QEBN06C 

Response to the question “Does your employer provide you with flexible spending accounts?” 

Fitness benefit QEBN10C 

Response to the question “Does your employer provide you with fitness facility or subsidy?” 

Considers current job beginning of career QECARRC

Response to the question “Would you consider your current job to be the start of your career in this occupation or 

industry?” 

Not beginning of career 

Beginning of career 

Currently employed 2001 QECUREMP

Response to the question “Are you currently employed?” 

Current job requires a degree QEDEGC

Response to the question “Was a degree (such as a bachelor's or associate's degree) or a postsecondary certificate 

required by your employer as a condition for working?” 

No degree required 

Degree required 

Hours worked per week in 2001 QEHRSC

Response to the question “About how many hours do you work each week?” 

Part-time Worked less than 35 hours per week. 

Full-time Worked 35 or more hours per week. 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

259 

Current annual salary in 2001 QEINCEC

Annual salary for current job reported in 2001 interview. 

Under $20,000 

$20,000–60,000 

Over $60,000 

Relationship between current job and classes QERELC

Response to the question “Is your job related to the classes you took?” 

Not related 

Somewhat related 

Closely related 

Relocated for current job QERELOC

Response to the question “Did you have to relocate more than 50 miles for your current job?” 

Relocated 

Did not relocate 

Satisfied overall with current job QESAT8C

Response to the question “Overall, would you say you are satisfied with your job?” 

Not satisfied overall 

Satisfied overall 

Self employed 2001 QESLFC 

Response to the question “Are you self-employed?” 

Wrote a public official QFCORRSP

Response to the question “Did you write letters or send e-mail to any public official to express your opinion?” 

Credit card balance due last statement QFCRDBAL

Response to the question “What was the balance due on all cards according to your last statement?” 

Zero 

Under $500 

$500–2,000 

Over $2,000 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

260 

Number of credit cards in 2001 QFCRDNM

Response to the question “How many credit cards do you have in your own name, that are billed to you?” 

None 

One or two 

Three or more 

Disability reported in 2001 QFDIS01

Response to the question “Do you have a long-lasting physical or mental condition that substantially limits one or 

more of your major life activities?” 

No disability reported 

Disability reported 

Highest degree expectation in 2001 QFHIDEG

Response to the question “What is the highest level of education you ever expect to complete?” 

Bachelor’s degree or less 

Post-baccalaureate certificate or Master’s degree 

Doctoral/professional degree 

Personal goals 

Response to the question “Please tell me if each of the following personal goals is very important, somewhat important, or not important to you.” 

Be leader in community QFIMP01

Influence political structure QFIMP04

Not important 

Somewhat important 

Very important 

Marital status in 2001 QFMARR

Student’s marital status reported during the 2001 interview. 

Single, never married 

Single, has been married 

Married 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

261 

Pay off credit card balance each month QFPAYOFF

Response to the question “Do you usually pay off your credit card balances each month, or carry balances over from 

month to month?” 

Pay off balances 

Carry balances 

Participated in political activities QFPOLIT

Response to the question “In the last two years, did you attend any political meetings, rallies, or dinners, or participate in other political activities?” 

Performed community service QFVOL

Response to the question “In the past year, have you participated in any community service or volunteer work, other 

than court-ordered service?” 

Did not volunteer 

Volunteered 

Type of community service activity QFVOL1

Response to the question “What was the community service or volunteer work that you did?” 

Work with kids–education related 

Other work with kids 

Fundraising 

Homeless or crisis center 

Neighborhood improvement 

Health services 

Service to church 

Service required for education QFVOLRQ

Response to the question “Was any volunteer work required as part of your education?” 

No service required 

Service required 

Hours per month volunteered QFVOLTM

Response to the question “On average, how many hours per month did you volunteer?” 

