by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Donnelly College 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 Donnelly College. 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 58% students making it past their freshmen year, Donnelly College has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Kansas, the average is 65.77%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Donnelly College | 58% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Kansas | 65.77% |
How many of the estimated 78 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 33% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 36% of the students had graduated and after eight years 38% 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 Donnelly College graduation rate 36%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 72 | 33% |
| Six Years | 78 | 36% |
| Eight Years | 4 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 136 | 62% |
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 136 students or 62% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 136 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
53 transferred to another institution.
Donnelly College lost contact with the remaining 83 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 53 | 39.0% |
| Dropped Out | 83 | 61.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 38% |
| Black / African-American | 14% |
| Hispanic | 42% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 100% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Donnelly College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Donnelly College represent 41.28% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Donnelly College graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | Donnelly College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 32% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 47.82% |
59 first-time / full-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
18 transferred to another institution.
Donnelly College lost contact with the remaining 41 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 18 | 30.51% |
| Dropped Out | 41 | 69.49% |
First-time / part-time students at Donnelly College represent 16.97% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Donnelly College graduation rate was 5%, and by the eight year mark, 5% 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 | Donnelly College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 5% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 5% | 23.72% |
35 first-time / part-time students or 95% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
Donnelly College lost contact with the remaining 23 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 12 | 34.29% |
| Dropped Out | 23 | 65.71% |
Returning / full-time students at Donnelly College represent 25.23% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Donnelly College graduation rate was 58%, and by the eight year mark, 62% 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 | Donnelly College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 58% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 55.07% |
21 non first-time / part-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
15 transferred to another institution.
Donnelly College lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 15 | 71.43% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 28.57% |
Returning / part-time students at Donnelly College represent 16.51% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Donnelly College graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | Donnelly College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 39% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
21 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
8 transferred to another institution.
Donnelly College lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 8 | 38.10% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 61.90% |
