by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many William Carey 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 William Carey University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 78% students making it past their freshmen year, William Carey 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 Mississippi, the average is 70.78%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| William Carey University | 78% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Mississippi | 70.78% |
Of the 642 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 45% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 51% of the students had graduated and after eight years 52% 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 William Carey University graduation rate 51%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 558 | 45% |
| Six Years | 642 | 51% |
| Eight Years | 13 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 596 | 48% |
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 596 students or 48% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 596 students who did not complete their degree?
22 are still enrolled.
337 transferred to another institution.
William Carey University lost contact with the remaining 245 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 3.7% |
| Transferred | 337 | 56.5% |
| Dropped Out | 245 | 41.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Black / African-American | 19% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 38% |
| White | 48% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at William Carey University are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at William Carey University represent 22.19% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the William Carey University graduation rate was 47%, 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 | William Carey University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 47% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 47.82% |
142 first-time / full-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
109 transferred to another institution.
William Carey University lost contact with the remaining 26 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 4.93% |
| Transferred | 109 | 76.76% |
| Dropped Out | 26 | 18.31% |
First-time / part-time students at William Carey University represent 3.59% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the William Carey University graduation rate was 11%, and by the eight year mark, 11% 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 | William Carey University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 11% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 11% | 23.72% |
40 first-time / part-time students or 89% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
40 transferred to another institution.
William Carey University lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 40 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
Returning / full-time students at William Carey University represent 60.89% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the William Carey University graduation rate was 57%, 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 | William Carey University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 57% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 55.07% |
319 non first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
156 transferred to another institution.
William Carey University lost contact with the remaining 156 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.19% |
| Transferred | 156 | 48.90% |
| Dropped Out | 156 | 48.90% |
Returning / part-time students at William Carey University represent 13.33% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the William Carey University graduation rate was 43%, 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 | William Carey University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 39% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 43% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 37.80% |
95 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
32 transferred to another institution.
William Carey University lost contact with the remaining 63 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 32 | 33.68% |
| Dropped Out | 63 | 66.32% |
