College Student Persistence Rate Rises for the First Time Since the Start of the Pandemic

Nearly 76% of Students Enrolled in Fall 2021 Returned for a Second Year

The Persistence and Retention report series examines first-year persistence and retention rates for beginning postsecondary students. Persistence rate is measured by the percentage of students who return to college at any institution for their second year, while retention rate represents the percentage of students who return to the same institution. Students attaining a credential in their first year are accounted for in persistence and retention rates.

“It is very encouraging to see that the students who entered college in the second year of the pandemic have stayed enrolled at higher rates,” said Doug Shapiro, Executive Director of the Research Center. “The 0.9 pp recovery from the suppressed persistence level of those who started in fall 2020 means nearly 22,000 more students are still in college today.”

But not all institution sectors saw persistence and retention improvement. View the report to learn the breakdown by institution, major, race and ethnicity, gender, age, state, and more, or read the press announcement.

“It is very encouraging to see that the students who entered college in the second year of the pandemic have stayed enrolled at higher rates. The 0.9 pp recovery from the suppressed persistence level of those who started in fall 2020 means nearly 22,000 more students are still in college today.”

Doug Shapiro
Executive Director, National Student Clearinghouse Research Center

Additional Resources:

• Read the Persistence & Retention press release
• Read the Persistence & Retention report
• Visit the Research Center