by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding DeSales retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree 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 81% students making it past their freshmen year, DeSales 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| DeSales | 81% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
There were approximately 475 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
62% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 61% in six years, and 62% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of DeSales is 61%. 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.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at DeSales? The standard length of time for most students is 5.00 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 418 | 54% |
| Six Years | 475 | 61% |
| Eight Years | 8 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 298 | 38% |
Approximately 298 students or 38% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 298 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
175 transferred to another institution.
DeSales lost contact with the remaining 118 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 175 | 58.7% |
| Dropped Out | 118 | 39.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 80% |
| Black / African-American | 22% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 50% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 70% |
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 DeSales 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 DeSales University represent 58% of the students in the class of 2015, and 66.32% of DeSales bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 62%, first-time students in the DeSales class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the DeSales graduation rate was 70%, and by the eight year mark, 70% 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 | DeSales | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 62% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 70% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 47.82% |
134 first-time / full-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
106 transferred to another institution.
DeSales lost contact with the remaining 28 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.49% |
| Transferred | 106 | 79.10% |
| Dropped Out | 28 | 20.90% |
First-time / part-time students at DeSales University represent 3.33% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 4%, first-time, part-time students in the DeSales class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 8%.
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 | DeSales | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 4% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 8% | 23.72% |
24 first-time / part-time students or 92% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
DeSales lost contact with the remaining 21 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 4.17% |
| Transferred | 2 | 8.33% |
| Dropped Out | 21 | 87.50% |
126 DeSales students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.13% 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 71%, 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 71%.
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 | DeSales | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 71% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 71% | 55.07% |
36 non first-time / part-time students or 29% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
21 transferred to another institution.
DeSales lost contact with the remaining 14 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.78% |
| Transferred | 21 | 58.33% |
| Dropped Out | 14 | 38.89% |
178 DeSales students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 22.79% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 39%, 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 42%.
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 | DeSales | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 39% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
104 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
46 transferred to another institution.
DeSales lost contact with the remaining 55 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.88% |
| Transferred | 46 | 44.23% |
| Dropped Out | 55 | 52.88% |
