by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many North Carolina Wesleyan College 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 North Carolina Wesleyan College. 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 59% students making it past their freshmen year, North Carolina Wesleyan College 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 North Carolina, the average is 66.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| North Carolina Wesleyan College | 59% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
How many of the estimated 1664 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 62% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 66% of the students had graduated and after eight years 67% 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 North Carolina Wesleyan College graduation rate 66%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1567 | 62% |
| Six Years | 1664 | 66% |
| Eight Years | 22 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 828 | 33% |
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 828 students or 33% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 828 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
365 transferred to another institution.
North Carolina Wesleyan College lost contact with the remaining 455 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 365 | 44.1% |
| Dropped Out | 455 | 55.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Asian | 100% |
| Black / African-American | 34% |
| Hispanic | 20% |
| International | 56% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 40% |
| Unknown | 51% |
| White | 40% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at North Carolina Wesleyan College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
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 North Carolina Wesleyan University represent 13.84% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the North Carolina Wesleyan College graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | North Carolina Wesleyan College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 39% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 47.82% |
208 first-time / full-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
119 transferred to another institution.
North Carolina Wesleyan College lost contact with the remaining 88 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.48% |
| Transferred | 119 | 57.21% |
| Dropped Out | 88 | 42.31% |
First-time / part-time students at North Carolina Wesleyan University represent 1.35% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the North Carolina Wesleyan College graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 | North Carolina Wesleyan College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 24% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 26% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 23.72% |
24 first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
11 transferred to another institution.
North Carolina Wesleyan College lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 11 | 45.83% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 54.17% |
Returning / full-time students at North Carolina Wesleyan University represent 40.60% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the North Carolina Wesleyan College graduation rate was 74%, and by the eight year mark, 75% 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 | North Carolina Wesleyan College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 74% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 75% | 55.07% |
256 non first-time / part-time students or 25% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
120 transferred to another institution.
North Carolina Wesleyan College lost contact with the remaining 133 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.17% |
| Transferred | 120 | 46.88% |
| Dropped Out | 133 | 51.95% |
Returning / part-time students at North Carolina Wesleyan University represent 44.21% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the North Carolina Wesleyan College graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 69% 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 | North Carolina Wesleyan College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 66% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 69% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 37.80% |
340 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
115 transferred to another institution.
North Carolina Wesleyan College lost contact with the remaining 221 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.18% |
| Transferred | 115 | 33.82% |
| Dropped Out | 221 | 65.00% |
