by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to Lee University after their first year? Are Lee University students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 81% students making it past their freshmen year, Lee 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 Tennessee, the average is 71.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Lee University | 81% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Tennessee | 71.48% |
How many of the estimated 640 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 36% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 51% of the students had graduated and after eight years 52% of this class completed their degree.
The official graduation rate of Lee University is 51%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at Lee University? The standard length of time for most students is 4.34 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 492 | 39% |
| Six Years | 640 | 51% |
| Eight Years | 15 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 605 | 48% |
Approximately 605 students or 48% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 605 students who did not complete their degree?
7 are still enrolled.
405 transferred to another institution.
Lee University lost contact with the remaining 196 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.2% |
| Transferred | 405 | 66.9% |
| Dropped Out | 196 | 32.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 78% |
| Black / African-American | 35% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 58% |
| International | 57% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 40% |
| Unknown | 78% |
| White | 65% |
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 Lee 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 Lee University represent 71% of the students in the class of 2015, and 71.56% of Lee University bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 36%, first-time students in the Lee University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Lee University graduation rate was 51%, and by the eight year mark, 52% 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 | Lee University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 51% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 47.82% |
432 first-time / full-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
303 transferred to another institution.
Lee University lost contact with the remaining 128 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.62% |
| Transferred | 303 | 70.14% |
| Dropped Out | 128 | 29.63% |
First-time / part-time students at Lee University represent 0.71% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 33%, first-time, part-time students in the Lee University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 33%.
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 | Lee University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 33% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 23.72% |
6 first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
Lee University lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 33.33% |
| Dropped Out | 4 | 66.67% |
334 Lee University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 26.44% 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 52%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 53%.
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 | Lee University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 52% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 55.07% |
154 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
93 transferred to another institution.
Lee University lost contact with the remaining 58 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.95% |
| Transferred | 93 | 60.39% |
| Dropped Out | 58 | 37.66% |
20 Lee University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 1.58% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 35%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate similar to the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 35%.
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 | Lee University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 35% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 37.80% |
13 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
7 transferred to another institution.
Lee University lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 7 | 53.85% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 46.15% |
