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Ohio State Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

58% 4-Year Graduation Rate
75% 6-Year Graduation Rate
94% Retention Rate

Ohio State University - Main Campus 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How many Ohio 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 Ohio State retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.

Ohio State Retention Rate

94% Freshmen Retention Rate
Good Retention Rate

The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.

With 94% students making it past their freshmen year, Ohio 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 Ohio, the average is 69.84%.

Ohio State Retention  94 out of 100
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100%
Ohio Retention  70 out of 100
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100%
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Retention Rate
Ohio State94%
Nationwide70.57%
Ohio69.84%

Ohio State Graduation Rates

75% 6-Year Graduation Rate
12.24% Transfer Rate
10.29% Dropout Rate

There were approximately 9,859 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?

58% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 75% in six years, and 77% in eight years.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official Ohio State graduation rate 75%.

The average length of time it takes an Ohio State undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.30 years.

Four Year Graduation Rate  59%
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100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  75%
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  77%
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100%

Ohio State Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years7,70259%
Six Years9,85975%
Eight Years1732%
Did Not Complete3,02723%
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
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Ohio State Drop Out Rate

Approximately 3027 students or 23% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 3027 students who did not complete their degree?

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Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled351.2%
Transferred160052.9%
Dropped Out1,34544.4%

Ohio State Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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Race/EthnicityGraduation Rate
American Indian or Alaskan Native75%
Asian87%
Black / African-American79%
Hawaiian100%
Hispanic83%
International86%
Multi-Ethnic80%
Unknown89%
White88%

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.

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 Ohio State are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.

Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.

First-Time / Full-Time Ohio State Graduation Rates

55% First-Time, Full-Time
82% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / full-time students at Ohio State University - Main Campus represent 55% of the students in the class of 2015, and 59.76% of Ohio State bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 58%, first-time students in the Ohio State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the Ohio State graduation rate was 82%, and by the eight year mark, 83% 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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  58 out of 100
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Six Year Graduation Rate  82 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  83 out of 100
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100%

Ohio State First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsOhio StateNationwide
Four Years58%37.92%
Six Years82%46.43%
Eight Years83%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time Ohio State Drop Out Rates

1187 first-time / full-time students or 17% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled352.95%
Transferred82569.50%
Dropped Out33027.80%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

0% First-Time, Part-Time
39% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / part-time students at Ohio State University - Main Campus represent 0.14% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 39%, first-time, part-time students in the Ohio State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 39%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  39 out of 100
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Eight Year Graduation Rate  39 out of 100
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First-Time / Part-Time Ohio State Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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First-Time / Part-Time CompletionsOhio StateNationwide
Four Years28%14.37%
Six Years39%21.59%
Eight Years39%23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time Ohio State Drop Out Rates

11 first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.00%
Transferred981.82%
Dropped Out218.18%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

39% Returning, Full-Time
70% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

5106 Ohio State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 39.06% 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 70%, 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 71%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  70 out of 100
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Eight Year Graduation Rate  71 out of 100
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Ohio State Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Full-Time CompletionsOhio StateNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years70%53.83%
Eight Years71%55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Ohio State Drop Out Rates

1484 non first-time / part-time students or 29% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled392.63%
Transferred62742.25%
Dropped Out81855.12%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

6% Returning, Part-Time
53% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

771 Ohio State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 5.90% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 53%, 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 55%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  53 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  55 out of 100
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100%

Ohio State Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Part-Time CompletionsOhio StateNationwide
Four Years0%30.46%
Six Years53%36.03%
Eight Years55%37.80%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Ohio State Drop Out Rates

345 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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Returning / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled113.19%
Transferred13940.29%
Dropped Out19556.52%

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