by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Faulkner? 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 60% students making it past their freshmen year, Faulkner has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Alabama, the average is 66.79%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Faulkner | 60% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Alabama | 66.79% |
How many of the estimated 447 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 20% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 41% of the students had graduated and after eight years 42% 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 Faulkner graduation rate 41%.
The average Faulkner student takes 4.65 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 352 | 32% |
| Six Years | 447 | 41% |
| Eight Years | 15 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 639 | 58% |
Approximately 639 students or 58% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 639 students who did not complete their degree?
3 are still enrolled.
388 transferred to another institution.
Faulkner lost contact with the remaining 248 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 388 | 60.7% |
| Dropped Out | 248 | 38.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Black / African-American | 21% |
| Hispanic | 21% |
| International | 29% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 23% |
| White | 32% |
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 Faulkner 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 Faulkner University represent 34% of the students in the class of 2015, and 28.19% of Faulkner bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 20%, first-time students in the Faulkner class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Faulkner graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 | Faulkner | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 34% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 47.82% |
246 first-time / full-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
171 transferred to another institution.
Faulkner lost contact with the remaining 73 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.22% |
| Transferred | 171 | 69.51% |
| Dropped Out | 73 | 29.67% |
First-time / part-time students at Faulkner University represent 5.36% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time, part-time students in the Faulkner class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 24%.
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 | Faulkner | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 22% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 23.72% |
45 first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
21 transferred to another institution.
Faulkner lost contact with the remaining 24 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 21 | 46.67% |
| Dropped Out | 24 | 53.33% |
465 Faulkner students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 42.23% 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 55%, 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 57%.
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 | Faulkner | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 55% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 55.07% |
202 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
116 transferred to another institution.
Faulkner lost contact with the remaining 85 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.50% |
| Transferred | 116 | 57.43% |
| Dropped Out | 85 | 42.08% |
201 Faulkner students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 18.26% 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 27%.
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 | Faulkner | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 26% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 37.80% |
146 non first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
80 transferred to another institution.
Faulkner lost contact with the remaining 66 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 80 | 54.79% |
| Dropped Out | 66 | 45.21% |
