by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Fayetteville State University 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 Fayetteville State University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 75% students making it past their freshmen year, Fayetteville State University 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 North Carolina, the average is 66.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Fayetteville State University | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
There were approximately 933 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 39% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 49% of the students had graduated and after eight years 51% 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 Fayetteville State University graduation rate 49%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 753 | 39% |
| Six Years | 933 | 49% |
| Eight Years | 35 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 947 | 49% |
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 947 students or 49% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 947 students who did not complete their degree?
7 are still enrolled.
544 transferred to another institution.
Fayetteville State University lost contact with the remaining 379 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 544 | 57.4% |
| Dropped Out | 379 | 40.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 29% |
| Black / African-American | 36% |
| Hispanic | 41% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 27% |
| Unknown | 22% |
| White | 36% |
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 Fayetteville State University are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
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 Fayetteville State University represent 35.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Fayetteville State University graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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 | Fayetteville State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 42% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 47.82% |
373 first-time / full-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
199 transferred to another institution.
Fayetteville State University lost contact with the remaining 167 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.88% |
| Transferred | 199 | 53.35% |
| Dropped Out | 167 | 44.77% |
First-time / part-time students at Fayetteville State University represent 0.57% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Fayetteville State University graduation rate was 9%, and by the eight year mark, 9% 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 | Fayetteville State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 9% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 9% | 23.72% |
10 first-time / part-time students or 91% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
Fayetteville State University lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 9 | 90.00% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 10.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Fayetteville State University represent 42.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Fayetteville State University graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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 | Fayetteville State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 54% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 55.07% |
369 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
220 transferred to another institution.
Fayetteville State University lost contact with the remaining 137 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 3.25% |
| Transferred | 220 | 59.62% |
| Dropped Out | 137 | 37.13% |
Returning / part-time students at Fayetteville State University represent 21.49% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Fayetteville State University graduation rate was 50%, and by the eight year mark, 53% 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 | Fayetteville State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 43% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 50% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 37.80% |
195 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
116 transferred to another institution.
Fayetteville State University lost contact with the remaining 74 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 2.56% |
| Transferred | 116 | 59.49% |
| Dropped Out | 74 | 37.95% |
