The Gender Gap in College Graduation Rates

The National Collegiate Athletic Association recently released graduation rate data for all students and also for student athletes at its Division I institutions.

The data shows that 65 percent of all women students who matriculated at these colleges and universities in the fall of 2004 earned their degree within six years. For men entering college in 2004, the graduation rate was 60 percent.

The gender gap in graduation rates was much larger for student athletes, many of whom receive financial scholarship aid. For women athletes who entered college in 2004, 72 percent went on to earn a diploma within six years. The rate for male student athletes was 58 percent.