Graduation Rate Calculator

Enter your cohort data — students enrolled, graduates at 4 years, graduates at 5 years, and graduates at 6 years — and the Graduation Rate Calculator computes your 4-year, 5-year, and 6-year graduation rates as percentages. You can also account for transfer-out and exclusion counts to get an adjusted cohort rate matching federal IPEDS methodology.

Total number of first-time, full-time degree-seeking students in the cohort.

Students excluded from the cohort (deaths, disability, military deployment, etc.).

Students who transferred to another institution and are excluded from the adjusted cohort.

Number of students who graduated within 4 years (100% of normal program length).

Students who graduated in their 5th year (not already counted in 4-year total).

Students who graduated in their 6th year (not already counted in prior totals).

Results

6-Year Graduation Rate

--

Adjusted Cohort Size

--

4-Year Graduation Rate

--

5-Year Graduation Rate

--

Total Graduates (6 Years)

--

Non-Completers

--

Graduation Rates by Year

Results Table

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an adjusted cohort and why does it matter?

The adjusted cohort is the initial enrollment count minus any allowable exclusions (such as deaths, permanent disability, or military deployment) and transfer-outs. Federal IPEDS methodology requires this adjustment so that graduation rates reflect only students who had a reasonable opportunity to graduate at your institution.

How is the 4-year graduation rate calculated?

The 4-year graduation rate is the number of students who completed their degree within 4 years divided by the adjusted cohort size, multiplied by 100. For example, if 200 students graduated in 4 years from an adjusted cohort of 475, the rate is 42.11%.

Are the 5-year and 6-year graduate counts cumulative?

No — this calculator uses incremental counts. Enter only the additional students who graduated in Year 5 (not already counted in Year 4), and only the additional students who graduated in Year 6. The calculator then accumulates totals internally to produce cumulative rates.

What is the national average 6-year graduation rate?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the national average 6-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students at 4-year institutions is approximately 60–65%. Rates vary significantly by institution type, selectivity, and student population.

What types of students are included in the graduation rate cohort?

The standard IPEDS cohort includes first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students who enrolled in a given fall term. Part-time students, transfer students, and continuing education students are typically tracked separately.

Can this calculator be used for community colleges or 2-year programs?

Yes, but you should adjust your interpretation. For 2-year programs, a '4-year rate' is equivalent to the 200% completion rate. You can enter 0 for milestones that don't apply to your program length and focus on the relevant output.

Why might a school report different graduation rates for different populations?

Institutions often report disaggregated rates by gender, race/ethnicity, Pell Grant recipient status, and other factors to identify equity gaps. The overall cohort rate can mask significant differences across student subgroups that require targeted intervention.

What counts as an 'exclusion' from the cohort?

Allowable exclusions under federal reporting guidelines include students who died or were totally and permanently disabled, those who left school to serve in the armed forces or on an official church mission, or those who transferred to another institution. These are removed from the denominator before calculating rates.

More Education & Academic Tools