California State University graduation rates show steady improvement amid pandemic – Ed Source
Four-year graduation rates among first-time students increase to 31%, up 3.5%
Graduation rates across the 23 California State University campuses continue to increase even in a year when students were forced to complete their degrees mostly online due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it’s too early to know how the crisis will impact students.
New data released Friday shows the four-year graduation rate for entering freshmen increased to 31% — up from 27.5% last year. In 2015, the CSU system set a Graduation Initiative 2025 goal to increase the four-year graduation for first-time students to 40% and the six-year goal to 70%. The six-year graduation rate remained at 62% this year. When the initiative was launched the completion averages for students who started as full-time freshmen were just 19% after four years and 57% by six years.
For many students, getting to graduation last spring required that they finish up courses that hurriedly shifted to virtual once in-person classes were shutdown in mid-March.
“The record achievements of CSU students is a testament to their persistence and flexibility in navigating the pivot to virtual instruction and support made necessary by the ongoing pandemic,” CSU Chancellor Timothy White said. “It is also a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff who overcame unprecedented challenges to advance the university’s mission.”