by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many CSULB first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore CSULB 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 89% students making it past their freshmen year, CSULB 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 | |
|---|---|
| CSULB | 89% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 5,822 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 16% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 76% of the students had graduated and after eight years 79% 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 CSULB graduation rate 76%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at CSULB? The standard length of time for most students is 4.78 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3,468 | 45% |
| Six Years | 5,822 | 76% |
| Eight Years | 268 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,579 | 21% |
Approximately 1579 students or 21% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1579 students who did not complete their degree?
37 are still enrolled.
918 transferred to another institution.
CSULB lost contact with the remaining 602 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 37 | 2.3% |
| Transferred | 918 | 58.1% |
| Dropped Out | 602 | 38.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 81% |
| Black / African-American | 61% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 71% |
| International | 69% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 71% |
| Unknown | 72% |
| White | 72% |
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 CSULB 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 University - Long Beach represent 51% of the students in the class of 2015, and 46.17% of CSULB bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time students in the CSULB class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the CSULB graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 75% 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 | CSULB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 69% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 75% | 47.82% |
992 first-time / full-time students or 25% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
37 are still enrolled.
636 transferred to another institution.
CSULB lost contact with the remaining 315 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 37 | 3.73% |
| Transferred | 636 | 64.11% |
| Dropped Out | 315 | 31.75% |
First-time / part-time students at California State University - Long Beach represent 1.19% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 54%, first-time, part-time students in the CSULB class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 55%.
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 | CSULB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 54% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 23.72% |
41 first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
24 transferred to another institution.
CSULB lost contact with the remaining 17 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 24 | 58.54% |
| Dropped Out | 17 | 41.46% |
2976 CSULB students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 38.81% 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 87%, 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 88%.
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 | CSULB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 87% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 88% | 55.07% |
356 non first-time / part-time students or 12% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
170 transferred to another institution.
CSULB lost contact with the remaining 176 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 2.81% |
| Transferred | 170 | 47.75% |
| Dropped Out | 176 | 49.44% |
690 CSULB students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 9.00% of the students in the class of 2015.
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.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 72%.
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 | CSULB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 70% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 37.80% |
190 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
88 transferred to another institution.
CSULB lost contact with the remaining 94 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 4.21% |
| Transferred | 88 | 46.32% |
| Dropped Out | 94 | 49.47% |