Less than 10 hours 

10 to 20 hours 

More than 20 hours 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

262 

Voted in 2000 elections QFVOT00

Response to the question “Did you vote in the 2000 presidential election?” Asked only of citizens. 

Subcategories of beginners SB4YRBEG

This variable combines three characteristics of beginners who started at a 4-year institution: a) who enrolled full-time 

when first began enrollment; b) who had a bachelor’s degree goal; and c) who did not delay enrollment after high 

school. 

Enrolled full-time first year 

Had a bachelor’s degree goal 

Had a bachelor’s degree goal and enrolled full-time first year 

Recent high school graduates (did not delay entry) 

Recent high school graduates with a bachelor’s degree goal 

Recent high school graduates with a bachelor’s degree goal and enrolled full-time first year

Took remedial courses in 1995–96 RMANYY1 

Respondent reported taking one or more remedial instruction or developmental courses in reading, writing, math, 

study skills, or English language skills during the first year enrolled. 

Age when first enrolled SBAGFM

Student’s age during first month enrolled. 

18 years or younger 

19 years 

20–23 years 

24–29 years 

30 years or older 

Dependency status when first enrolled SBDEP1Y1

Student dependency status for federal financial aid during 1995–96. Students age 23 or younger were assumed to be 

dependent unless they met the independent student criteria. Students were considered independent if any of the following applied: 

a) Student was 24 years or older as of 12/31/1995 

b) Student was a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces 

c) Student was married 

d) Student was an orphan or ward of the court 

e) Student had legal dependents, other than spouse 

f) Student was enrolled in a graduate or professional program beyond a bachelor’s degree in 1995–96 

Dependent 

Independent 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

263 

Number of children when first enrolled SBDPNY1

Response to the question “How many people were you supporting at that time (July 1,1995)? Spouse not included.” 

None 

One or more 

Gender SBGENDER

Male 

Female 

Marital status and children when first enrolled SBMRCHY1

Marital status and number of non-spouse dependents of student when applied for financial aid 1995–96. 

Single, no children (dependent) 

Single, no children (independent) 

Single with children 

Married 

Race/ethnicity SBRACECI

These categories were used in 1995–96 to classify students based on reported race and Hispanic ethnicity. 

White, non-Hispanic A person having origins in any of the original people of 

Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East (except those of Hispanic origin). 

Black, non-Hispanic A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of 

Africa, not of Hispanic origin. 

Hispanic A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South 

American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of 

race. 

Asian/Pacific Islander A person having origins in any of the peoples of the Far East, 

Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or Pacific Islands. 

This includes people from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippine 

Islands, Samoa, India, and Vietnam. 

American Indian/Alaska Native A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North 

America and who maintains cultural identification through 

tribal affiliation or community recognition. 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

264 

Number of risk factors when first enrolled SBRSK1Y1

Represents an index of risk from 0–7 related to 7 characteristics known to adversely affect persistence and attainment. Characteristics included are the following: 

a) Delayed enrollment after high school 

b) No high school diploma (including GED recipients) 

c) Part-time enrollment 

d) Financial independence 

e) Having dependents other than spouse 

f) Single parent status 

g) Working full-time while enrolled (35 hours or more) 

None 

One 

Two or three 

Four or more 

Single parent status when first enrolled SBSINGY1

Indicates whether the student had dependents and was not married during 1995–96. 

Not a single parent 

Single parent 

 

Cumulative grade-point average in 2001 SEGPA2B

Student grade point average (GPA) reported in 2001 interview. 

B’s or less 

B+ to AMostly A’s 

GPA first year enrolled SEGPAY1

Student grade point average (GPA) at the sampled NPSAS institution as reported by the institution during 1995–96. 

Under 2.25 

2.25 to 3.25 

Over 3.25 

Student/employee role 1995–96 SEROLEY1

Response to the question “While you were enrolled and working, would you say you were primarily a student working to meet expenses or an employee who’s decided to enroll in school?” 

