by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to Norfolk State after their first year? Are Norfolk State 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 68% students making it past their freshmen year, Norfolk State 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 Virginia, the average is 69.66%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Norfolk State | 68% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Virginia | 69.66% |
Of the 500 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
11% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 30% in six years, and 32% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of Norfolk State is 30%. 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.
The typical Norfolk State student takes 4.53 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 218 | 13% |
| Six Years | 500 | 30% |
| Eight Years | 37 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,122 | 68% |
Approximately 1122 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1122 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
240 transferred to another institution.
Norfolk State lost contact with the remaining 869 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.1% |
| Transferred | 240 | 21.4% |
| Dropped Out | 869 | 77.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 33% |
| Black / African-American | 40% |
| Hispanic | 35% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 39% |
| Unknown | 27% |
| White | 45% |
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 Norfolk State 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 Norfolk State University represent 63% of the students in the class of 2015, and 74.60% of Norfolk State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 11%, first-time students in the Norfolk State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Norfolk State graduation rate was 36%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 | Norfolk State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 36% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 47.82% |
641 first-time / full-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
185 transferred to another institution.
Norfolk State lost contact with the remaining 444 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.16% |
| Transferred | 185 | 28.86% |
| Dropped Out | 444 | 69.27% |
First-time / part-time students at Norfolk State University represent 5.84% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 8%, first-time, part-time students in the Norfolk State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 8%.
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 | Norfolk State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 8% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 8% | 23.72% |
89 first-time / part-time students or 92% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
Norfolk State lost contact with the remaining 86 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 3.37% |
| Dropped Out | 86 | 96.63% |
377 Norfolk State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 22.71% 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 28%, 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 28%.
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 | Norfolk State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 28% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 55.07% |
271 non first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
34 transferred to another institution.
Norfolk State lost contact with the remaining 236 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.37% |
| Transferred | 34 | 12.55% |
| Dropped Out | 236 | 87.08% |
136 Norfolk State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 8.19% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 11%, 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 11%.
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 | Norfolk State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 11% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 11% | 37.80% |
121 non first-time / part-time students or 89% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
18 transferred to another institution.
Norfolk State lost contact with the remaining 103 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 18 | 14.88% |
| Dropped Out | 103 | 85.12% |
