Ohio State graduation rate continues to climb
COLUMBUS – Ohio State University President Karen A. Holbrook today announced that the university's six-year graduation rate has risen to 68 percent; up from 55 percent just five years ago and 51 percent 10 years ago. The figure is based on the graduation rates of students who entered the university in Fall 1999.
"With the recent National Science Foundation ranking of Ohio State among the nation's Top 10 public research universities, this statistic is dramatic evidence that our strategies to improve performance and recognition in academics and research are working. They both say a lot about the quality of our students, our faculty and this institution," Holbrook said.
The average six-year graduation rate for all comparable public institutions was 62.5 percent for the classes that began university in 1996-97, the most recent data available. While the six-year graduation rate is a federal reporting standard, Holbrook noted that most Ohio State students actually graduate in five years or less.
"With competitive admissions, which were fully implemented on the Columbus campus only in 2003, we are admitting stronger students on the front end, and then we are providing programs to help them be successful so that they stay, they thrive and they graduate," Holbrook said.
Ohio State students continue to enter college better prepared for academic success. For the 11th consecutive year, the incoming first-year class in Fall 2005 is the best-prepared in history, with an average ACT score of 25.8.
Thirty-nine percent of freshmen were in the top 10 percent of their high school class, and 77 percent were in the top 25 percent, compared to 22 percent and 47 percent in 1994.
Over the past 10 years, Ohio State's freshman-sophomore retention rate has also risen, from 79 percent to 89.7 percent. The national mean among universities that award PhDs is 77.5 percent, and the mean retention rate for all colleges and universities is 68.3 percent.
"Once students are here, we are working hard in a variety of ways to keep them at Ohio State, offering them a nationally recognized First Year Experience, improved advising, better course scheduling and undergraduate research opportunities, as a few examples," said Martha Garland, vice provost and dean in the Office of Undergraduate Studies.
Provost Barbara Snyder added, "All the evidence indicates that our graduation rate will continue to climb well above 70 percent and that our first-year retention rate will rise above 90 percent in the next couple of years. We are definitely on track to achieve the goal of our Academic Plan to be recognized as one of the country's top teaching and research universities."
This summer Ohio State was ranked by the National Science Foundation among the Top Ten public research universities based on sponsored research, and it rose from 22nd to 21st among all public universities in the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings, becoming Ohio's top-rated public university.
*Editor's Note: Background fact sheet follows release
OHIO STATE GRADUATION RATE CONTINUES TO CLIMB
Background Information
•The Ohio State University's six-year graduation rate is 68 percent; up from 55 percent just five years ago and 51 percent 10 years ago. This figure is based on the graduation rate of students who entered the university in Fall 1999.
•The six-year graduation rate is a federal reporting standard. For the most recent year that national averages are available (1996-97), the six-year graduation rate for all research and doctoral extensive public institutions was 62.5 percent.
OSU Trend Data Fall Cohort 6-yr grad rate 1999 68% 1998 62% 199762% 1996 59% 199556% 199455% 199356% 199257% 199157% 199055% 198951% Big Ten Publics 6-yr grad rate Illinois80% Iowa 66% Michigan 87% Minnesota 57% Penn St.84% Michigan St.71% Wisconsin 71% Indiana71% Purdue64%
The move toward selective admissions (implemented year-round in 2003) has contributed to the increased number of Ohio State students earning their degrees.
•In the past 10 years, Ohio State's freshman-sophomore retention rate has also risen, from 79 percent to 89.7 percent. According to the latest figures from the ACT, the national mean is 77.5 percent.
•Ohio State students continue to enter college better prepared for academic success. For the 11th consecutive year, the incoming first-year class is the best-prepared in history. The average ACT score is 25.8; 39 percent of freshman were in the top 10 percent of their high school class, and 77 percent were in the top 25 percent, compared to 22 percent and 47 percent in 1994.
•Ohio State has continued to work on increasing the diversity of its student population. On the Columbus campus enrollment of first-year African American and Hispanic students is up from 2004, nearly 7 and nearly 6 percent respectively, and 16 percent of the incoming class are students of color.
•Recent research recognition demonstrates Ohio State's overall continued progress as well. Ohio State recently was ranked by the National Science Foundation among the Top 10 public research universities for sponsored research. Ohio State has been named among the Top 25 public research universities every year U.S. News & World Report has done the ranking and is up this year from 22 to 21 among all public universities.
•The move toward selective admissions (implemented year-round in 2003) has contributed to the increased number of Ohio State students earning their degrees.
•In the past 10 years, Ohio State's freshman-sophomore retention rate has also risen, from 79 percent to 89.7 percent. According to the latest figures from the ACT, the national mean is 77.5 percent.
•Ohio State students continue to enter college better prepared for academic success. For the 11th consecutive year, the incoming first-year class is the best-prepared in history. The average ACT score is 25.8; 39 percent of freshman were in the top 10 percent of their high school class, and 77 percent were in the top 25 percent, compared to 22 percent and 47 percent in 1994.
•Ohio State has continued to work on increasing the diversity of its student population. On the Columbus campus enrollment of first-year African American and Hispanic students is up from 2004, nearly 7 and nearly 6 percent respectively, and 16 percent of the incoming class are students of color.
•Recent research recognition demonstrates Ohio State's overall continued progress as well. Ohio State recently was ranked by the National Science Foundation among the Top 10 public research universities for sponsored research. Ohio State has been named among the Top 25 public research universities every year U.S. News & World Report has done the ranking and is up this year from 22 to 21 among all public universities.
Source: Ohio State Office of Media Relations
