by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Bluefield State College 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 Bluefield State College. 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 55% students making it past their freshmen year, Bluefield State College 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 West Virginia, the average is 70.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Bluefield State College | 55% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| West Virginia | 70.53% |
How many of the estimated 225 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 41% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 50% of the students had graduated and after eight years 51% 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 Bluefield State College graduation rate 50%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 183 | 41% |
| Six Years | 225 | 50% |
| Eight Years | 7 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 219 | 49% |
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 219 students or 49% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 219 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
57 transferred to another institution.
Bluefield State College lost contact with the remaining 158 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 57 | 26.0% |
| Dropped Out | 158 | 72.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Black / African-American | 21% |
| International | 100% |
| White | 38% |
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.
The majority of students at Bluefield State College are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Bluefield State University represent 51.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bluefield State College graduation rate was 46%, and by the eight year mark, 48% 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 | Bluefield State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 46% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 47.82% |
121 first-time / full-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
31 transferred to another institution.
Bluefield State College lost contact with the remaining 88 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.65% |
| Transferred | 31 | 25.62% |
| Dropped Out | 88 | 72.73% |
First-time / part-time students at Bluefield State University represent 6.65% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bluefield State College graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | Bluefield State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 37% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 40% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 23.72% |
18 first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
Bluefield State College lost contact with the remaining 18 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 18 | 100.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Bluefield State University represent 28.60% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bluefield State College graduation rate was 55%, and by the eight year mark, 56% 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 | Bluefield State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 55% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 55.07% |
57 non first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
20 transferred to another institution.
Bluefield State College lost contact with the remaining 36 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.75% |
| Transferred | 20 | 35.09% |
| Dropped Out | 36 | 63.16% |
Returning / part-time students at Bluefield State University represent 12.86% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bluefield State College graduation rate was 60%, and by the eight year mark, 60% 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 | Bluefield State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 57% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 60% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 37.80% |
23 non first-time / part-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
6 transferred to another institution.
Bluefield State College lost contact with the remaining 16 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 4.35% |
| Transferred | 6 | 26.09% |
| Dropped Out | 16 | 69.57% |
