by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many GFU first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore GFU retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 83% students making it past their freshmen year, GFU 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 Oregon, the average is 67.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| GFU | 83% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Oregon | 67.48% |
How many of the estimated 610 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 63% of the cohort graduated. After six years 75% had completed their degree, and 76% 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 GFU graduation rate 75%.
The typical GFU student takes 4.18 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 567 | 69% |
| Six Years | 610 | 75% |
| Eight Years | 7 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 199 | 24% |
Approximately 199 students or 24% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 199 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
176 transferred to another institution.
GFU lost contact with the remaining 23 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 176 | 88.4% |
| Dropped Out | 23 | 11.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 83% |
| Black / African-American | 40% |
| Hispanic | 58% |
| International | 63% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 65% |
| Unknown | 57% |
| White | 68% |
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 GFU 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 George Fox University represent 57% of the students in the class of 2015, and 53.93% of GFU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 63%, first-time students in the GFU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the GFU graduation rate was 71%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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 | GFU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 63% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 71% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 47.82% |
131 first-time / full-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
113 transferred to another institution.
GFU lost contact with the remaining 18 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.76% |
| Transferred | 113 | 86.26% |
| Dropped Out | 18 | 13.74% |
First-time / part-time students at George Fox University represent 0.49% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time, part-time students in the GFU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 25%.
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 | GFU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 23.72% |
3 first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
GFU 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 | 1 | 33.33% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 66.67% |
217 GFU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 26.53% 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 79%, 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 80%.
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 | GFU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 79% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 80% | 55.07% |
44 non first-time / part-time students or 20% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
42 transferred to another institution.
GFU 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 | 42 | 95.45% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 4.55% |
132 GFU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.14% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 83%, 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 84%.
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 | GFU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 83% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 84% | 37.80% |
21 non first-time / part-time students or 16% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
20 transferred to another institution.
GFU lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 20 | 95.24% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 4.76% |
