Journal of Public Economics · 2025 · Jeffrey T. Denning、Lesley J. Turner
Abstract
This paper documents several facts about graduate program graduation rates using administrative data covering public and nonprofit graduate students in Texas. Only 58 % of students entering a graduate program in 2004 graduated within 6 years. Between the 2004 and 2013 entering cohorts, graduate student completion rates grew by 10 percentage points. Graduation rates vary widely by field of study, ranging from an average of 81 % for law programs to 53 % for education programs. We also find large differences in graduation rates between institutions. On average, 72 % of students who entered programs in flagship public universities graduated in 6 years compared to only 57 % of those who entered programs in non-research intensive (non-R1) institutions. Graduate students who do not complete may face negative consequences due to lower average earnings and substantial levels of student debt.