by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Pennsylvania Western University 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 72% students making it past their freshmen year, Pennsylvania Western 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Western University | 72% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
Of the 2617 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 42% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 52% of the students had graduated and after eight years 53% 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 Pennsylvania Western University graduation rate 52%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2121 | 42% |
| Six Years | 2617 | 52% |
| Eight Years | 50 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2371 | 47% |
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 2371 students or 47% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2371 students who did not complete their degree?
12 are still enrolled.
1087 transferred to another institution.
Pennsylvania Western University lost contact with the remaining 1266 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 1087 | 45.8% |
| Dropped Out | 1266 | 53.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 22% |
| Asian | 44% |
| Black / African-American | 27% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 46% |
| International | 62% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 27% |
| Unknown | 54% |
| White | 56% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Pennsylvania Western University 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 Pennsylvania Western University represent 58.17% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pennsylvania Western University graduation rate was 48%, 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 | Pennsylvania Western University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 48% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 47.82% |
1490 first-time / full-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
717 transferred to another institution.
Pennsylvania Western University lost contact with the remaining 760 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 0.87% |
| Transferred | 717 | 48.12% |
| Dropped Out | 760 | 51.01% |
First-time / part-time students at Pennsylvania Western University represent 2.10% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pennsylvania Western University graduation rate was 16%, and by the eight year mark, 17% 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 | Pennsylvania Western University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 23.72% |
88 first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
31 transferred to another institution.
Pennsylvania Western University lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.14% |
| Transferred | 31 | 35.23% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 63.64% |
Returning / full-time students at Pennsylvania Western University represent 28.27% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pennsylvania Western University 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 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Pennsylvania Western University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 63% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 55.07% |
523 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
223 transferred to another institution.
Pennsylvania Western University lost contact with the remaining 298 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.38% |
| Transferred | 223 | 42.64% |
| Dropped Out | 298 | 56.98% |
Returning / part-time students at Pennsylvania Western University represent 11.45% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pennsylvania Western University graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 53% 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 | Pennsylvania Western University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 48% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 52% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 37.80% |
270 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
116 transferred to another institution.
Pennsylvania Western University lost contact with the remaining 152 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.74% |
| Transferred | 116 | 42.96% |
| Dropped Out | 152 | 56.30% |
