by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Boise State retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 79% students making it past their freshmen year, Boise 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 Idaho, the average is 77.33%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Boise State | 79% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Idaho | 77.33% |
How many of the estimated 2873 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 44% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 58% of the students had graduated and after eight years 61% 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 Boise State graduation rate 58%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2157 | 44% |
| Six Years | 2873 | 58% |
| Eight Years | 120 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1928 | 39% |
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 1928 students or 39% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1928 students who did not complete their degree?
37 are still enrolled.
958 transferred to another institution.
Boise State lost contact with the remaining 918 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 37 | 1.9% |
| Transferred | 958 | 49.7% |
| Dropped Out | 918 | 47.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 20% |
| Asian | 70% |
| Black / African-American | 50% |
| Hawaiian | 73% |
| Hispanic | 58% |
| International | 50% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 62% |
| Unknown | 56% |
| White | 63% |
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 Boise State are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Boise State University represent 53.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Boise State graduation rate was 60%, and by the eight year mark, 62% 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 | Boise State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 60% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 47.82% |
994 first-time / full-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
36 are still enrolled.
507 transferred to another institution.
Boise State lost contact with the remaining 451 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 36 | 3.62% |
| Transferred | 507 | 51.01% |
| Dropped Out | 451 | 45.37% |
First-time / part-time students at Boise State University represent 2.84% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Boise State graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | Boise State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 23.72% |
109 first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
39 transferred to another institution.
Boise State lost contact with the remaining 67 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.75% |
| Transferred | 39 | 35.78% |
| Dropped Out | 67 | 61.47% |
Returning / full-time students at Boise State University represent 26.98% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Boise 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 this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Boise State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 61% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 55.07% |
505 non first-time / part-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
261 transferred to another institution.
Boise State lost contact with the remaining 234 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.98% |
| Transferred | 261 | 51.68% |
| Dropped Out | 234 | 46.34% |
Returning / part-time students at Boise State University represent 16.92% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Boise State graduation rate was 59%, and by the eight year mark, 61% 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 | Boise State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 51% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 59% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 37.80% |
320 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
151 transferred to another institution.
Boise State lost contact with the remaining 166 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.94% |
| Transferred | 151 | 47.19% |
| Dropped Out | 166 | 51.88% |
