by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Dakota 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 Dakota State. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 75% students making it past their freshmen year, Dakota 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 South Dakota, the average is 75.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Dakota State | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Dakota | 75.05% |
Of the 325 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 33% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 45% of the students had graduated and after eight years 47% 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 Dakota State graduation rate 45%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 238 | 33% |
| Six Years | 325 | 45% |
| Eight Years | 15 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 380 | 53% |
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 380 students or 53% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 380 students who did not complete their degree?
3 are still enrolled.
182 transferred to another institution.
Dakota State lost contact with the remaining 188 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 182 | 47.9% |
| Dropped Out | 188 | 49.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 100% |
| Black / African-American | 9% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 60% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 25% |
| White | 52% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at Dakota 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 Dakota State University represent 44.17% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Dakota State graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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 | Dakota State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 48% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 47.82% |
156 first-time / full-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
74 transferred to another institution.
Dakota State lost contact with the remaining 78 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.56% |
| Transferred | 74 | 47.44% |
| Dropped Out | 78 | 50.00% |
First-time / part-time students at Dakota State University represent 3.75% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Dakota State graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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 | Dakota State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 41% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 23.72% |
15 first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
7 transferred to another institution.
Dakota State lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 6.67% |
| Transferred | 7 | 46.67% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 46.67% |
Returning / full-time students at Dakota State University represent 24.86% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Dakota State graduation rate was 47%, and by the eight year mark, 48% 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 | Dakota State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 47% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 55.07% |
93 non first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
52 transferred to another institution.
Dakota State lost contact with the remaining 41 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 52 | 55.91% |
| Dropped Out | 41 | 44.09% |
Returning / part-time students at Dakota State University represent 27.22% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Dakota State graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 41% 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 | Dakota State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 39% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 37.80% |
116 non first-time / part-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
49 transferred to another institution.
Dakota State lost contact with the remaining 62 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 4.31% |
| Transferred | 49 | 42.24% |
| Dropped Out | 62 | 53.45% |
