by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Bethel 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 Bethel. 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 54% students making it past their freshmen year, Bethel 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 Tennessee, the average is 71.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Bethel | 54% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Tennessee | 71.48% |
How many of the estimated 368 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 17% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 20% of the students had graduated and after eight years 21% 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 Bethel graduation rate 20%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 308 | 17% |
| Six Years | 368 | 20% |
| Eight Years | 14 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1438 | 79% |
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 1438 students or 79% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1438 students who did not complete their degree?
78 are still enrolled.
323 transferred to another institution.
Bethel lost contact with the remaining 1114 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 78 | 5.4% |
| Transferred | 323 | 22.5% |
| Dropped Out | 1114 | 77.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 100% |
| Black / African-American | 18% |
| Hispanic | 54% |
| International | 31% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 50% |
| Unknown | 72% |
| White | 43% |
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 Bethel are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Bethel University represent 39.29% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bethel graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | Bethel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 31% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 47.82% |
483 first-time / full-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
170 transferred to another institution.
Bethel lost contact with the remaining 313 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 170 | 35.20% |
| Dropped Out | 313 | 64.80% |
First-time / part-time students at Bethel University represent 9.73% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bethel graduation rate was 5%, and by the eight year mark, 5% 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 | Bethel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 5% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 5% | 23.72% |
168 first-time / part-time students or 95% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
22 transferred to another institution.
Bethel lost contact with the remaining 145 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.60% |
| Transferred | 22 | 13.10% |
| Dropped Out | 145 | 86.31% |
Returning / full-time students at Bethel University represent 41.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bethel graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 18% 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 | Bethel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 17% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 55.07% |
617 non first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
123 transferred to another institution.
Bethel lost contact with the remaining 494 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 123 | 19.94% |
| Dropped Out | 494 | 80.06% |
Returning / part-time students at Bethel University represent 9.73% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bethel graduation rate was 3%, and by the eight year mark, 4% 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 | Bethel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 3% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 4% | 37.80% |
170 non first-time / part-time students or 96% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
8 transferred to another institution.
Bethel lost contact with the remaining 162 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 8 | 4.71% |
| Dropped Out | 162 | 95.29% |
