by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many A-State first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore A-State retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 79% students making it past their freshmen year, A-State has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Arkansas, the average is 66.23%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| A-State | 79% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Arkansas | 66.23% |
There were approximately 1,535 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 33% of the cohort graduated. After six years 49% had completed their degree, and 51% after eight years.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical A-State graduation rate 49%.
The typical A-State student takes 4.36 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,205 | 38% |
| Six Years | 1,535 | 49% |
| Eight Years | 58 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,549 | 49% |
Approximately 1549 students or 49% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1549 students who did not complete their degree?
24 are still enrolled.
801 transferred to another institution.
A-State lost contact with the remaining 712 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 1.5% |
| Transferred | 801 | 51.7% |
| Dropped Out | 712 | 46.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 36% |
| Asian | 67% |
| Black / African-American | 39% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 38% |
| International | 42% |
| Unknown | 50% |
| White | 56% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
The majority of students at A-State are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Arkansas State University - Main Campus represent 51% of the students in the class of 2015, and 49.77% of A-State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 33%, first-time students in the A-State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the A-State graduation rate was 47%, and by the eight year mark, 50% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | A-State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 47% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 47.82% |
815 first-time / full-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
24 are still enrolled.
403 transferred to another institution.
A-State lost contact with the remaining 393 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 2.94% |
| Transferred | 403 | 49.45% |
| Dropped Out | 393 | 48.22% |
First-time / part-time students at Arkansas State University - Main Campus represent 2.16% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 19%, first-time, part-time students in the A-State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 22%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | A-State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 19% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 23.72% |
53 first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
24 transferred to another institution.
A-State lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 24 | 45.28% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 54.72% |
954 A-State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 30.32% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 58%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 60%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | A-State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 58% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 55.07% |
386 non first-time / part-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
209 transferred to another institution.
A-State lost contact with the remaining 171 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.55% |
| Transferred | 209 | 54.15% |
| Dropped Out | 171 | 44.30% |
504 A-State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.02% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 40%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 41%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | A-State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 40% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 37.80% |
295 non first-time / part-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
165 transferred to another institution.
A-State lost contact with the remaining 119 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 3.73% |
| Transferred | 165 | 55.93% |
| Dropped Out | 119 | 40.34% |
