by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to FHSU after their first year? Are FHSU students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 78% students making it past their freshmen year, FHSU 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 Kansas, the average is 65.77%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| FHSU | 78% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Kansas | 65.77% |
Of the 2,307 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 22% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 55% of the students had graduated and after eight years 57% 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 FHSU graduation rate 55%.
The typical FHSU student takes 4.58 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,951 | 47% |
| Six Years | 2,307 | 55% |
| Eight Years | 86 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,785 | 43% |
Approximately 1785 students or 43% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1785 students who did not complete their degree?
10 are still enrolled.
950 transferred to another institution.
FHSU lost contact with the remaining 771 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 950 | 53.2% |
| Dropped Out | 771 | 43.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 20% |
| Asian | 29% |
| Black / African-American | 31% |
| Hispanic | 39% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 36% |
| Unknown | 13% |
| White | 48% |
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 FHSU 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 Fort Hays State University represent 24% of the students in the class of 2015, and 18.77% of FHSU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time students in the FHSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the FHSU graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 | FHSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 43% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 47.82% |
551 first-time / full-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
379 transferred to another institution.
FHSU lost contact with the remaining 156 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.81% |
| Transferred | 379 | 68.78% |
| Dropped Out | 156 | 28.31% |
First-time / part-time students at Fort Hays State University represent 2.27% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 6%, first-time, part-time students in the FHSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 7%.
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 | FHSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 6% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 7% | 23.72% |
88 first-time / part-time students or 93% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
38 transferred to another institution.
FHSU lost contact with the remaining 48 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.27% |
| Transferred | 38 | 43.18% |
| Dropped Out | 48 | 54.55% |
1293 FHSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 30.90% 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 53%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 55%.
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 | FHSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 53% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 55.07% |
580 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
22 are still enrolled.
333 transferred to another institution.
FHSU lost contact with the remaining 225 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 3.79% |
| Transferred | 333 | 57.41% |
| Dropped Out | 225 | 38.79% |
1778 FHSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 42.49% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 67%, 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 68%.
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 | FHSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 67% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 37.80% |
566 non first-time / part-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
24 are still enrolled.
200 transferred to another institution.
FHSU lost contact with the remaining 342 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 4.24% |
| Transferred | 200 | 35.34% |
| Dropped Out | 342 | 60.42% |
