Kent State University's four-year graduation rate has reached a record 50.9% for the 2022 cohort — only the second time in university history that the rate has climbed above the 50% mark. This is roughly double the rate in 2002.
The figure also outpaces the national four-year graduation rate of 34%, according to federal benchmarking data.
The milestone comes as Kent State also welcomed 7,633 new students systemwide this fall, including 5,012 new first-year students, 1,224 transfer students and 1,397 new graduate students.
"This milestone is a direct reflection of the hard work and determination our students are showing from the moment they arrive at Kent State," said Kent State President Todd Diacon. "Their success is aided by our outstanding faculty, staff and student support programs focused on helping our students reach their goal of earning a degree and entering the workforce or graduate school ready to succeed."
The university's longer-term graduation rates remain strong and consistent with national norms. Kent State's five-year rate for the 2021 cohort rose to 61.8%, up 1.6 percentage points from the previous year.
The six-year rate, which is the most commonly used national benchmark for graduation outcomes, stands at an impressive 63.1% for the 2020 cohort, a group that began its studies just as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted campus life nationwide.
