by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to BYU - I after their first year? Are BYU - I students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 74% students making it past their freshmen year, BYU - I 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 | |
|---|---|
| BYU - I | 74% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Idaho | 77.33% |
There were approximately 4,117 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 22% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 56% of the students had graduated and after eight years 69% of this class completed their degree.
The official graduation rate of BYU - I is 56%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
The average length of time it takes an BYU - I undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.96 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,129 | 29% |
| Six Years | 4,117 | 56% |
| Eight Years | 893 | 13% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,279 | 31% |
Approximately 2279 students or 31% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2279 students who did not complete their degree?
45 are still enrolled.
1152 transferred to another institution.
BYU - I lost contact with the remaining 971 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 45 | 2.0% |
| Transferred | 1152 | 50.5% |
| Dropped Out | 971 | 42.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 40% |
| Asian | 58% |
| Black / African-American | 21% |
| Hispanic | 51% |
| International | 58% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 39% |
| Unknown | 57% |
| White | 58% |
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 BYU - I are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Brigham Young University - Idaho represent 62% of the students in the class of 2015, and 56.25% of BYU - I bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time students in the BYU - I class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the BYU - I graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 66% 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 | BYU - I | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 52% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 47.82% |
1505 first-time / full-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
45 are still enrolled.
750 transferred to another institution.
BYU - I lost contact with the remaining 645 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 45 | 2.99% |
| Transferred | 750 | 49.83% |
| Dropped Out | 645 | 42.86% |
First-time / part-time students at Brigham Young University - Idaho represent 5.67% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 34%, first-time, part-time students in the BYU - I class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 48%.
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 | BYU - I | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 17% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 34% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 23.72% |
209 first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
94 transferred to another institution.
BYU - I lost contact with the remaining 99 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 7.66% |
| Transferred | 94 | 44.98% |
| Dropped Out | 99 | 47.37% |
2327 BYU - I students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 28.79% 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 70%, 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 80%.
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 | BYU - I | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 70% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 80% | 55.07% |
443 non first-time / part-time students or 20% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
25 are still enrolled.
241 transferred to another institution.
BYU - I lost contact with the remaining 177 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 25 | 5.64% |
| Transferred | 241 | 54.40% |
| Dropped Out | 177 | 39.95% |
296 BYU - I students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.66% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 51%, 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 57%.
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 | BYU - I | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 51% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 37.80% |
122 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
67 transferred to another institution.
BYU - I lost contact with the remaining 50 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 4.10% |
| Transferred | 67 | 54.92% |
| Dropped Out | 50 | 40.98% |