Did not work while enrolled 

Student working 

Employee who is enrolled 
Appendix A—Glossary 

DAS Variable

265 

Dependent family income in 1994 SFINDP94

Total income of the parents of dependent students during 1994. Federal financial aid eligibility in 1995–96 was 

based on the family income in the prior calendar year (1994). 

 

Less than $25,000 

$25,000–44,999 

$45,000–69,999 

$70,000 or greater 

Number of Advanced Placement tests taken TEAPNUMB

Number of advanced placements tests taken by the student prior to enrolling in 1995–96. Based on a match with the 

Advanced Placement test files of the Educational Testing Service and student-reported information in the 1996 interviews. 

None 

One 

More than one 

SAT combined score TESATDER 

Student’s Scholastic Assessment Test I combined score. This variable was derived as either the sum of SAT I verbal 

and mathematics test scores or the ACT Assessment (American College Testing program) composite score converted 

to an estimated SAT combined score using a concordance table.25 The primary source of data were from a match 

with the SAT files from the Educational testing Service and the ACT test files of the American College testing programs, supplemented by postsecondary institution reported and student-reported information. The quartiles were 

derived from the distribution of the test scores among the BPS cohort sample students. 

Lowest quartile (400–700) 

Middle quartiles (710–1020) 

Highest quartile (1030–1600) 

Ever transferred to 4-year institution TRINTY2B

Indicates whether or not the respondents had ever transferred to 4-year institutions. 

 

25G. Marco, A. Abdel-fattah, and P. Baron, Methods Used to Establish Score Comparability on the Enhanced ACT Assessment 

and the SAT (College Board Report No. 92–3) (New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1992). 
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
267 

Appendix B—Technical Notes and Methodology 

The Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:1996/2001) 

The Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS) is based on a sample of 

students who were enrolled in postsecondary education for the first time in 1995–96 and participated in the 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:96). NPSAS:96 was a 

study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES) consisting of a nationally representative sample of all students enrolled in postsecondary 

education during the 1995–96 academic year.26 Information for NPSAS:96 was obtained from 

more than 830 postsecondary institutions for approximately 44,500 undergraduate and 11,200 

graduate and first-professional students. The sample of undergraduates represented about 16.7 

million students, including about 3 million first-time beginning students, who were enrolled at 

some time between July 1, 1995 and June 30, 1996. 

This BPS study began with a sample of approximately 12,000 students who were identified 

in NPSAS:96 as having entered postsecondary education for the first time in 1995–96. Unlike 

other NCES longitudinal surveys (such as the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988), 

which follow age-specific cohorts of secondary school students, the BPS sample is more likely to 

include nontraditional students who have delayed their postsecondary education due to financial 

need or family responsibilities. 

The first follow-up of the BPS cohort (BPS:1996/98) was conducted in 1998, approximately three years after these students first enrolled. Approximately 10,300 of the students who 

first began in 1995–96 were located and interviewed in the 1998 follow-up for an overall 

weighted response rate of 79.8 percent. This response rate includes those who were nonrespondents in 1996; among the NPSAS:96 respondents the response rate was 85.9 percent.27 The second follow-up of the BPS cohort (BPS:1996/2001) was conducted in 2001, six years following 

college entry. All respondents to the first follow-up, as well as a subsample of nonrespondents in 

 

26For more information on the NPSAS survey, consult U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics,

Methodology Report for the 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NCES 98–073) (Washington, DC: 1997). Additional information is also available at the NPSAS Web site: http://nces.ed.gov/npsas. 

