INDIANAPOLIS – The rate of Indiana high school seniors who go directly on to college remains stagnant, according to the latest data released by state officials.
New numbers for the Class of 2022 announced Thursday by the Indiana Commission of Higher Education (CHE) indicated — for the third year in a row — that just 53% of Hoosier graduates furthered their education with certificate training, a two-year program, or enrollment at a four-year college.
It’s a 6% drop from 2019, and 12% lower than in 2015.
Still, because the data further shows that the total number of 2022 high school graduates increased by 3%, that translates to fewer students enrolled in postsecondary education directly after high school.
CHE staff presented preliminary data during the commission’s bi-monthly meeting on Thursday. Official numbers for 2022 are expected to be released next week.
The rate was called “dismal” by numerous state lawmakers and education officials. It continues the state’s lowest college-going trend in recent history. The decline began several years prior, however.
CHE defines the college-going rate as the percentage of students who enroll in a postsecondary institution within the year following high school graduation.
Per the 2022 data, 47% of students who completed Career and Technical Education (CTE) training while in high school went on to pursue additional postsecondary coursework.
However, among those CTE students, Indiana continues to have access gaps among different demographic groups.
About 70% of Asian students and 48% of White students who took CTE classes went on to college, according to the commission’s numbers. About 44% of Black and 41% of Hispanic/Latino students continued education after graduation.
Read the complete Casey Smith story for the Indiana Capital Chronicle, here.
