U.S. ARL Academic Libraries: Examining Expenditures, Library Utilization, and Their Impact on Graduation Rates

This study examines institutional differences in library resources, student library use, and graduation rates at U.S. Association of Research Libraries (ARL) universities from 2018 to 2023. By comparing public and private institutions, it explores trends in library resource allocation and their relationship to student success, measured through graduation rates. Findings reveal that private institutions allocate significantly more funding per student, maintain lower student-to-staff ratios, and demonstrate higher levels of library use compared to their public counterparts. However, the gap in library usage between the two sectors is less pronounced than the disparity in resource allocation. Correlation analyses show that both private and public institutions exhibit strong positive relationships between library funding, staffing, and graduation rates. Notably, public institutions demonstrate a unique correlation between resource use—such as circulation, interlibrary loans, and database searches—and student success, a pattern not observed in private institutions. These findings highlight the critical role of library investments in supporting student outcomes and suggest that public institutions should prioritize expanding access to research resources, while private institutions should enhance engagement strategies. The study underscores the importance of sustained funding and strategic resource allocation to maximize the impact of academic libraries in higher education.