by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Louisiana State 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 Louisiana State University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 85% students making it past their freshmen year, Louisiana 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 Louisiana, the average is 67.86%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Louisiana State University | 85% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Louisiana | 67.86% |
Of the 4549 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 48% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 69% of the students had graduated and after eight years 70% 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 Louisiana State University graduation rate 69%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3175 | 48% |
| Six Years | 4549 | 69% |
| Eight Years | 86 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2002 | 30% |
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 2002 students or 30% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2002 students who did not complete their degree?
31 are still enrolled.
1454 transferred to another institution.
Louisiana State University lost contact with the remaining 516 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 31 | 1.5% |
| Transferred | 1454 | 72.6% |
| Dropped Out | 516 | 25.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 68% |
| Asian | 81% |
| Black / African-American | 55% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 65% |
| International | 75% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 58% |
| Unknown | 60% |
| White | 74% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College represent 83.41% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Louisiana State University graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 71% 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 | Louisiana State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 47% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 69% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 71% | 47.82% |
1617 first-time / full-time students or 29% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
29 are still enrolled.
1193 transferred to another institution.
Louisiana State University lost contact with the remaining 395 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 29 | 1.79% |
| Transferred | 1193 | 73.78% |
| Dropped Out | 395 | 24.43% |
First-time / part-time students at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College represent 0.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Louisiana State University graduation rate was 22%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | Louisiana State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 22% | 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.
6 transferred to another institution.
Louisiana State University lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 6 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College represent 15.29% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Louisiana State University graduation rate was 67%, and by the eight year mark, 68% 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 | Louisiana State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 67% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 55.07% |
328 non first-time / part-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
226 transferred to another institution.
Louisiana State University lost contact with the remaining 100 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.61% |
| Transferred | 226 | 68.90% |
| Dropped Out | 100 | 30.49% |
Returning / part-time students at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College represent 1.17% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Louisiana State University graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 | Louisiana State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 32% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 37.80% |
51 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
29 transferred to another institution.
Louisiana State University lost contact with the remaining 21 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.96% |
| Transferred | 29 | 56.86% |
| Dropped Out | 21 | 41.18% |
