by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Cal State Fullerton 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 Cal State Fullerton. 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 82% students making it past their freshmen year, Cal State Fullerton 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 State Fullerton | 82% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 8533 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 60% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 78% of the students had graduated and after eight years 80% 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 Cal State Fullerton graduation rate 78%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6572 | 60% |
| Six Years | 8533 | 78% |
| Eight Years | 235 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2235 | 20% |
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 2235 students or 20% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2235 students who did not complete their degree?
56 are still enrolled.
1165 transferred to another institution.
Cal State Fullerton lost contact with the remaining 993 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 56 | 2.5% |
| Transferred | 1165 | 52.1% |
| Dropped Out | 993 | 44.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 78% |
| Black / African-American | 57% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 65% |
| International | 58% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 76% |
| Unknown | 67% |
| White | 75% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at Cal State Fullerton are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at California State University-Fullerton represent 39.07% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cal State Fullerton graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 73% 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 | Cal State Fullerton | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 69% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 73% | 47.82% |
1159 first-time / full-time students or 27% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
56 are still enrolled.
676 transferred to another institution.
Cal State Fullerton lost contact with the remaining 427 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 56 | 4.83% |
| Transferred | 676 | 58.33% |
| Dropped Out | 427 | 36.84% |
First-time / part-time students at California State University-Fullerton represent 1.38% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cal State Fullerton graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 38% 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 | Cal State Fullerton | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 34% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 23.72% |
94 first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
53 transferred to another institution.
Cal State Fullerton lost contact with the remaining 41 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 53 | 56.38% |
| Dropped Out | 41 | 43.62% |
Returning / full-time students at California State University-Fullerton represent 41.97% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cal State Fullerton graduation rate was 88%, and by the eight year mark, 89% 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 | Cal State Fullerton | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 88% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 89% | 55.07% |
526 non first-time / part-time students or 11% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
252 transferred to another institution.
Cal State Fullerton lost contact with the remaining 263 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 2.09% |
| Transferred | 252 | 47.91% |
| Dropped Out | 263 | 50.00% |
Returning / part-time students at California State University-Fullerton represent 17.58% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cal State Fullerton graduation rate was 74%, and by the eight year mark, 76% 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 | Cal State Fullerton | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 65% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 74% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 76% | 37.80% |
456 non first-time / part-time students or 24% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
184 transferred to another institution.
Cal State Fullerton lost contact with the remaining 262 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 2.19% |
| Transferred | 184 | 40.35% |
| Dropped Out | 262 | 57.46% |
