Final answer:
The exact percentage of students who fail to return for their second year at public two-year colleges in the U.S., based on ACT data, is not provided. However, there are indications that dropout rates for first-generation students are high and affordability is a significant issue impacting student retention and graduation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the retention rate of students in public two-year colleges in the United States based on the American College Testing (ACT) data. The statistic in question is not provided among the reference information. However, various statistics around educational enrollment and graduation are provided such as a proportion of full-time students graduating within a certain timeframe, participation in college, and the relationship between the education level of parents and graduation rates.
One key data point mentioned is that 89 percent of first-generation students will not earn an undergraduate degree within six years of starting their studies. This indicates a high dropout rate among this demographic. Additionally, the claim about mean enrollment numbers between two-year and four-year colleges, as well as the completion rates for four-year programs, could indirectly suggest challenges that may be faced by students in two-year colleges, potentially contributing to dropout rates.
According to the data, there are factors such as affordability and the preparation of students that influence whether they return for their second year or complete their education.