HIGHER COLLEGE ENROLLMENT AND GRADUATION RATES

Share this article with a friend.

September 9, 2024

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here. 

A new study conducted for International Baccalaureate by the National Student Clearinghouse found that IB Diploma Program students in the U.S. experienced higher college enrollment and college graduation rates compared to all U.S. students. This applied to Diploma Program graduates as well as to students taking at least one Diploma Program course during high school.

Data sources

The study combined data from multiple sources: the National Student Clearinghouse (administrative records for over 97% of postsecondary students in the US), the IB, and the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Specifically, this study examines the postsecondary outcomes of DP students (both DP candidates and DP course students) who graduated from US high schools in 2016 (n=51,609).

The sample included DP candidates (n=26,426) — students pursuing the full DP with all of its required courses and components. This category of students was further disaggregated into Diploma recipients and Diploma non-recipients. The study also included DP course students (n=25,183), students participating in one to five individual DP courses and taking one or more DP examination.

Research summary

Full report

More on the IB at NDP

Notre Dame Prep's upper school has served as an IB ‘World School” since 2007 when it was first authorized by the IB organization to offer the Diploma Program. Its middle and lower schools became IB-authorized in the years that followed. In addition, NDP is the only Catholic school in the United States with all three IB curriculum levels, the Primary Years Program, the Middle Years Program and the Diploma Program. 

Colleges and universities recognize the IB program, its significance, and what it takes to participate in it. The IB designation on a student’s high school transcript is a noteworthy achievement, and it stands out and signals to admission officers that you are a dedicated and advanced learner. Many colleges and universities in the U.S. offer benefits to IB diploma graduates, such as college credit, scholarships and/or tuition assistance. Some universities allow IB graduates to enter as second-year students. 

More on the IB and college prep 

The acceptance rate of IB students into Ivy League universities is up to 18% higher than the total population acceptance rate. The gap is even more significant for top-ranked universities outside of the Ivy League, where it is 22% higher, on average. Research also shows that U.S. Diploma Program students are outperforming students nationally in university enrollment, persistence and graduation.

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndprep.org.