How many people drop out of college: A comprehensive statistics analysis [2025]

Over 19 million students are currently enrolled in American colleges and universities, pursuing degrees that promise better careers and financial security. But behind the campus tours and graduation ceremonies lies a sobering reality: roughly 3 in 10 college students will drop out before earning their degree.

This isn't just about individual dreams deferred—it's a crisis with ripple effects across the entire economy. College dropouts cost U.S. institutions over $16 billion annually in lost tuition revenue, while students who leave without degrees face a lifetime of reduced earning potential and crushing debt burdens.

We've collected key college dropout statistics to help you understand the scope of this challenge. Who's most at risk of leaving college? What factors drive students away from their studies? And what proven interventions are helping institutions keep students enrolled and engaged through graduation?

Let's dive in!

Key Statistics (Top Picks)

• About 29.2% of students who started college in 2017 had neither graduated nor were still enrolled at any institution after six years, according to National Student Clearinghouse Research Center data.
• Roughly 24% of first-time, full-time freshmen drop out during their first year, making freshman year the highest-risk period for attrition.
• Men drop out at higher rates than women: About 28% of men who start college leave without a degree after six years, compared to 23% of women.
• First-generation college students face significantly higher dropout risk: Only 27.4% graduate in four years versus 42.1% of continuing-generation students.
• College dropouts earn substantially less over their lifetimes: Those with "some college, no degree" earn a median of ~$45,200 annually compared to ~$71,100 for bachelor's degree holders aged 25–34.
• Financial stress drives many departures: In recent surveys, 59% of college students seriously considered dropping out due to financial pressure, with 24–30% citing money as their primary reason for leaving.

What defines a college dropout?

A college dropout generally refers to a student who enrolls in a postsecondary program but leaves before earning a degree or certificate. In practice, many reports use the category of some college, no degree (SCND) to quantify dropouts.

For example, in 2021, about 40.4 million U.S. adults (≈16% of the population) had attended college but never completed a credential. However, reported dropout rates can be inflated because many dropouts re-enroll elsewhere, making precise tracking challenging.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports a related metric, the status dropout rate. Status dropouts are 16–24 year-olds not enrolled and without a high school diploma. In 2022, this rate was 5.3% (down from 7% in 2012).

Research centers distinguish persistence (students who continue anywhere) and retention (continuing at the same institution). Among fall 2023 starters, 2nd-semester persistence was ~77.6% nationally, implying ~22.4% did not persist into year two.

Sources: vocabulary.com, bestcolleges.com, educationdata.org, nscresearchcenter.org.

Why college dropout rates matter

• College dropouts earn substantially less than graduates: median earnings of ~$45,200 for "some college, no degree" vs ~$71,100 for bachelor's holders (ages 25–34).
• Weekly wages show similar gaps: about $935 vs $1,432.
• Also, the unemployment rate among former students with no college degree (3.8%) exceeds that of bachelor's holders (2.2%).
• Meanwhile, only ~35% of student-loan borrowers who didn't finish college could cover a $400 emergency expense from savings, versus ~67% of graduates.
• Institutions are also affected, as student dropouts cost U.S. colleges over $16 billion per year in lost tuition and fees.
• Up to one-third of a college's spending goes to students who never graduate.
• On a macro scale, adults with a bachelor's degree earn roughly twice as much as those with only a high school diploma.
• Each year's cohort of non-completing college students represents hundreds of billions of dollars in lost earnings and tax revenue over their lifetimes.
• A college-educated workforce boosts economic productivity and tax revenue.

Sources: nces.ed.gov, federalreserve.gov, verse.ai.

Current college dropout rates

Roughly 2–4 in 10 college students fail to complete their degree within the typical timeframe. The numbers paint a stark picture of America’s higher education retention challenge.

What is the current college dropout rate in the U.S.?

• Most college students drop out in the first academic year
• Among full-time, first-time freshmen, the one-year dropout rate is about 24% nationally
• 29.2% of 2017 college starters had neither graduated nor were enrolled at any institution after 6 years
• A Clearinghouse report shows 77.6% of fall 2023 entrants persisted to the next fall, implying a ~22.4% second-year non-persistence rate

Sources: bestcolleges.com, educationdata.org, nscresearchcenter.org.

How do dropout rates vary by institution type?

Public vs. private institutions: Dropout rates tend to be higher at less selective institutions.

