by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Bridgewater State first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Bridgewater State retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 76% students making it past their freshmen year, Bridgewater 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 Massachusetts, the average is 73.02%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Bridgewater State | 76% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Massachusetts | 73.02% |
Of the 1,787 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 33% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 59% of the students had graduated and after eight years 61% of this class completed their degree.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official Bridgewater State graduation rate 59%.
The average length of time it takes an Bridgewater State undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.46 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,259 | 41% |
| Six Years | 1,787 | 59% |
| Eight Years | 77 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,171 | 39% |
Approximately 1171 students or 39% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1171 students who did not complete their degree?
13 are still enrolled.
591 transferred to another institution.
Bridgewater State lost contact with the remaining 547 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 1.1% |
| Transferred | 591 | 50.5% |
| Dropped Out | 547 | 46.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 60% |
| Asian | 57% |
| Black / African-American | 51% |
| Hispanic | 45% |
| International | 43% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 54% |
| Unknown | 50% |
| White | 62% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 Bridgewater State are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Bridgewater State University represent 51% of the students in the class of 2015, and 51.54% of Bridgewater State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 33%, first-time students in the Bridgewater State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Bridgewater State graduation rate was 59%, and by the eight year mark, 62% 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 | Bridgewater State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 59% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 47.82% |
586 first-time / full-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
342 transferred to another institution.
Bridgewater State lost contact with the remaining 226 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 2.22% |
| Transferred | 342 | 58.36% |
| Dropped Out | 226 | 38.57% |
First-time / part-time students at Bridgewater State University represent 1.88% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 14%, first-time, part-time students in the Bridgewater State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 23%.
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 | Bridgewater State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 23.72% |
44 first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
22 transferred to another institution.
Bridgewater State lost contact with the remaining 22 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 22 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 22 | 50.00% |
1103 Bridgewater State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 36.34% 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 66%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 67%.
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 | Bridgewater State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 66% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 55.07% |
361 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
157 transferred to another institution.
Bridgewater State lost contact with the remaining 196 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 2.22% |
| Transferred | 157 | 43.49% |
| Dropped Out | 196 | 54.29% |
326 Bridgewater State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 10.74% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 40%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 45%.
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 | Bridgewater State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 40% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 37.80% |
180 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
70 transferred to another institution.
Bridgewater State lost contact with the remaining 103 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 3.89% |
| Transferred | 70 | 38.89% |
| Dropped Out | 103 | 57.22% |
