Understanding Graduation Trends in America 2021
College can be stressful—we’re too busy drowning in assignments ( like our Math test on Monday) to even think about graduating. But with such a diverse student population in the U.S., the big question arises: What really influences graduation trends?
Our analysis examines graduation trends in U.S. universities by evaluating institutional factors such as public vs. private control, HBCU vs. non-HBCU status, and geographic location. The dataset covers all degrees awarded between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021, representing approximately 4.84 million graduates across various racial, gender, and institutional categories. By identifying key patterns in graduation rates, we aim to understand how different types of universities support diverse student populations and highlight the factors that contribute to student success.
But before we begin, here are a couple of definitions that we can find useful:
Gender
We analyzed American universities in order to understand gender trends. We wanted to know if there existed preferences for different types of universities depending on whether a student was a female or male.
What are the average degrees awarded for men and women per institution?
On average, female graduates receive about 9,500 degrees per institution, while male graduates receive around 5,000. This suggests that women earn more degrees than men, highlighting a notable gender gap in higher education attainment.
Across all U.S. states, women consistently outnumber men in graduation rates, as shown by the entirely red-shaded map. States like Utah, Arizona, New Hampshire, and Virginia lead in female graduates, with Utah at the top, reinforcing the nationwide trend of women earning more degrees than men.
Among the top universities for male and female graduates, five institutions appeared on both lists. This comparison again revealed that women earn nearly twice as many degrees as men.
Why Women Outnumber Men in College Graduation Rates: Key Institutions
Across the U.S., women outnumber men in college graduation rates, especially at institutions with large online student populations and flexible programs. Universities like Western Governors University, University of Phoenix, and Southern New Hampshire University cater to non-traditional students—working adults and parents—where women increasingly dominate. Liberty University and Ivy Tech Community College also contribute to this trend, offering in-person and online options that accommodate students balancing education with other responsibilities.
These institutions reflect the broader shift toward flexible, competency-based, and career-focused learning. Women, often pursuing degrees to improve job security, re-enter the workforce, or advance their careers, are enrolling and graduating at higher rates, reinforcing the long-term trend of female educational attainment surpassing that of men.
Utah’s High Graduation Rates: What’s Driving Student Success?
Utah leads the nation in graduation rates for both men and women, driven by several factors. Ranked #5 for lowest tuition, the state offers affordable higher education. Cultural and religious influences, particularly from the LDS Church, emphasize education and community support, fostering strong student networks. Many young men delay college for LDS missions, extending their time to graduate, while women who don’t take missions often complete their degrees earlier, increasing the female graduation rate.
Family and community support further encourage degree completion, while Utah’s strong job market provides clear career pathways, motivating students to finish their education. This mix of affordability, cultural values, and economic opportunity makes Utah a leader in higher education success for both genders.
Other variables in data that do not have an influence on university choice based on gender:
Ethnicity
We also wanted to analyze ethnicity trends in U.S. Universities.For this, we encompassed graduate students of Asian, African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American descent as "minorities". The minority group is only 34% of all of our data, while white graduate students make up for 50% of all of our students (the remaining 16% are of mixed backgrounds, more of that below). Our analysis reveals that minority students tend to earn more degrees from private for-profit institutions than from public or private not-for-profit universities.
The other factor that we analyzed was whether an Institution was HBCU or Non-HBCU.
It is very clear that HBCUs were especially popular for minorities (specially for African American students). Furthermore, there are no private-for-profit HBCUs, meaning Black students looking for historically Black institutions must turn to public or private not-for-profit universities. When examining geographic distribution, Arizona, Texas, California, Florida, and Maryland emerge as the top states for minority graduates. These states not only have diverse populations but also contain universities that actively support minority student success.
Mixed Backgrounds
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The figure compares the ratio of degrees awarded to individuals of two or more races to total degrees awarded. Public institutions lead with 3.5%, followed by private for-profit institutions at 3.11%, and private not-for-profit institutions with the lowest percentage. While the numbers are small, public institutions still award the highest proportion of degrees to multiracial graduates.
To explore this further, we examined the top five universities awarding the highest percentage of degrees to individuals of two or more races.
You might be wondering—what are these colleges? They are all small institutions with fewer than 4,000 students, which inflates their percentage of multiracial graduates due to their limited student population. A common trend among these schools is their location in diverse states like Hawaii and California but in small cities, further explaining the high percentages. Notably, three of the five are vocational schools specializing in hands-on training, while the rest are community colleges. These institutions attract diverse students, as both vocational schools and community colleges emphasize practical, career-focused education.
Paul Mitchell The School – Understanding the 93.65%
Paul Mitchell The School, a vocational institution in Fort Myers, Florida, specializes in beauty and cosmetology.
Key Facts:
Key Takeaways:
Its location in a diverse state like Florida attracts students of mixed backgrounds. As a well-known brand, Paul Mitchell draws a wide range of students seeking hands-on experience. Most importantly, with only 120 students, the small enrollment significantly inflates the percentage of degrees awarded to individuals of two or more races.
Now, let’s shift our focus to Non-U.S. Residents
Non-U.S. Residents and Their Preference for Private Not-For-Profit Schools
The graph shows that Non-U.S. residents prefer private not-for-profit institutions, followed by public and private for-profit schools. Let’s explore why by analyzing the top five universities awarding the highest percentage of degrees to Non-U.S. residents:
Key Insights:
All five institutions are designed exclusively for international students, explaining their high percentages. These schools also serve small student populations, with Pacific States University enrolling just 17 students. Notably, four out of five are private not-for-profit institutions, aligning with the overall trend.
Another crucial factor is location. These universities are not only in diverse states but also in metropolitan areas, leading to the next question:
Why Do Non-U.S. Residents Choose Metropolitan Areas?
Our data shows that Non-U.S. residents predominantly reside in:
Metropolitan areas offer extensive opportunities, including access to world-renowned universities and institutions with strong international offices providing legal and immigration support. Additionally, these cities present abundant job opportunities, making them attractive destinations for Non-U.S. residents.
Conclusion
Our analysis of U.S. graduation trends reveals key diversity and institutional factors. Women earn more degrees than men, with online universities playing a significant role. While institution size has little impact, control type matters—HBCUs and private for-profits support minority students. Not-for-profit private universities in metropolitan areas attract more Non-U.S. residents, fostering diversity. Additionally, multiracial students graduate at higher rates from the most diverse institutions. These findings underscore how university structures shape graduation outcomes and inclusivity.
Our Github link: https://github.com/TreyesT/2021-university-graduations-analysis
CAMP | St. Edward's Chemistry Student | P0lygl0t | Animator
3 周This was interesting to read !