by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at ISU? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 63% students making it past their freshmen year, ISU has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Idaho, the average is 77.33%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| ISU | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Idaho | 77.33% |
There were approximately 6,292 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 16% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 42% of the students had graduated and after eight years 44% 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 ISU graduation rate 42%.
The average ISU student takes 4.67 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5,318 | 36% |
| Six Years | 6,292 | 42% |
| Eight Years | 293 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 8,257 | 56% |
Approximately 8257 students or 56% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 8257 students who did not complete their degree?
43 are still enrolled.
2391 transferred to another institution.
ISU lost contact with the remaining 5591 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 43 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 2391 | 29.0% |
| Dropped Out | 5,591 | 67.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 44% |
| Black / African-American | 39% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 33% |
| International | 23% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 34% |
| Unknown | 29% |
| White | 39% |
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 ISU 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 Idaho State University represent 16% of the students in the class of 2015, and 11.01% of ISU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time students in the ISU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the ISU graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | ISU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 29% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 47.82% |
1628 first-time / full-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
43 are still enrolled.
534 transferred to another institution.
ISU lost contact with the remaining 1027 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 43 | 2.64% |
| Transferred | 534 | 32.80% |
| Dropped Out | 1,027 | 63.08% |
First-time / part-time students at Idaho State University represent 4.00% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 9%, first-time, part-time students in the ISU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 12%.
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 | ISU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 9% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 12% | 23.72% |
523 first-time / part-time students or 88% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
21 are still enrolled.
135 transferred to another institution.
ISU lost contact with the remaining 367 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 4.02% |
| Transferred | 135 | 25.81% |
| Dropped Out | 367 | 70.17% |
7414 ISU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 49.81% 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 57%, 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 59%.
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 | ISU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 57% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 55.07% |
3066 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
80 are still enrolled.
847 transferred to another institution.
ISU lost contact with the remaining 2139 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 80 | 2.61% |
| Transferred | 847 | 27.63% |
| Dropped Out | 2,139 | 69.77% |
4469 ISU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 30.02% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 30%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 32%.
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 | ISU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 30% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 37.80% |
3040 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
107 are still enrolled.
875 transferred to another institution.
ISU lost contact with the remaining 2058 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 107 | 3.52% |
| Transferred | 875 | 28.78% |
| Dropped Out | 2,058 | 67.70% |
