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CSU Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

3% 4-Year Graduation Rate
28% 6-Year Graduation Rate
54% Retention Rate

Chicago State University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How many CSU first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore CSU retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.

CSU Retention Rate

54% Freshmen Retention Rate
Below Average Retention Rate

The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.

With 54% students making it past their freshmen year, CSU has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.

Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.

When looking at just colleges and universities in Illinois, the average is 72.64%.

CSU Retention  54 out of 100
0%
100%
Illinois Retention  73 out of 100
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100%
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Retention Rate
CSU54%
Nationwide70.57%
Illinois72.64%
Low retention rates may be a signal that a lot of students plan on transferring after a year or two. Is that the case here?

CSU Graduation Rates

28% 6-Year Graduation Rate
41.32% Transfer Rate
24.81% Dropout Rate

How many of the estimated 400 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?

After four years 3% of the cohort graduated. After six years 28% had completed their degree, and 32% after eight years.

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 CSU graduation rate 28%.

The typical CSU student takes 4.97 years to complete their bachelor's degree.

Four Year Graduation Rate  18%
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100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  28%
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  32%
0%
100%

CSU Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years25818%
Six Years40028%
Eight Years524%
Did Not Complete98168%
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.
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CSU Drop Out Rate

Approximately 981 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 981 students who did not complete their degree?

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Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.0%
Transferred59360.4%
Dropped Out35636.3%

CSU Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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Race/EthnicityGraduation Rate
Black / African-American13%
Hispanic27%
International100%
Unknown9%
White22%

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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.

The majority of students at CSU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.

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 CSU Graduation Rates

34% First-Time, Full-Time
13% 6-Year Grad Rate
Low Grad Rate

First-time / full-time students at Chicago State University represent 34% of the students in the class of 2015, and 16.25% of CSU bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 3%, first-time students in the CSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the CSU graduation rate was 13%, and by the eight year mark, 17% 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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  3 out of 100
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100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  13 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  17 out of 100
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100%

CSU First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsCSUNationwide
Four Years3%37.92%
Six Years13%46.43%
Eight Years17%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time CSU Drop Out Rates

405 first-time / full-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.00%
Transferred24961.48%
Dropped Out14134.81%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

5% First-Time, Part-Time
3% 6-Year Grad Rate
Low Grad Rate

First-time / part-time students at Chicago State University represent 5.37% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 3%, first-time, part-time students in the CSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 9%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  3 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  9 out of 100
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100%

First-Time / Part-Time CSU Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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First-Time / Part-Time CompletionsCSUNationwide
Four Years1%14.37%
Six Years3%21.59%
Eight Years9%23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time CSU Drop Out Rates

70 first-time / part-time students or 91% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled11.43%
Transferred3752.86%
Dropped Out3245.71%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

44% Returning, Full-Time
42% 6-Year Grad Rate
Low Grad Rate

634 CSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 44.18% 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 42%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 45%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  42 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  45 out of 100
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100%

CSU Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Full-Time CompletionsCSUNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years42%53.83%
Eight Years45%55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time CSU Drop Out Rates

346 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled82.31%
Transferred22264.16%
Dropped Out11633.53%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

16% Returning, Part-Time
29% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

235 CSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.38% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 29%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 32%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  29 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  32 out of 100
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100%

CSU Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Part-Time CompletionsCSUNationwide
Four Years0%30.46%
Six Years29%36.03%
Eight Years32%37.80%

Non First-Time / Part-Time CSU Drop Out Rates

160 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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Returning / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled85.00%
Transferred8553.13%
Dropped Out6741.88%

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