by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Hard Work U 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 Hard Work U. 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 90% students making it past their freshmen year, Hard Work U 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 Missouri, the average is 69.43%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Hard Work U | 90% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Missouri | 69.43% |
How many of the estimated 360 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 41% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 63% of the students had graduated and after eight years 63% 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 Hard Work U graduation rate 63%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 237 | 41% |
| Six Years | 360 | 63% |
| Eight Years | 1 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 215 | 37% |
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 215 students or 37% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 215 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
157 transferred to another institution.
Hard Work U lost contact with the remaining 58 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 157 | 73.0% |
| Dropped Out | 58 | 27.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 80% |
| International | 100% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 82% |
| Unknown | 56% |
| White | 60% |
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 Hard Work U are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at College of the Ozarks represent 79.34% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Hard Work U graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 62% 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 | Hard Work U | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 40% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 62% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 47.82% |
173 first-time / full-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
119 transferred to another institution.
Hard Work U lost contact with the remaining 54 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 119 | 68.79% |
| Dropped Out | 54 | 31.21% |
First-time / part-time students at College of the Ozarks represent 0.17% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Hard Work U graduation rate was 100%, and by the eight year mark, 100% 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 | Hard Work U | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 100% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 100% | 23.72% |
Returning / full-time students at College of the Ozarks represent 20.49% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Hard Work U graduation rate was 64%, and by the eight year mark, 64% 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 | Hard Work U | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 64% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 55.07% |
42 non first-time / part-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
38 transferred to another institution.
Hard Work U lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 38 | 90.48% |
| Dropped Out | 4 | 9.52% |
Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data for this cohort at College of the Ozarks.
