by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Lehman? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 81% students making it past their freshmen year, Lehman 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 New York, the average is 73.51%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Lehman | 81% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New York | 73.51% |
Of the 1,609 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 19% of the cohort graduated. After six years 51% had completed their degree, and 55% after eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official Lehman graduation rate 51%.
The average length of time it takes an Lehman undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.66 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,245 | 40% |
| Six Years | 1,609 | 51% |
| Eight Years | 113 | 4% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,422 | 45% |
Approximately 1422 students or 45% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1422 students who did not complete their degree?
9 are still enrolled.
586 transferred to another institution.
Lehman lost contact with the remaining 764 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 586 | 41.2% |
| Dropped Out | 764 | 53.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 65% |
| Black / African-American | 54% |
| Hawaiian | 33% |
| Hispanic | 51% |
| International | 58% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 50% |
| White | 53% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 Lehman are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Lehman College represent 20% of the students in the class of 2015, and 17.90% of Lehman bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 19%, first-time students in the Lehman class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Lehman graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | Lehman | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 45% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 47.82% |
316 first-time / full-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
148 transferred to another institution.
Lehman lost contact with the remaining 148 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 2.85% |
| Transferred | 148 | 46.84% |
| Dropped Out | 148 | 46.84% |
First-time / part-time students at Lehman College represent 0.89% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 11%, first-time, part-time students in the Lehman class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 18%.
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.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | Lehman | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 11% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
23 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
7 transferred to another institution.
Lehman lost contact with the remaining 15 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 4.35% |
| Transferred | 7 | 30.43% |
| Dropped Out | 15 | 65.22% |
1498 Lehman students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 47.65% 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 60%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 63%.
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.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | Lehman | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 60% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 55.07% |
559 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
38 are still enrolled.
202 transferred to another institution.
Lehman lost contact with the remaining 319 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 38 | 6.80% |
| Transferred | 202 | 36.14% |
| Dropped Out | 319 | 57.07% |
976 Lehman students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 31.04% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 44%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 46%.
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.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | Lehman | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 44% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 37.80% |
524 non first-time / part-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
229 transferred to another institution.
Lehman lost contact with the remaining 282 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 2.48% |
| Transferred | 229 | 43.70% |
| Dropped Out | 282 | 53.82% |