27For more information on the BPS:96/98 survey, consult U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study First Follow-up 1996–98, Methodology Report (NCES 2000–157) 

(Washington, DC: 2000). 
Appendix B—Technical Notes and Methodology 

268 

1998, were eligible to be interviewed. Over 9,100 students were located and interviewed. The 

weighted response rate was 83.6 percent overall, but was somewhat higher among respondents to 

both the 1996 and the 1998 interviews (87.4 percent).28 

Nonresponse among cohort members causes bias in survey estimates when the outcomes of 

respondents and nonrespondents are shown to be different. A bias analysis was conducted of the 

2001 survey results to determine if any variables were significantly biased due to nonresponse.29

Considerable information was known from the 1996 and 1998 surveys for nonrespondents to the 

2001 interviews, and nonresponse bias could be estimated using variables with this known information. Weight adjustments were applied to the BPS:1996/2001 sample to reduce any bias 

found due to unit nonresponse. After the weight adjustments, some variables were found to reflect zero bias, and for the remaining variables the bias did not differ significantly from zero. 

This analysis was performed on variables found on the frame where the true value is known for 

both respondents and nonrespondents. For other variables collected in the survey, where data is 

available only for respondents, it is not known whether the weight adjustments completely eliminate bias. 

Accuracy of Estimates 

The statistics in this report are estimates derived from a sample. Two broad categories of 

error occur in such estimates: sampling and nonsampling errors. Sampling errors occur because 

observations are made only on samples of students, not entire populations. Nonsampling errors 

occur not only in sample surveys but also in complete censuses of entire populations. Nonsampling errors can be attributed to a number of sources: inability to obtain complete information 

about all students in all institutions in the sample (some students or institutions refused to participate, or students participated but answered only certain items); ambiguous definitions; differences in interpreting questions; inability or unwillingness to give correct information; mistakes in 

recording or coding data; and other errors of collecting, processing, sampling, and imputing missing data. 

Data Analysis System 

The estimates presented in this report were produced using the BPS:1996/2001 Data 

Analysis Systems (DAS). The BPS:1996/2001 Data Analysis System includes all of the variables 

 

28For more information on the BPS:1996/2001 survey, consult U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education 

Statistics, Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study:1996-2001 Methodology Report (NCES 2002–171) (Washington, DC: 2002). 

29Ibid. 
Appendix B—Technical Notes and Methodology 

269 

from the BPS:1996/1998 study and several sample weights for a cross-sectional analysis of the 

students in either 1995–96, 1998, or 2001 as well as weights for the longitudinal analysis of students who responded in any two or in all three of the survey years. All of the tables and estimates 

in this report used the longitudinal analysis weight B01LWT2 for about 9,000 sample students 

who responded in both the first (1996) and the last year (2001). 

The DAS software makes it possible for users to specify and generate their own tables. 

With the DAS, users can replicate or expand upon the tables presented in this report; the table 

parameter files (tpf) that produced these tables are available to users on the NCES website. In 

addition to the table estimates, the DAS calculates proper standard errors30 and weighted sample 

sizes for these estimates. For example, tables B1-A through D contain standard errors that correspond to compendium tables 2.0-A through D, generated by the DAS. If the number of valid 

cases is too small to produce a reliable estimate (less than 30 cases), the DAS prints the message 

“low-N” instead of the estimate. 

In addition to tables, the DAS can also produce a correlation matrix of selected variables to 

be used for linear regression models. Included in the output with the correlation matrix are the 

design effects (DEFTs) for each variable in the matrix. Since statistical procedures generally 

compute regression coefficients based on simple random sample assumptions, the standard errors 

must be adjusted with the design effects to take into account the BPS:1996/2001 sample design. 

