by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Northeastern Illinois University retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 52% students making it past their freshmen year, Northeastern Illinois 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 Illinois, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Northeastern Illinois University | 52% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
Of the 1125 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 33% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 42% of the students had graduated and after eight years 45% 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 Northeastern Illinois University graduation rate 42%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 875 | 33% |
| Six Years | 1125 | 42% |
| Eight Years | 79 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1445 | 55% |
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 1445 students or 55% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1445 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
646 transferred to another institution.
Northeastern Illinois University lost contact with the remaining 759 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 646 | 44.7% |
| Dropped Out | 759 | 52.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 41% |
| Black / African-American | 5% |
| Hispanic | 15% |
| International | 50% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 17% |
| Unknown | 22% |
| White | 38% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at Northeastern Illinois University are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Northeastern Illinois University represent 30.67% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northeastern Illinois University graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | Northeastern Illinois University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 18% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 47.82% |
632 first-time / full-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
266 transferred to another institution.
Northeastern Illinois University lost contact with the remaining 346 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 3.16% |
| Transferred | 266 | 42.09% |
| Dropped Out | 346 | 54.75% |
First-time / part-time students at Northeastern Illinois University represent 1.62% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northeastern Illinois University graduation rate was 9%, and by the eight year mark, 14% 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 | Northeastern Illinois University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 9% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
37 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
15 transferred to another institution.
Northeastern Illinois University lost contact with the remaining 20 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 5.41% |
| Transferred | 15 | 40.54% |
| Dropped Out | 20 | 54.05% |
Returning / full-time students at Northeastern Illinois University represent 35.08% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northeastern Illinois University graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 64% 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 | Northeastern Illinois University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 62% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 55.07% |
335 non first-time / part-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
154 transferred to another institution.
Northeastern Illinois University lost contact with the remaining 174 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.09% |
| Transferred | 154 | 45.97% |
| Dropped Out | 174 | 51.94% |
Returning / part-time students at Northeastern Illinois University represent 32.63% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northeastern Illinois University graduation rate was 46%, and by the eight year mark, 49% 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 | Northeastern Illinois University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 46% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 37.80% |
441 non first-time / part-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
211 transferred to another institution.
Northeastern Illinois University lost contact with the remaining 219 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 2.49% |
| Transferred | 211 | 47.85% |
| Dropped Out | 219 | 49.66% |
