The number of degree seekers at the state's public universities remains steady, but those students are now graduating more quickly.
The Arkansas Department of Higher Education says statewide, the average percentage of students graduating in four years has risen from 21.5 percent of 14,305 first-time students entering a public university in fall 2007 to 25.7 percent of the 16,032 students entering in fall 2011.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports the statewide average of students graduating in six years has also risen from 35 percent of the 13,847 first-time students entering a public university in fall 2005 to 40 percent of the 15,193 students entering in fall 2009.
Information collected by the higher education department indicates that the 10-year graduation rate has hovered around 40 percent for the past five years.
