by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Capella University retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 42% students making it past their freshmen year, Capella University has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Minnesota, the average is 67.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Capella University | 42% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Minnesota | 67.05% |
How many of the estimated 2256 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 26% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 31% of the students had graduated and after eight years 32% 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 Capella University graduation rate 31%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1905 | 26% |
| Six Years | 2256 | 31% |
| Eight Years | 100 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 4971 | 68% |
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 4971 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4971 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2367 transferred to another institution.
Capella University lost contact with the remaining 2560 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2367 | 47.6% |
| Dropped Out | 2560 | 51.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Hispanic | 100% |
| Unknown | 33% |
| White | 33% |
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 Capella University 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 Capella University represent 1.40% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Capella University graduation rate was 13%, and by the eight year mark, 16% 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 | Capella University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 13% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 47.82% |
87 first-time / full-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
36 transferred to another institution.
Capella University lost contact with the remaining 51 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 36 | 41.38% |
| Dropped Out | 51 | 58.62% |
First-time / part-time students at Capella University represent 9.16% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Capella University graduation rate was 8%, and by the eight year mark, 10% 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 | Capella University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 8% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 10% | 23.72% |
602 first-time / part-time students or 90% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
240 transferred to another institution.
Capella University lost contact with the remaining 356 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.00% |
| Transferred | 240 | 39.87% |
| Dropped Out | 356 | 59.14% |
Returning / full-time students at Capella University represent 25.09% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Capella University graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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 | Capella University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 54% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 55.07% |
822 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
390 transferred to another institution.
Capella University lost contact with the remaining 424 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 0.97% |
| Transferred | 390 | 47.45% |
| Dropped Out | 424 | 51.58% |
Returning / part-time students at Capella University represent 64.34% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Capella University graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 | Capella University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 25% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 37.80% |
3460 non first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
1701 transferred to another institution.
Capella University lost contact with the remaining 1729 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 0.87% |
| Transferred | 1701 | 49.16% |
| Dropped Out | 1729 | 49.97% |
