by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Cal Poly Pomona first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Cal Poly Pomona retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 87% students making it past their freshmen year, Cal Poly Pomona 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Cal Poly Pomona | 87% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
Of the 3,939 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 18% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 71% of the students had graduated and after eight years 75% 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 Cal Poly Pomona graduation rate 71%.
The average Cal Poly Pomona student takes 4.82 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,165 | 39% |
| Six Years | 3,939 | 71% |
| Eight Years | 261 | 4% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,373 | 25% |
Approximately 1373 students or 25% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1373 students who did not complete their degree?
26 are still enrolled.
785 transferred to another institution.
Cal Poly Pomona lost contact with the remaining 544 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 1.9% |
| Transferred | 785 | 57.2% |
| Dropped Out | 544 | 39.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 29% |
| Asian | 79% |
| Black / African-American | 53% |
| Hawaiian | 14% |
| Hispanic | 63% |
| International | 62% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 58% |
| Unknown | 62% |
| White | 71% |
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 Cal Poly Pomona 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 California State Polytechnic University - Pomona represent 57% of the students in the class of 2015, and 52.81% of Cal Poly Pomona bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 18%, first-time students in the Cal Poly Pomona class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Cal Poly Pomona graduation rate was 66%, and by the eight year mark, 73% 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 | Cal Poly Pomona | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 66% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 73% | 47.82% |
861 first-time / full-time students or 27% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
26 are still enrolled.
534 transferred to another institution.
Cal Poly Pomona lost contact with the remaining 292 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 3.02% |
| Transferred | 534 | 62.02% |
| Dropped Out | 292 | 33.91% |
First-time / part-time students at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona represent 1.74% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 34%, first-time, part-time students in the Cal Poly Pomona class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 44%.
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 | Cal Poly Pomona | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 34% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 23.72% |
54 first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
35 transferred to another institution.
Cal Poly Pomona lost contact with the remaining 17 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 3.70% |
| Transferred | 35 | 64.81% |
| Dropped Out | 17 | 31.48% |
1899 Cal Poly Pomona students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 34.08% 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 82%, 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 84%.
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 | Cal Poly Pomona | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 82% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 84% | 55.07% |
309 non first-time / part-time students or 16% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
148 transferred to another institution.
Cal Poly Pomona lost contact with the remaining 159 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.65% |
| Transferred | 148 | 47.90% |
| Dropped Out | 159 | 51.46% |
420 Cal Poly Pomona students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 7.54% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 62%, 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 65%.
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 | Cal Poly Pomona | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 62% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 65% | 37.80% |
149 non first-time / part-time students or 35% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
68 transferred to another institution.
Cal Poly Pomona lost contact with the remaining 76 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 3.36% |
| Transferred | 68 | 45.64% |
| Dropped Out | 76 | 51.01% |
