by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Gustavus Adolphus 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 Gustavus Adolphus. 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 88% students making it past their freshmen year, Gustavus Adolphus 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 Minnesota, the average is 67.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Gustavus Adolphus | 88% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Minnesota | 67.05% |
How many of the estimated 431 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 70% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 75% of the students had graduated and after eight years 75% 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 Gustavus Adolphus graduation rate 75%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 403 | 70% |
| Six Years | 431 | 75% |
| Eight Years | 0 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 143 | 25% |
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 143 students or 25% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 143 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
107 transferred to another institution.
Gustavus Adolphus lost contact with the remaining 36 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 107 | 74.8% |
| Dropped Out | 36 | 25.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 76% |
| Black / African-American | 69% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 61% |
| International | 70% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 81% |
| Unknown | 60% |
| White | 77% |
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 Gustavus Adolphus are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Gustavus Adolphus College represent 94.95% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Gustavus Adolphus graduation rate was 76%, and by the eight year mark, 76% 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 | Gustavus Adolphus | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 71% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 76% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 76% | 47.82% |
130 first-time / full-time students or 24% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
98 transferred to another institution.
Gustavus Adolphus lost contact with the remaining 32 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 98 | 75.38% |
| Dropped Out | 32 | 24.62% |
At this time we lack data for this cohort at Gustavus Adolphus College.
Returning / full-time students at Gustavus Adolphus College represent 5.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Gustavus Adolphus graduation rate was 55%, 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 | Gustavus Adolphus | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 55% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 55.07% |
13 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
Gustavus Adolphus lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 9 | 69.23% |
| Dropped Out | 4 | 30.77% |
Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data for this cohort at Gustavus Adolphus College.