• Public 4-year colleges: 17.9% first-year dropout (lowest dropout rate)
• Private nonprofit 4-year: 18–19% first-year dropout
• Private for-profit 4-year: 38.7% first-year dropout
• Public two-year/community colleges: 39% first-year dropout (highest rate)

Full-time vs. part-time student retention: Full-time students persist at much higher rates, with part-time students nearly twice as likely to drop out by year-end

• Full-time students: 84.4% second-term persistence
• Part-time students: 53.2% second-term persistence
• Full-time first-spring persistence: 92.1%
• Part-time first-spring persistence: 67.4%

Sources: educationdata.org, bestcolleges.com, nscresearchcenter.org.

Who is dropping out of college the most?

Dropout in education isn't evenly felt by everyone. Here's a closer look at how demographics like gender, age, and socioeconomic status shape college attrition patterns.

Gender and age differences

Gender dropout patterns: Men tend to drop out at higher rates than women.

• About 28% of men who start college are out of school after six years without a degree
• By comparison, it’s only about 23% of women.
• Similarly, women are more likely to complete their studies in four years.
• 51% of women vs 41% of men finish in four years.
• As a result, women represent a growing majority of recent college graduates.

Traditional vs. non-traditional students: Traditional students (who enter right after high school, usually ages 18–24) generally persist at higher rates than older students.

• Data from NCES showed that traditional students (ages 18–24) have a 54% five-year completion rate.
• Non-traditional students (40–60% of all U.S. college students) have a 31% five-year completion rate.
• While older students showed improved 6-year graduation rates for fall 2017 enrollees, they still lag behind younger peers.

First-year dropout patterns: By far the largest share of attrition happens in the first year. Dropout rates reduce after the first year, but they still occur.

• 20–25% of first-time full-time freshmen drop out after year one.
• There’s an additional 10% drop between the second and third year
• This brings the total 3-year attrition to around 33%.

Sources: bestcolleges.com, nces.ed.gov, nscresearchcenter.org, educationdata.org, higheredtoday.org.

Socioeconomic factors

Income level: Students from low-income families have a much higher risk of leaving college, driven by both affordability and life pressures.

• 59% of college students seriously considered dropping out due to financial stress
• 24-30% cite money as the primary reason for leaving
• First-generation students' median family income is approximately $41k
• It’s about $90k for continuing-generation students

First-generation college status: First-generation status is a strong risk factor for dropping out.

• Only 27.4% of first-generation students graduate in four years (versus ~42.1% of continuing-gen).
• After six years, roughly 50.2% of first-generation students have a degree, compared to 64.2% of their peers.
• 27% of first-gen student households earn less than the cost of attendance for a four-year college.
• First-generation borrowers also tend to have higher dropout-related debt.
• Meanwhile, dropouts are much more likely to default on student loans.

Sources: educationdata.org, bestcolleges.com, missiongraduatenm.org, ballardbrief.byu.edu, federalreserve.gov.

Where are students dropping out of college?

The prevalence of college dropouts varies dramatically across the United States, shaped by regional economics, educational infrastructure, and community demographics.

State-by-state variation

• In absolute numbers, large states (CA, TX, NY, FL) have the most adults with some college, no degree.
• California had about 6.6 million such adults in 2023.
• Smaller states like Alaska and Oregon lead in percentage dropout rates, with 24–25% of adults having some college and no degree.
• States in the Southeast, like Mississippi and Alabama, also show elevated rates of partial college (often 15–20%).
• States like Florida or Massachusetts are closer to the national average (10–12%).

Urban vs. rural differences

Rural Americans face persistent gaps in both college entry and completion.

• Just 59% of rural high school graduates enroll in college
• It’s 62–67% in urban/suburban areas
• Rural enrollees are also more likely to drop out
• Only 19% of rural adults hold a bachelor’s degree, versus ~33% nationally
• Among working-age adults, bachelor's degree attainment rates are ~37% in urban areas versus ~21% in rural areas.
• Barriers such as distance to campus, limited broadband, and financial hardship contribute to these disparities.

Sources: missiongraduatenm.org, bestcolleges.com, luminafoundation.org, ers.usda.gov.

Which programs see higher dropout rates?

Dropout rates aren't uniform across academic disciplines. Some fields present greater challenges that drive students away, while others provide clearer pathways to completion.