The DAS can be accessed electronically at http://nces.ed.gov/das. For more information 

about the BPS:1996/2001 Data Analysis System, contact: 

Aurora D’Amico 

National Center for Education Statistics 

1990 K Street, NW 

Room 8115 

Washington, DC 20006 

(202) 502-7334 

Internet address: Aurora.D’Amico@ed.gov 

 

30The BPS:1996/2001 samples are not simple random samples, and therefore simple random sample techniques for estimating 

sampling error cannot be applied to these data. The DAS takes into account the complexity of the sampling procedures and calculates standard errors appropriate for such samples. The method for computing sampling errors used by the DAS involves approximating the estimator by the linear terms of a Taylor series expansion. The procedure is typically referred to as the Taylor 

series method. 
Appendix B—Technical Notes and Methodology 

270 

Table B1-A.—Standard errors for table 2.0-A: Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary 

Table 2.0-A.—students according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and attainment 

Table 2.0-A.—status anywhere as of June 2001, by first institution attended and first degree plans

Bachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year Less-than- Not enrolled

degree degree Certificate institution 4-year anywhere

 Total 0.93 0.66 0.72 0.55 0.52 0.93

Type of first institution

 4-year

 Public 1.42 0.56 0.34 0.72 0.43 0.97

 Private not-for-profit 1.96 0.49 0.33 0.69 0.36 1.29

 Private for-profit 5.01 6.10 7.20 2.82 1.99 8.63

 2-year

 Public 1.20 1.35 1.20 1.09 1.09 1.73

 Private not-for-profit 3.23 3.56 4.37 1.40 1.46 4.12

 Private for-profit 0.69 3.77 4.30 0.70 0.89 3.58

 Less-than-2-year

 Public # 1.14 5.88 1.04 2.53 5.43

 Private for-profit # 0.44 2.42 0.30 0.82 2.35

Level of first institution

 4-year 1.20 0.40 0.26 0.52 0.30 0.79

 2-year 1.10 1.26 1.16 1.01 1.00 1.60

 Less-than-2-year # 0.41 2.21 0.32 0.85 2.14

Degree plans at first institution

 Certificate 0.42 0.92 2.26 0.69 0.64 2.25

 Associate’s degree 1.27 1.45 0.87 1.17 0.98 1.68

 Bachelor’s degree 1.16 0.27 0.25 0.56 0.32 0.76

Degree goal in 1995–96

 None 1.45 1.83 1.40 1.67 1.61 3.22

 Certificate 0.20 1.08 2.83 0.26 1.25 2.57

 Associate’s degree 1.31 1.97 1.16 1.11 1.36 2.23

 Bachelor’s degree 1.34 0.56 0.46 0.79 0.62 1.00

Highest degree expectation in 1996

 Don’t know 1.76 1.39 2.01 0.95 1.71 2.61

 Less than bachelor’s degree 0.67 2.29 2.52 0.26 1.15 2.97

 Bachelor’s degree 1.32 1.50 1.18 1.26 1.17 1.97

 Advanced degree 1.52 0.83 0.73 0.78 0.76 1.21

First degree attained by 2001

 None † † † 1.02 1.01 1.39

 Certificate 0.46 1.36 1.41 † † †

 Associate’s degree 3.04 3.04 † † † †

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

No degree anywhere

Highest degree attained anywhere Still enrolled

All beginning students
Appendix B—Technical Notes and Methodology 

271 

Table B1-B.—Standard errors for table 2.0-B: Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary 

Table 2.0-B.—students according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and attainment 

Table 2.0-B.—status anywhere as of June 2001, by attendance patterns, GPA, and last institution type

No degree anywhere

 Highest degree attained anywhere

Bachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year Less-than- Not enrolled

