by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Belhaven 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 Belhaven. 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 68% students making it past their freshmen year, Belhaven has freshmen retention rates below 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 | |
|---|---|
| Belhaven | 68% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Mississippi | 70.78% |
How many of the estimated 466 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 37% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 42% of the students had graduated and after eight years 43% 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 Belhaven graduation rate 42%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 403 | 37% |
| Six Years | 466 | 42% |
| Eight Years | 5 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 627 | 57% |
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 627 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 627 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
369 transferred to another institution.
Belhaven lost contact with the remaining 252 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.2% |
| Transferred | 369 | 58.9% |
| Dropped Out | 252 | 40.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Black / African-American | 42% |
| Hispanic | 36% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 57% |
| Unknown | 25% |
| White | 60% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at Belhaven 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 Belhaven University represent 21.86% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Belhaven graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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 | Belhaven | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 45% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 47.82% |
132 first-time / full-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
101 transferred to another institution.
Belhaven lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.52% |
| Transferred | 101 | 76.52% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 21.97% |
First-time / part-time students at Belhaven University represent 3.10% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Belhaven graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | Belhaven | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 32% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 23.72% |
23 first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
Belhaven lost contact with the remaining 20 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 13.04% |
| Dropped Out | 20 | 86.96% |
Returning / full-time students at Belhaven University represent 26.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Belhaven graduation rate was 59%, and by the eight year mark, 59% 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 | Belhaven | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 59% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 55.07% |
120 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
85 transferred to another institution.
Belhaven lost contact with the remaining 35 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 85 | 70.83% |
| Dropped Out | 35 | 29.17% |
Returning / part-time students at Belhaven University represent 48.36% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Belhaven graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | Belhaven | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 33% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 37.80% |
352 non first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
180 transferred to another institution.
Belhaven lost contact with the remaining 168 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.14% |
| Transferred | 180 | 51.14% |
| Dropped Out | 168 | 47.73% |
