by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Del State? 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.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 74% students making it past their freshmen year, Del 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 Delaware, the average is 73.50%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Del State | 74% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Delaware | 73.50% |
There were approximately 548 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 20% of the cohort graduated. After six years 37% had completed their degree, and 39% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of Del State is 37%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
The average Del State student takes 4.45 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 325 | 22% |
| Six Years | 548 | 37% |
| Eight Years | 16 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 900 | 61% |
Approximately 900 students or 61% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 900 students who did not complete their degree?
17 are still enrolled.
135 transferred to another institution.
Del State lost contact with the remaining 762 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 1.9% |
| Transferred | 135 | 15.0% |
| Dropped Out | 762 | 84.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 33% |
| Black / African-American | 50% |
| Hispanic | 44% |
| International | 88% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 44% |
| Unknown | 75% |
| White | 34% |
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 Del State 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 students at Delaware State University represent 76% of the students in the class of 2015, and 73.72% of Del State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 20%, first-time students in the Del State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Del State graduation rate was 36%, and by the eight year mark, 38% 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 | Del State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 36% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 47.82% |
691 first-time / full-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
112 transferred to another institution.
Del State lost contact with the remaining 577 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 2.46% |
| Transferred | 112 | 16.21% |
| Dropped Out | 577 | 83.50% |
First-time / part-time students at Delaware State University represent 1.98% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 3%, first-time, part-time students in the Del State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 3%.
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 | Del State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 3% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 3% | 23.72% |
28 first-time / part-time students or 97% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
5 transferred to another institution.
Del State lost contact with the remaining 23 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 5 | 17.86% |
| Dropped Out | 23 | 82.14% |
288 Del State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 19.67% 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 46%, 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 47%.
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 | Del State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 46% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 55.07% |
152 non first-time / part-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
17 transferred to another institution.
Del State lost contact with the remaining 134 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.66% |
| Transferred | 17 | 11.18% |
| Dropped Out | 134 | 88.16% |
39 Del State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 2.66% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 26%, 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 26%.
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 | Del State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 26% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 37.80% |
29 non first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
Del State lost contact with the remaining 28 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 3.45% |
| Dropped Out | 28 | 96.55% |
