Why Have College Completion Rates Increased?

Jeffrey Denning, Eric R. Eide () and Merrill Warnick
Additional contact information
Eric R. Eide: Brigham Young University
Merrill Warnick: Brigham Young University

No 12411, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: College completion rates declined from the 1970s to the 1990s. We document that this trend has reversed - since the 1990s, college completion rates have increased. We investigate the reasons for the increase in college graduation rates. Collectively, student characteristics, institutional resources, and institution attended do not explain much of the change. However, we document that standards for degree receipt may explain some of the change in graduation rates.

Keywords: college; completion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I21 I23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 48 pages
Date: 2019-06
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Published - published in: American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2022, 14 (3), 1 - 29

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Journal Article: Why Have College Completion Rates Increased? (2022)
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