by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Lamar University 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 Lamar University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 62% students making it past their freshmen year, Lamar University has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Texas, the average is 68.17%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Lamar University | 62% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
There were approximately 1273 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 29% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 44% of the students had graduated and after eight years 47% 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 Lamar University graduation rate 44%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 841 | 29% |
| Six Years | 1273 | 44% |
| Eight Years | 73 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1541 | 53% |
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 1541 students or 53% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1541 students who did not complete their degree?
28 are still enrolled.
816 transferred to another institution.
Lamar University lost contact with the remaining 673 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 1.8% |
| Transferred | 816 | 53.0% |
| Dropped Out | 673 | 43.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 26% |
| Asian | 66% |
| Black / African-American | 22% |
| Hispanic | 37% |
| International | 44% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 50% |
| Unknown | 17% |
| White | 48% |
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 Lamar University 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 Lamar University represent 52.30% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Lamar University graduation rate was 37%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | Lamar University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 37% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 47.82% |
880 first-time / full-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
538 transferred to another institution.
Lamar University lost contact with the remaining 312 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 3.41% |
| Transferred | 538 | 61.14% |
| Dropped Out | 312 | 35.45% |
First-time / part-time students at Lamar University represent 3.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Lamar University graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 31% 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 | Lamar University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 24% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 23.72% |
63 first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
25 transferred to another institution.
Lamar University lost contact with the remaining 35 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 4.76% |
| Transferred | 25 | 39.68% |
| Dropped Out | 35 | 55.56% |
Returning / full-time students at Lamar University represent 18.19% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Lamar University graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 54% 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 | Lamar University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 54% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 55.07% |
240 non first-time / part-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
105 transferred to another institution.
Lamar University lost contact with the remaining 128 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.92% |
| Transferred | 105 | 43.75% |
| Dropped Out | 128 | 53.33% |
Returning / part-time students at Lamar University represent 26.37% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Lamar University graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 53% 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 | Lamar University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 46% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 53% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 37.80% |
358 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
148 transferred to another institution.
Lamar University lost contact with the remaining 198 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 3.35% |
| Transferred | 148 | 41.34% |
| Dropped Out | 198 | 55.31% |
