by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Cal State LA 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 LA. 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 72% students making it past their freshmen year, Cal State LA 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 LA | 72% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
Of the 5009 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 46% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 65% of the students had graduated and after eight years 68% 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 LA graduation rate 65%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3570 | 46% |
| Six Years | 5009 | 65% |
| Eight Years | 236 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 2435 | 32% |
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 2435 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2435 students who did not complete their degree?
57 are still enrolled.
1117 transferred to another institution.
Cal State LA lost contact with the remaining 1242 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 57 | 2.3% |
| Transferred | 1117 | 45.9% |
| Dropped Out | 1242 | 51.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 69% |
| Black / African-American | 40% |
| Hispanic | 51% |
| International | 47% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 54% |
| Unknown | 37% |
| White | 55% |
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 LA are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
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 California State University-Los Angeles represent 47.85% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cal State LA graduation rate was 51%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 LA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 17% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 51% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 47.82% |
1598 first-time / full-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
57 are still enrolled.
761 transferred to another institution.
Cal State LA lost contact with the remaining 780 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 57 | 3.57% |
| Transferred | 761 | 47.62% |
| Dropped Out | 780 | 48.81% |
First-time / part-time students at California State University-Los Angeles represent 2.02% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cal State LA graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 19% 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 LA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 23.72% |
126 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
57 transferred to another institution.
Cal State LA lost contact with the remaining 63 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 4.76% |
| Transferred | 57 | 45.24% |
| Dropped Out | 63 | 50.00% |
Returning / full-time students at California State University-Los Angeles represent 37.99% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cal State LA graduation rate was 84%, and by the eight year mark, 85% 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 LA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 84% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 85% | 55.07% |
427 non first-time / part-time students or 15% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
181 transferred to another institution.
Cal State LA lost contact with the remaining 239 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.64% |
| Transferred | 181 | 42.39% |
| Dropped Out | 239 | 55.97% |
Returning / part-time students at California State University-Los Angeles represent 12.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cal State LA graduation rate was 68%, and by the eight year mark, 70% 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 LA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 60% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 68% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 37.80% |
284 non first-time / part-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
118 transferred to another institution.
Cal State LA lost contact with the remaining 160 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.11% |
| Transferred | 118 | 41.55% |
| Dropped Out | 160 | 56.34% |