Dropout rates by major:

• STEM fields have higher attrition than non-STEM majors overall
• Computer science has a 10.7% early dropout rate (among the highest)
• Business and engineering also show high early losses
• Only 40% of those who declare STEM majors complete the degree
• Social science and humanities show lower early attrition rates

Online vs. in-person programs:

• Students in fully online degree programs have lower completion rates than those in traditional or hybrid programs.
• A study found that exclusively online bachelor's degree students were significantly less likely to complete a degree than similar students taking some face-to-face courses.
• Online students are more often working adults or at for-profit schools, which also lowers completion.

Academic preparedness and dropout correlation:

• 40% of first-year students need remediation as they’re academically underprepared
• Students requiring remedial courses have a much higher dropout likelihood
• They also have significantly lower six-year graduation rates

Sources: missiongraduatenm.org, bestcolleges.com, insidehighered.com, ERIC, Center for American Progress.

Why do students drop out of college?

Think relentless financial pressure, academic struggles, and overwhelming life circumstances. The reasons behind college dropout are as complex as they are devastating for student success.

Financial challenges

• The average net price (tuition + fees minus grants) for a public four-year degree is around $15,000 per year and about $30,000 for a private nonprofit.
• 42% of former students cited financial issues as their primary reason for leaving.
• Students who borrow but do not complete are three times more likely to default on loans than those who graduate.
• Only ~52% of borrowers with some college report doing okay financially, vs ~77% of borrowers with a bachelor's.
• 1 in 5 first-generation freshmen worked more than 20 hours per week, compared to 1 in 10 continuing-generation students.
• Heavy workloads reduce study time and campus engagement, correlating with higher dropout rates.

Sources: nces.ed.gov, upcea.edu, owh.archive.gov, federalreserve.gov, Ballard Brief.

Academic struggles

• Many dropouts report that college academics are more rigorous than expected.
• Nearly 52% of community-college freshmen begin in at least one remedial class, and about 40% never complete them.
• About 70% of remedial students don't reach a college-level math class.
• Programs like STEM often include "weed-out" courses with high failure rates.
• Students on academic probation based on overall GPA saw their four-year graduation odds reduced by 40%.
• Probation based on semester GPA reduced graduation odds by about two-thirds.

Sources: nces.ed.gov, ResearchGate, MDPI, ResearchGate.

Personal and life factors

• 32% of dropouts listed personal/family issues as the top reason for leaving.
• Nontraditional students often have children or caregiving duties that force them to pause or end studies.
• About 10% left due to dissatisfaction or to pursue a career.
• Younger students sometimes realize a chosen major isn't what they want, leading them to leave.

Sources: upcea.edu, NIH.gov.

Institutional factors

• Colleges that offer limited advising, mentorship, or student support often experience higher dropout rates.
• Students who feel lost on campus or lacking connection or guidance are significantly more likely to leave.
• A one-standard-deviation increase in first-year belonging correlated with roughly a 2% increased likelihood of persisting.
• Inadequate vocational guidance can lead to reduced engagement and increased likelihood of dropout.

Sources: Meridian, NCBI, PMC.

When are students more likely to drop out?

Timing matters in college dropout rates. Certain periods create perfect storms of academic, financial, and personal pressures that push students toward the exit.

First year

• By far, the riskiest period is the first year, with most attrition happening before sophomore year.
• 24% of first-time full-time freshmen drop out by the end of year one.
• Freshman-year factors include transition challenges, large required classes, and homesickness.

Sophomore year

• After freshman year, dropout rates decline but do not disappear.
• An additional ~10% of students leave between sophomore and junior years.
• Many colleges see a second dip at the end of year two when students reassess their major or face setbacks in major-specific courses.

Later years

• While dropout rates tend to decline in junior and senior years, they remain a concern.
• Approximately 55% of undergraduate students fail to complete their degrees within six years.
• This suggests a wave of "stop-outs" in later years when financial or academic challenges accumulate.
• Most institutional retention efforts remain concentrated on first and second-year students, though some colleges are implementing targeted sophomore programs.

Sources: educationdata.org, bestcolleges.com, air.org, arXiv.

The impact of college dropouts

Dropout is costly for students, institutions, and society. From lost earnings to productivity decline, the data reveals consequences across every level.

Consequences for individuals

• A bachelor's degree recipient can expect ~$625,000 lifetime earnings
• It’s ~$153,000 for someone who attended college but left without a degree
• Also, dropouts typically incur the same (or more) debt as graduates but without the income advantage.
• 49% of college dropouts default on at least one loan, compared to ~14% of graduates.

