by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Drexel retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 90% students making it past their freshmen year, Drexel 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Drexel | 90% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
Of the 2889 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 43% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 73% of the students had graduated and after eight years 74% of this class completed their degree.
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 Drexel graduation rate 73%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1711 | 43% |
| Six Years | 2889 | 73% |
| Eight Years | 41 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1039 | 26% |
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.
Approximately 1039 students or 26% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1039 students who did not complete their degree?
5 are still enrolled.
577 transferred to another institution.
Drexel lost contact with the remaining 454 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 577 | 55.5% |
| Dropped Out | 454 | 43.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 85% |
| Black / African-American | 69% |
| Hispanic | 67% |
| International | 83% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 66% |
| Unknown | 67% |
| White | 77% |
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 Drexel are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Drexel University represent 58.56% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Drexel graduation rate was 78%, and by the eight year mark, 79% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Drexel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 78% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 79% | 47.82% |
483 first-time / full-time students or 21% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
329 transferred to another institution.
Drexel lost contact with the remaining 149 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.04% |
| Transferred | 329 | 68.12% |
| Dropped Out | 149 | 30.85% |
First-time / part-time students at Drexel University represent 0.20% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Drexel graduation rate was 63%, and by the eight year mark, 63% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Drexel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 50% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 63% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 23.72% |
3 first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
Drexel lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 33.33% |
Returning / full-time students at Drexel University represent 24.74% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Drexel graduation rate was 81%, and by the eight year mark, 82% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Drexel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 81% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 82% | 55.07% |
178 non first-time / part-time students or 18% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
102 transferred to another institution.
Drexel lost contact with the remaining 76 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 102 | 57.30% |
| Dropped Out | 76 | 42.70% |
Returning / part-time students at Drexel University represent 16.49% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Drexel graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 43% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Drexel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 41% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 37.80% |
375 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
144 transferred to another institution.
Drexel lost contact with the remaining 228 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.80% |
| Transferred | 144 | 38.40% |
| Dropped Out | 228 | 60.80% |
