Colleges With The Highest Graduation Rates

Harvard University boasts the highest undergrad completion rate of all research universities -- a whopping 98 percent of those enrolled in 2002 graduated by 2008, according to a new report by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

In Graduation Rates Over Time, the Chronicle compared graduation rates at public and private research universities in 2002 and 2008, surveying students who enrolled in 1996 and 2002, respectively.

On Harvard's heels are Yale University and the University of Notre Dame, with rates of 97 and 96 percent. Among public research universities, the University of Virginia had the highest graduation rate in 2008 at 93 percent, followed by the College of William and Mary and the University of California-Berkeley.

The Chronicle also found that 33 percent of universities showed a lower graduation rate in 2008 than in 2002. Some institutions suggest that the decrease in graduation rates may be a reflection of students taking longer than six years to earn a degree.

Below, check out the twelve universities with the highest graduation rates in 2008, and see the Chronicle for a complete list.

What do you think of these findings? Let us know in the comments section.