Six-year grad rate reaches record high

FAYETTEVILLE — The six-year graduation rate for students entering the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville increased to 68.5% for students who first enrolled in 2014, the university announced.

It was an increase from the 67.2% rate for the 2013 cohort of students and marked a record high for the university.

The latest graduation rate was calculated for 4,518 students who first enrolled at UA in 2014, while the previous rate was based on 4,300 students who enrolled in 2013.

The six-year rate is sometimes referred to as the federal graduation rate. Fouryear colleges are required to disclose this rate under federal law.

UA Provost Charles Robinson said Wednesday in a faculty senate meeting that “none of this happens without a quality faculty.”

“I really do think this is just kind of the beginning for us, that we’re going to continue to move in a positive direction on these metrics and see even greater success moving forward,” Robinson said.

Among similar schools in other states, the University of Missouri reported a sixyear graduation rate of 73%.

A spokeswoman for the university said the rate was based on a cohort of 6,398 students.

Louisiana State University reported a six-year graduation rate of 65.7% for its students, not including those enrolled in what the university describes as pre-transfer preparatory programs.

A spokesman did not respond when asked for the cohort size.