IU first in state for completion rates

Out of the 16 public colleges in Indiana, IU-Bloomington has the highest rate of on-time degree completion and total completion.

IU’s on-time completion rate is 49.7 percent. Purdue-West Lafayette has the second-best rate with 37.6 percent and Ball State is third with 32.6 percent, according to data released by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

The total completion rate includes students who take longer than expected to complete a degree or complete a different degree than they started.

According to the statewide report, one out of every 10 students completes a two-year degree on time, and three out of every 10 students finish a four-year degree on time.

For Indiana public four-year colleges, the on-time graduation rate is 31 percent for white students, 19 percent for Hispanic students and 11 percent for black students.

Last week, Gov. Mike Pence announced Indiana was one of only three states selected to lead a national initiative aimed at ensuring more college students graduate on time and with less debt.

The effort will combine highly-structured degree programs, default course schedules and proactive advising practices that simplify choices for students and provide clearer paths to on-time graduation, according to a press release.

Indiana’s work will be supported by a three-year grant valued at $1 million in financial and technical assistance, according to the
release.

— Rebecca Kimberly