by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Ball State? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 80% students making it past their freshmen year, Ball 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 Indiana, the average is 70.89%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Ball State | 80% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Indiana | 70.89% |
There were approximately 3,009 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 47% of the cohort graduated. After six years 59% had completed their degree, and 60% after eight years.
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 Ball State graduation rate 59%.
The average length of time it takes an Ball State undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.23 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,361 | 46% |
| Six Years | 3,009 | 59% |
| Eight Years | 66 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,038 | 40% |
Approximately 2038 students or 40% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2038 students who did not complete their degree?
30 are still enrolled.
1517 transferred to another institution.
Ball State lost contact with the remaining 495 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 1.5% |
| Transferred | 1517 | 74.4% |
| Dropped Out | 495 | 24.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 65% |
| Black / African-American | 58% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 65% |
| International | 62% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 51% |
| Unknown | 66% |
| White | 69% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 Ball State are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Ball State University represent 78% of the students in the class of 2015, and 80.43% of Ball State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 47%, first-time students in the Ball State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Ball State graduation rate was 61%, and by the eight year mark, 62% 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.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | Ball State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 47% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 61% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 47.82% |
1497 first-time / full-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
1104 transferred to another institution.
Ball State lost contact with the remaining 377 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 2.00% |
| Transferred | 1104 | 73.75% |
| Dropped Out | 377 | 25.18% |
First-time / part-time students at Ball State University represent 1.42% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 38%, first-time, part-time students in the Ball 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 38%.
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.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | Ball State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 38% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 23.72% |
45 first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
25 transferred to another institution.
Ball State lost contact with the remaining 20 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 25 | 55.56% |
| Dropped Out | 20 | 44.44% |
911 Ball State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 17.77% 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 58%, 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 59%.
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.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | Ball State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 58% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 55.07% |
368 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
275 transferred to another institution.
Ball State lost contact with the remaining 87 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.63% |
| Transferred | 275 | 74.73% |
| Dropped Out | 87 | 23.64% |
167 Ball State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.26% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 22%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 23%.
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.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | Ball State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 22% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 37.80% |
128 non first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
113 transferred to another institution.
Ball State lost contact with the remaining 11 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 3.13% |
| Transferred | 113 | 88.28% |
| Dropped Out | 11 | 8.59% |
