by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Iowa State first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Iowa State 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 89% students making it past their freshmen year, Iowa State 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 Iowa, the average is 68.94%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Iowa State | 89% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Iowa | 68.94% |
Of the 5,335 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 45% of the cohort graduated. After six years 72% had completed their degree, and 73% after eight years.
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 Iowa State graduation rate 72%.
The average Iowa State student takes 4.41 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3,737 | 51% |
| Six Years | 5,335 | 72% |
| Eight Years | 73 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,964 | 27% |
Approximately 1964 students or 27% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1964 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1464 transferred to another institution.
Iowa State lost contact with the remaining 473 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1464 | 74.5% |
| Dropped Out | 473 | 24.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 57% |
| Asian | 71% |
| Black / African-American | 54% |
| Hawaiian | 75% |
| Hispanic | 70% |
| International | 71% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 66% |
| Unknown | 74% |
| White | 77% |
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 Iowa State 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 Iowa State University represent 70% of the students in the class of 2015, and 70.52% of Iowa State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 45%, first-time students in the Iowa State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Iowa State graduation rate was 73%, and by the eight year mark, 75% 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 | Iowa State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 45% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 73% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 75% | 47.82% |
1302 first-time / full-time students or 25% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1016 transferred to another institution.
Iowa State lost contact with the remaining 265 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1016 | 78.03% |
| Dropped Out | 265 | 20.35% |
First-time / part-time students at Iowa State University represent 0.31% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 26%, first-time, part-time students in the Iowa State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 30%.
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 | Iowa State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 26% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 23.72% |
16 first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
11 transferred to another institution.
Iowa State lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 6.25% |
| Transferred | 11 | 68.75% |
| Dropped Out | 4 | 25.00% |
2116 Iowa State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 28.59% 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 72%, 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 72%.
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 | Iowa State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 72% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 55.07% |
593 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
400 transferred to another institution.
Iowa State lost contact with the remaining 190 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.51% |
| Transferred | 400 | 67.45% |
| Dropped Out | 190 | 32.04% |
111 Iowa State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 1.50% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 50%, 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 52%.
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 | Iowa State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 50% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 37.80% |
53 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
37 transferred to another institution.
Iowa State lost contact with the remaining 14 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 3.77% |
| Transferred | 37 | 69.81% |
| Dropped Out | 14 | 26.42% |