Impact on institutions

• Beyond the immediate $16 billion revenue loss from student dropouts annually, colleges face subtler effects.
• They often must admit excess students to meet target graduations, leading to wasted recruitment spending.
• High dropout rates can dampen alumni donations as fewer graduates means fewer alumni donors.
• Many accreditors and ranking bodies require published retention stats, with colleges with poor retention suffering lowered rankings and scrutiny.

Societal implications

• A lower-skilled workforce diminishes productivity, as large cohorts not completing college creates industry skill shortages.
• Raising U.S. students' achievement to the OECD average would increase GDP by 1.7% in 2050 and 5.8% by 2075.
• Fully closing socioeconomic achievement gaps would expand GDP by about 10% in 2050 and nearly 37.7% by 2075.

Sources: ballardbrief.byu.edu, federalreserve.gov, equitablegrowth.org.

What do studies outside the U.S. say? Do they tell the same story?

Dropout isn't limited to the U.S. Data from different countries shows patterns both similar and strikingly different from American college education experiences.

Global college completion rates

• In OECD countries, about 48% of 25–34 year-olds had completed tertiary education by 2021, up from 27% in 2000.
• The U.S. educational attainment in that age group is roughly 50%.
• However, countries like South Korea, Japan, and Canada have completion rates in the 60–70% range.
• Countries like Mexico and Italy are in the teens or low 20s.

Different educational systems

• OECD data indicate that only 39% of bachelor's students graduate in the nominal program length.
• Even after 3 extra years, completion rises only to about 68%, suggesting substantial dropout or stop-out even outside the U.S.
• Systems with strong vocational training, like Germany and Switzerland, often funnel students into sub-bachelor pathways.
• These systems use dual VET pathways and recognized short-cycle credentials that steer young people into employment-focused post-secondary qualifications.

Lessons from high-retention countries

• Finland embeds career education, statutory guidance and student welfare services, and targeted follow-up for lower-secondary leavers.
• Japan's widespread private juku (cram-school) sector supplements school instruction and is associated with near-universal upper-secondary graduation.
• Singapore and the Republic of Korea combine rigorous K–12 preparation with consistently top PISA performance and high tertiary-enrollment/attainment indicators.

These models highlight the role of sustained funding, early support, and student-centered guidance in raising completion and post-secondary persistence.

Sources: oecd.org, World Population Review, IntechOpen, CEDEFOP, Education GPS.

What's working to reduce college dropout rates?

College dropout isn't just about individual failure. It's a systemic challenge that demands innovative, evidence-based solutions.

With roughly 33% of college students dropping out each year and 24% of current undergraduates at risk of leaving, institutions are fighting back with data-driven strategies that work.

Early warning and student tracking systems

• ~93% of U.S. four-year colleges deploy some kind of early-alert or nudge system.
• Oklahoma State University's alert program that flags missed assignments and low attendance cut course withdrawal rates by ~30% and slightly raised grades.
• Georgia State University's GPS Advising system uses data on at-risk students to prompt timely advising and has raised GSU's 6-year graduation rate by ~23% while saving students $21 million in tuition from earlier graduation.

Sources: Taylor and Francis Online, success.gsu.edu.

Financial support programs

• Grant aid increases year-to-year persistence and degree attainment by about 2–3%.
• Each additional $1,000 in grant aid increases persistence and completion by 1.5–2%.
• Tennessee's Promise program, covering remaining tuition and fees at two-year colleges, boosted college enrollment by around 5.9% among 19-year-olds and increased associate degree attainment by about 3.8%.
• Congress established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) under the CARES Act, allocating approximately $6.2 billion in emergency student grants.
• A University of Notre Dame randomized control trial found that students receiving emergency aid plus integrated support services were 25% more likely to stay enrolled and 16% more likely to earn an associate degree.

Sources: SageJournals, CBPP.org, CK. Carruthers, GAO.gov, NBER.org.

Academic support services

• Supplemental instruction (peer-facilitated academic support) has been adopted by over 350 U.S. colleges and is linked to higher course grades and improved retention.
• University of West Florida's Surround & Support model raised second-year retention from 69% for non-mentored students to 83% for those mentored.
• A Stanford-led randomized controlled trial found that coached students experienced a 10–15% increase in retention and graduation compared to peers.
• Institutions implementing first-year seminars and learning communities report higher first-year retention, improved academic performance, and increased student engagement.

Sources: ResearchGate, Mentor Collective, ERIC, cepa.stanford.edu, ijcsrr.org, Digital Commons.

