by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Humboldt State University retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree 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 76% students making it past their freshmen year, Humboldt 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Humboldt State University | 76% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 1564 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 47% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 61% of the students had graduated and after eight years 63% 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 Humboldt State University graduation rate 61%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1211 | 47% |
| Six Years | 1564 | 61% |
| Eight Years | 47 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 939 | 37% |
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 939 students or 37% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 939 students who did not complete their degree?
13 are still enrolled.
626 transferred to another institution.
Humboldt State University lost contact with the remaining 295 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 1.4% |
| Transferred | 626 | 66.7% |
| Dropped Out | 295 | 31.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 42% |
| Asian | 62% |
| Black / African-American | 33% |
| Hawaiian | 25% |
| Hispanic | 41% |
| International | 50% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 49% |
| Unknown | 41% |
| White | 55% |
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 Humboldt State University 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 California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt represent 51.06% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Humboldt State University graduation rate was 46%, and by the eight year mark, 48% 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 | Humboldt State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 46% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 47.82% |
675 first-time / full-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
482 transferred to another institution.
Humboldt State University lost contact with the remaining 180 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 1.93% |
| Transferred | 482 | 71.41% |
| Dropped Out | 180 | 26.67% |
First-time / part-time students at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt represent 0.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Humboldt State University graduation rate was 21%, and by the eight year mark, 21% 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 | Humboldt State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 23.72% |
11 first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
8 transferred to another institution.
Humboldt State University lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 8 | 72.73% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 27.27% |
Returning / full-time students at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt represent 44.94% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Humboldt State University graduation rate was 79%, and by the eight year mark, 80% 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 | Humboldt State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 79% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 80% | 55.07% |
228 non first-time / part-time students or 20% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
124 transferred to another institution.
Humboldt State University lost contact with the remaining 99 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 2.19% |
| Transferred | 124 | 54.39% |
| Dropped Out | 99 | 43.42% |
Returning / part-time students at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt represent 3.45% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Humboldt State University graduation rate was 67%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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 | Humboldt State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 64% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 67% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 37.80% |
25 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
Humboldt State University lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 12 | 48.00% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 52.00% |
