College Outcomes Why Different Measures Tell Different Stories

Comparison of IPEDS Graduation Rates and Outcome Measures showing how different student populations can produce different views of college outcomes.

College outcome measures answer different questions. Understanding which students are included can provide important context behind the numbers.

Illustration comparing traditional IPEDS Graduation Rates with broader IPEDS Outcome Measures, including first-time, non-first-time, full-time and part-time student populations. Created for the Understanding College Outcomes series to illustrate why different measures can tell different stories about student outcomes.