by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Nicholls State University first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at Nicholls State University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 77% students making it past their freshmen year, Nicholls State University 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 Louisiana, the average is 67.86%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Nicholls State University | 77% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Louisiana | 67.86% |
There were approximately 781 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 29% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 48% of the students had graduated and after eight years 50% 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 Nicholls State University graduation rate 48%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 478 | 29% |
| Six Years | 781 | 48% |
| Eight Years | 48 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 815 | 50% |
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 815 students or 50% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 815 students who did not complete their degree?
11 are still enrolled.
464 transferred to another institution.
Nicholls State University lost contact with the remaining 337 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 1.3% |
| Transferred | 464 | 56.9% |
| Dropped Out | 337 | 41.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 46% |
| Asian | 55% |
| Black / African-American | 38% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 32% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 46% |
| Unknown | 26% |
| White | 60% |
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 Nicholls State University 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 students at Nicholls State University represent 70.57% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Nicholls State University graduation rate was 46%, and by the eight year mark, 49% 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 | Nicholls State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 46% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 47.82% |
588 first-time / full-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
348 transferred to another institution.
Nicholls State University lost contact with the remaining 230 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.70% |
| Transferred | 348 | 59.18% |
| Dropped Out | 230 | 39.12% |
First-time / part-time students at Nicholls State University represent 1.40% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Nicholls State University graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 | Nicholls State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 30% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 23.72% |
15 first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
7 transferred to another institution.
Nicholls State University lost contact with the remaining 8 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 7 | 46.67% |
| Dropped Out | 8 | 53.33% |
Returning / full-time students at Nicholls State University represent 21.30% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Nicholls State University graduation rate was 56%, and by the eight year mark, 58% 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 | Nicholls State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 56% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 55.07% |
146 non first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
80 transferred to another institution.
Nicholls State University lost contact with the remaining 63 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.05% |
| Transferred | 80 | 54.79% |
| Dropped Out | 63 | 43.15% |
Returning / part-time students at Nicholls State University represent 6.74% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Nicholls State University graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | Nicholls State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 39% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 37.80% |
66 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
29 transferred to another institution.
Nicholls State University lost contact with the remaining 36 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.52% |
| Transferred | 29 | 43.94% |
| Dropped Out | 36 | 54.55% |