degree degree Certificate institution 4-year anywhere

 Total 0.93 0.66 0.72 0.55 0.52 0.93

Number of institutions attended

 One 1.06 0.72 0.93 0.26 0.58 1.25

 Two 1.62 1.38 1.12 1.06 1.00 1.48

 Three or more 2.23 2.19 2.15 2.86 1.33 1.93

Co-enrollment at two institutions

 Never co-enrolled 0.90 0.66 0.77 0.50 0.58 1.00

 Sometimes co-enrolled 2.89 2.41 1.70 2.24 1.12 1.94

Attendance intensity through 2001

 Always full-time 1.41 0.94 0.88 0.56 0.32 1.18

 Mixed 1.11 1.22 1.08 0.94 0.96 1.41

 Always part-time # 0.69 2.36 1.00 1.97 3.16

First transfer direction

 Did not transfer 1.07 0.66 0.88 0.31 0.67 1.19

 Upward transfer 3.25 2.62 1.37 3.01 0.63 2.39

 Lateral transfer 1.57 2.22 1.76 1.74 1.33 2.32

 Downward transfer 0.96 1.70 2.85 1.48 2.55 2.64

Enrollment continuity through 2001

 Continuously enrolled 1.21 0.79 0.81 0.41 0.35 1.18

 Two enrollment spells 0.88 1.37 1.45 1.49 1.45 2.01

 Three or more enrollment spells 0.52 2.31 3.23 3.77 3.77 4.17

GPA first year enrolled

 Less than 2.25 0.95 1.12 0.95 0.95 1.13 1.82

 2.25–3.25 1.53 1.36 1.10 1.03 0.53 1.63

 Over 3.25 2.06 1.23 1.62 0.74 0.88 2.21

Type of last institution attended

 Public 2-year † 1.32 1.45 † 1.40 1.87

 Public 4-year 1.52 0.93 0.43 1.25 † 1.09

 Private not-for-profit 4-year 2.18 1.11 0.70 1.47 † 1.38

 Private for-profit less-than-4-year † 1.78 2.30 † 1.40 2.06

 Other institutions 0.61 2.55 4.10 1.17 1.40 3.71

†Not applicable.

#Rounds to zero.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

All beginning students
Appendix B—Technical Notes and Methodology 

272 

Table B1-C.—Standard errors for table 2.0-C: Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary 

Table 2.0-C.—students according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and attainment 

Table 2.0-C.—status anywhere as of June 2001, by demographic characteristics

No degree anywhere

 Highest degree attained anywhere

Bachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year Less-than- Not enrolled

degree degree Certificate institution 4-year anywhere

 Total 0.93 0.66 0.72 0.55 0.52 0.93

Gender

 Male 1.20 0.96 0.93 1.03 0.64 1.36

 Female 1.23 0.85 1.01 0.54 0.80 1.25

Age when first enrolled

 18 years or younger 1.27 0.83 0.53 0.71 0.54 1.00

 19 years 1.83 2.38 1.51 1.84 1.42 2.43

 20–23 years 1.29 2.18 2.37 1.95 1.94 3.30

 24–29 years 1.18 1.60 3.57 0.74 2.59 3.86

 30 or older 1.02 2.21 2.95 1.17 1.19 3.98

Race/ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 1.19 0.81 0.80 0.70 0.62 1.13

