by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Duquesne 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 86% students making it past their freshmen year, Duquesne 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 | |
|---|---|
| Duquesne | 86% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
How many of the estimated 1,278 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 71% of the cohort graduated. After six years 80% had completed their degree, and 80% 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 Duquesne graduation rate 80%.
The typical Duquesne student takes 4.12 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,130 | 70% |
| Six Years | 1,278 | 80% |
| Eight Years | 6 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 322 | 20% |
Approximately 322 students or 20% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 322 students who did not complete their degree?
3 are still enrolled.
206 transferred to another institution.
Duquesne lost contact with the remaining 115 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.9% |
| Transferred | 206 | 64.0% |
| Dropped Out | 115 | 35.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 71% |
| Black / African-American | 67% |
| Hispanic | 72% |
| International | 83% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 71% |
| Unknown | 57% |
| White | 81% |
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 Duquesne 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 Duquesne University represent 83% of the students in the class of 2015, and 83.80% of Duquesne bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 71%, first-time students in the Duquesne class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Duquesne graduation rate was 80%, and by the eight year mark, 81% 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 | Duquesne | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 71% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 80% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 81% | 47.82% |
258 first-time / full-time students or 19% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
202 transferred to another institution.
Duquesne lost contact with the remaining 55 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.16% |
| Transferred | 202 | 78.29% |
| Dropped Out | 55 | 21.32% |
First-time / part-time students at Duquesne University represent 0.87% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 86%, first-time, part-time students in the Duquesne class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 86%.
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 | Duquesne | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 43% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 86% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 86% | 23.72% |
2 first-time / part-time students or 14% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
Duquesne lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 100.00% |
248 Duquesne students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.43% 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 77%, 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 77%.
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 | Duquesne | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 77% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 77% | 55.07% |
58 non first-time / part-time students or 23% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
Duquesne lost contact with the remaining 55 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 5.17% |
| Dropped Out | 55 | 94.83% |
9 Duquesne students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 0.56% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 56%, 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 56%.
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 | Duquesne | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 56% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 37.80% |
4 non first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
Duquesne lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 25.00% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 75.00% |