Mental health and wellness initiatives

• Many U.S. colleges offer 24/7 virtual counseling through providers like TimelyCare.
• 64% of participating students reported they were more likely to graduate, and 75% said their mental health improved.
• Similarly, students who engage with campus counseling services demonstrate higher retention compared to peers.
• 65% of counseling service users say the support helped them stay enrolled.

Sources: Northwood University, ERIC.

Technology-enabled strategies

• Many U.S. institutions integrate LMS data to detect early signs of disengagement and prompt outreach.
• Georgia State University's AI-powered chatbot handles advising questions and has contributed to narrowing graduation gaps and raising graduation rates.
• Interactive classroom tools like Wooclap boost real-time student engagement through polls, quizzes, and Q&A sessions, aligning with retention theory that early engagement leads to students feeling more connected.

Sources: JiscInvolve.org, ScienceDirect, gsu.edu.

Institutional best practices for retention

• More U.S. colleges use predictive analytics and dashboards to forecast student risk and mobilize interventions.
• Southern Methodist University and Georgia State use predictive algorithms to flag at-risk students and tailor outreach, contributing to improved graduation outcomes.
• However, proactive advising systems show the strongest results.
• Georgia State's GPS advising system doubled six-year graduation rates from ~32% in 2003 to ~54% by 2014.

Sources: ScienceDirect, agb.org.

Peer support and community building

• Students who participate in living-learning communities or linked academic cohorts report greater belonging and are more likely to persist toward graduation.
• Computer science students in linked-course learning communities felt less isolated and displayed improved resource utilization.
• Structured peer networks enhance persistence by creating natural support systems that normalize academic struggle and help-seeking behaviors.

Sources: SageJournals, arXiv.

Industry partnerships and internship programs

• CUNY's ASAP program boosts graduation rates significantly, with up to 18.3% higher degree attainment.
• Student coaching programs like InsideTrack have helped students stay enrolled and persist beyond the intervention period.

Sources: nNCSL, ResearchGate.

Institutions and programs making a difference

Real change happens when institutions take retention as a priority. Here are the standout programs with measurable results.

Colleges with improved retention rates

• Georgia State University launched GPS Advising in the 2010s, raising its 6-year graduation rate from around 32% to over 55% while saving students ~$21 million/year in tuition and virtually eliminating race/income achievement gaps.
• University of West Florida's College of Education Surround & Support mentorship program achieved 83% retention for mentored students vs 69% for comparable students without mentoring.
• City University of New York's ASAP combines enhanced advice, accelerated remedial course support, and financial assistance, achieving a three-year graduation rate of about 53% compared to just 24% for similarly prepared comparison groups.

Sources: success.gsu.edu, Mentor Collective, CUNY.edu.

Innovative intervention programs

• Oklahoma State University's early-alert system was shown in a 2025 research to reduce course withdrawals by ~30% through instructor emails to students and advisors when performance flags arise.
• Ohio State University's STEP features peer mentoring and small-group faculty advising. 99% of participants returned for their third year compared to 94% of non-participants, with 85% graduating in 4 years vs. 71% for non-STEP students.

Sources: Taylor and Francis Online, step.osu.edu.

Data-driven approaches to student success

• Georgia State's GPS Advising analyzes student data such as attendance, grades, and demographics to identify those requiring early support, with AI and machine learning models identifying at-risk students with remarkable precision.
• University of Notre Dame's emergency aid trial combines financial support with data tracking, resulting in 25% higher enrollment retention for students receiving aid alongside integrated support services.

Sources: success.gsu.edu, NBER.org.

Conclusion

College dropout is solvable. While 32.9% of students drop out annually, retention strategies are proving their worth through measurable results. Georgia State University's GPS advising raised graduation rates by 23%, while CUNY's ASAP program more than doubled completion rates from 24% to 53%.

The evidence shows that early alerts, financial aid, academic coaching, mental health support, and engagement technologies all contribute to keeping students enrolled. However, no single intervention succeeds alone. The most effective institutions deploy multiple, coordinated strategies.

What this means for institutions, policymakers, and educational technology companies:

✔ Implement predictive analytics and early-alert systems to identify at-risk students before they drop out.
✔ Expand need-based financial aid and emergency assistance programs, as each $1,000 in grant aid increases persistence by 1.5–2%.
✔ Invest in student engagement platforms like Wooclap to boost classroom interaction, as engaged students persist at higher rates.