 Black, non-Hispanic 1.72 1.17 2.42 1.41 1.13 2.58

 Hispanic 1.77 1.69 2.63 1.41 1.16 2.87

 Asian/Pacific Islander 3.67 3.31 2.71 2.19 2.90 4.17

 American Indian/Alaska Native 10.51 2.08 6.26 3.38 2.68 9.88

Marital status and children when first enrolled

 Single, no children (dependent) 1.15 0.79 0.59 0.67 0.61 1.07

 Single, no children (independent) 1.00 2.22 3.39 2.34 2.77 4.12

 Single with children 1.16 2.75 2.83 1.46 1.38 3.58

 Married 1.10 1.31 3.07 1.41 1.75 3.76

Parental education

 High school diploma or less 0.96 1.09 1.28 0.61 0.81 1.57

 Some postsecondary 1.61 1.49 1.35 1.35 1.53 1.88

 Bachelor’s degree 1.82 1.64 1.15 1.65 0.59 1.87

 Advanced degree 2.30 1.20 0.62 1.39 1.13 1.82

Student/employee role in 1995–96

 Did not work while enrolled 1.61 1.08 1.23 0.77 0.48 1.38

 Student working 1.30 0.99 0.78 0.96 0.81 1.29

 Employee who is enrolled 1.24 1.47 1.87 1.11 1.52 2.51

Dependent family income in 1994

 Less than $25,000 1.67 1.80 1.44 0.99 1.05 2.06

 $25,000–44,999 1.85 1.50 1.25 1.22 1.34 1.98

 $45,000–69,999 1.91 1.43 0.85 1.22 0.85 1.98

 $70,000 or greater 2.25 1.20 0.62 1.20 1.12 2.04

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

All beginning students
Appendix B—Technical Notes and Methodology 

273 

Table B1-D.—Standard errors for table 2.0-D: Percentage distribution of 1995–96 beginning postsecondary 

Table 2.0-D.—students according to the highest degree attained and 6-year persistence and attainment 

Table 2.0-D.—status anywhere as of June 2001, by persistence risk factors when they first enrolled

No degree anywhere

 Highest degree attained anywhere

Bachelor’s Associate’s At 4-year Less-than- Not enrolled

degree degree Certificate institution 4-year anywhere

 Total 0.93 0.66 0.72 0.55 0.52 0.93

Number of risk factors when first enrolled

 None 1.44 0.96 0.55 0.70 0.42 0.96

 One 1.60 1.71 1.23 1.37 1.45 2.39

 Two or three 1.01 1.42 1.93 1.19 1.55 2.43

 Four or more 0.58 1.44 2.13 1.13 1.38 2.80

High school diploma or equivalency status

 High school diploma 1.02 0.70 0.68 0.56 0.52 0.97

 GED/high school equivalent 1.13 2.45 3.60 1.71 2.20 3.83

 None 0.58 3.49 5.61 2.73 1.41 6.50

Delayed postsecondary enrollment

 Did not delay 1.21 0.84 0.51 0.66 0.64 1.09

 Delayed 0.84 1.14 1.49 0.86 1.02 1.86

Attendance status when first enrolled

 Full-time 1.18 0.77 0.81 0.67 0.42 0.99

 Part-time 1.04 1.41 1.63 1.02 1.28 2.45

Dependency status when first enrolled

 Dependent 1.15 0.79 0.59 0.67 0.61 1.07

 Independent 0.67 1.19 1.82 0.93 1.14 2.36

Number of children when first enrolled

 None 1.04 0.71 0.68 0.63 0.58 0.98

 One or more 0.93 1.78 2.18 1.19 1.49 2.94

Single parent status when first enrolled

 Not a single parent 1.00 0.66 0.69 0.61 0.54 0.98

 Single parent 1.16 2.75 2.83 1.46 1.38 3.58

Worked while enrolled in 1995–96

 Did not work 1.61 1.08 1.23 0.77 0.48 1.38

 Worked part time 1.31 1.02 0.83 0.87 0.88 1.27

 Worked full time 0.81 1.09 1.67 1.21 1.31 2.18

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:96/01).

Still enrolled

All beginning students
Appendix B—Technical Notes and Methodology 

274 

Statistical Procedures 

Two types of statistical procedures were employed in this report: testing differences between means (or proportions) and testing linear trends. Each procedure is described below. 

Differences Between Means 

The descriptive comparisons were tested in this report using Student’s t statistic. Differences between estimates are tested against the probability of a Type I error,31 or significance 

level. The significance levels were determined by calculating the Student’s t values for the differences between each pair of means or proportions and comparing these with published tables of 

significance levels for two-tailed hypothesis testing. 

Student’s t values may be computed to test the difference between estimates with the following formula: 

2

2

2

1

1 2

se se

E E

t

+

− = (1) 

where E1 and E2 are the estimates to be compared and se1 and se2 are their corresponding standard errors. This formula is valid only for independent estimates. When estimates are not independent, a covariance term must be added to the formula: 

 t =

E -E

se + se - 2(r)se se

1 2

1

2

2

2

1 2

 (2) 

where r is the correlation between the two estimates.32 This formula is used when comparing two 

percentages from a distribution that adds to 100. If the comparison is between the mean of a subgroup and the mean of the total group, the following formula is used: 

 t =

2

sub

2

tot

2

sub

sub tot

se se 2p se

E E

+ −

− (3) 

 

31A Type I error occurs when one concludes that a difference observed in a sample reflects a true difference in the population 

from which the sample was drawn, when no such difference is present. 

