Indiana's 4-Year College Completion Rate Hits 50 Percent Despite Pandemic

More than half of full-time students who start their education at four-year institutions in Indiana are graduating on time, according to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education's 2021 College Completion Report.

Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Indiana's overall college completion rate has continued to improve. At four-year schools the on-time completion rate improved from 48.4% to 50.1%, while the same statistic at two-year colleges improved from 15.7% to 17.3%.

While students across the board are completing college at a higher rate, Black, Hispanic and Latino students are still less likely than their white peers to graduate on time. On average, this year's report for four-year institutions shows 39.3% of Hispanic and Latino students graduate on time, while 29.5% of Black students graduate on time. That's in comparison to the 50.1% of all four-year students who finish their studies on time.

The Commission for Higher Education identifies its goals as closing the equity gap, making college more affordable, supporting first- and second-year students, providing more dual credit opportunities for college-bound students and making the transition to college smoother.

Among its recommendations is an emphasis on mental health services for students: "Recognizing the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on Hoosier students, the Commission encourages institutions to focus on early markers for success in college, particularly around persistence, and support students by offering regular academic and social check-ins and continued access to campus mental health services."