More students are graduating from college in Indiana than ever before, according to a recent college completion report from the state.

On time graduation rates for Indiana’s college students have increased by 13.9 percent over the past five years. The state’s 2018 College Completion Report says nearly half of the students at four-year public colleges graduate on time, with 12.7 percent of two-year college students graduating on time.

Indiana Commissioner For Higher Education Teresa Lubbers says more positive attitudes around higher education’s value could be one factor.

“Then I think you have to also talk about the fact that we have more students who are leaving high school prepared to do some sort of college level work,” she says.

But she says the state still has work do around closing equity and achievement gaps; the agency aims for at least 60 percent of all Hoosiers to have some sort of college credential by 2025.

“We also have a goal to close the achievement gap by 2025, because we know as you continue to have changing demographics in the state, we can’t get to that 60 percent goal without closing the achievement gap,” she says.

The commission plans to release a supplemental report on college performance for minority students later this summer.