32U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, A Note from the Chief Statistician, no. 2, 1993. 
Appendix B—Technical Notes and Methodology 

275 

where p is the proportion of the total group contained in the subgroup.33 The estimates, standard 

errors, and correlations can all be obtained from the DAS. 

There are hazards in reporting statistical tests for each comparison. First, comparisons 

based on large t statistics may appear to merit special attention. This can be misleading since the 

magnitude of the t statistic is related not only to the observed differences in means or percentages 

but also to the number of students in the specific categories used for comparison. Hence, a small 

difference compared across a large number of students would produce a large t statistic. 

A second hazard in reporting statistical tests for each comparison occurs when making multiple comparisons among categories of an independent variable. For example, when making 

paired comparisons among different levels of income, the probability of a Type I error for these 

comparisons taken as a group is larger than the probability for a single comparison. When more 

than one difference between groups of related characteristics or “families” are tested for statistical significance, one must apply a standard that assures a level of significance for all of those 

comparisons taken together. 

Comparisons were made in this report only when p< .05/k for a particular pairwise comparison, where that comparison was one of k tests within a family. This guarantees both that the 

individual comparison would have p< .05 and that for k comparisons within a family of possible 

comparisons, the significance level for all the comparisons will sum to p< .05.34

For example, in a comparison of males and females, only one comparison is possible 

(males vs. females). In this family, k=1, and the comparison can be evaluated without adjusting 

the significance level. When students are divided into five age categories (18 or younger, 19, 20–

23, 24–29, 30 or older) and all possible comparisons are made, then k=10 and the significance 

level of each test must be p< .05/10, or p< .005. The formula for calculating family size (k) is as 

follows: 

k j j = ( ) −1

2 (4) 

where j is the number of categories for the variable being tested. In the case of age, there are five 

age groups, so substituting 5 for j in equation 4, results in the following family size. 

 

33Ibid. 

34The standard that p≤ .05/k for each comparison is more stringent than the criterion that the significance level of the comparisons should sum to p≤ .05. For tables showing the t statistic required to ensure that p≤ .05/k for a particular family size and degrees of freedom, see Olive Jean Dunn, “Multiple Comparisons Among Means,” Journal of the American Statistical Association

56 (1961): 52–64. 
Appendix B—Technical Notes and Methodology 

276 

10

2

5(5 1) = − k = (5) 

Linear Trends 

While many descriptive comparisons in this report were tested using Student’s t statistic, 

some comparisons among categories of an ordered variable with three or more levels involved a 

test for a linear trend across all categories, rather than a series of tests between pairs of categories. In this report, when differences among percentages were examined relative to a variable 

with ordered categories, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test for a linear relationship 

between the two variables. To do this, ANOVA models included orthogonal linear contrasts corresponding to successive levels of the independent variable. The squares of the Taylorized standard errors (that is, standard errors that were calculated by the Taylor series method), the 

variance between the means, and the unweighted sample sizes were used to partition total sum of 

squares into within- and between-group sums of squares. These were used to create mean squares 

for the within- and between-group variance components and their corresponding F statistics, 

which were then compared with published values of F for a significance level of .05.35 Significant values of both the overall F and the F associated with the linear contrast term were required 

as evidence of a linear relationship between the two variables. Means and Taylorized standard 

errors were calculated by the DAS. Unweighted sample sizes are not available from the DAS and 

were provided by NCES. 

 

35More information about ANOVA and significance testing using the F statistic can be found in any standard textbook on statistical methods in the social and behavioral sciences.