by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at BHSU? 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.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 65% students making it past their freshmen year, BHSU has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in South Dakota, the average is 75.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| BHSU | 65% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Dakota | 75.05% |
There were approximately 414 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
14% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 34% in six years, and 36% in 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 BHSU graduation rate 34%.
The typical BHSU student takes 4.60 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 242 | 20% |
| Six Years | 414 | 34% |
| Eight Years | 30 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 785 | 64% |
Approximately 785 students or 64% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 785 students who did not complete their degree?
10 are still enrolled.
455 transferred to another institution.
BHSU lost contact with the remaining 306 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.3% |
| Transferred | 455 | 58.0% |
| Dropped Out | 306 | 39.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 11% |
| Asian | 33% |
| Hispanic | 38% |
| International | 57% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 35% |
| Unknown | 56% |
| White | 42% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 BHSU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Black Hills State University represent 49% of the students in the class of 2015, and 48.31% of BHSU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 14%, first-time students in the BHSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the BHSU graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 | BHSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 33% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 47.82% |
387 first-time / full-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
236 transferred to another institution.
BHSU lost contact with the remaining 139 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 2.58% |
| Transferred | 236 | 60.98% |
| Dropped Out | 139 | 35.92% |
First-time / part-time students at Black Hills State University represent 5.70% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time, part-time students in the BHSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 19%.
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 | BHSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 23.72% |
57 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
26 transferred to another institution.
BHSU lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 3.51% |
| Transferred | 26 | 45.61% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 50.88% |
385 BHSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 31.33% 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 42%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 43%.
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 | BHSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 42% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 55.07% |
218 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
133 transferred to another institution.
BHSU lost contact with the remaining 79 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.75% |
| Transferred | 133 | 61.01% |
| Dropped Out | 79 | 36.24% |
173 BHSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 14.08% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 24%, 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 29%.
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 | BHSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 24% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 37.80% |
123 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
60 transferred to another institution.
BHSU lost contact with the remaining 59 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 3.25% |
| Transferred | 60 | 48.78% |
| Dropped Out | 59 | 47.97% |
