by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Sac State 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 Sac State. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 82% students making it past their freshmen year, Sac State 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 | |
|---|---|
| Sac State | 82% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
Of the 6518 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 54% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 70% of the students had graduated and after eight years 73% 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 Sac State graduation rate 70%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5053 | 54% |
| Six Years | 6518 | 70% |
| Eight Years | 239 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 2549 | 27% |
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 2549 students or 27% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2549 students who did not complete their degree?
74 are still enrolled.
1464 transferred to another institution.
Sac State lost contact with the remaining 975 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 74 | 2.9% |
| Transferred | 1464 | 57.4% |
| Dropped Out | 975 | 38.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 62% |
| Asian | 61% |
| Black / African-American | 45% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 54% |
| International | 48% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 54% |
| Unknown | 48% |
| White | 61% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Sac State 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-Sacramento represent 39.66% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Sac State graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 60% 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 | Sac State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 54% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 47.82% |
1484 first-time / full-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
75 are still enrolled.
932 transferred to another institution.
Sac State lost contact with the remaining 477 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 75 | 5.05% |
| Transferred | 932 | 62.80% |
| Dropped Out | 477 | 32.14% |
First-time / part-time students at California State University-Sacramento represent 0.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Sac State graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | Sac State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 27% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 23.72% |
54 first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
24 transferred to another institution.
Sac State lost contact with the remaining 27 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 5.56% |
| Transferred | 24 | 44.44% |
| Dropped Out | 27 | 50.00% |
Returning / full-time students at California State University-Sacramento represent 46.50% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Sac State 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 | Sac State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 84% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 85% | 55.07% |
651 non first-time / part-time students or 15% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
22 are still enrolled.
328 transferred to another institution.
Sac State lost contact with the remaining 301 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 3.38% |
| Transferred | 328 | 50.38% |
| Dropped Out | 301 | 46.24% |
Returning / part-time students at California State University-Sacramento represent 12.96% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Sac State graduation rate was 69%, 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 | Sac State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 61% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 69% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 37.80% |
360 non first-time / part-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
180 transferred to another institution.
Sac State lost contact with the remaining 170 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 2.78% |
| Transferred | 180 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 170 | 47.22% |
