by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many NKU 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 NKU. 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 76% students making it past their freshmen year, NKU 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 Kentucky, the average is 67.55%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| NKU | 76% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Kentucky | 67.55% |
How many of the estimated 1691 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 36% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 50% of the students had graduated and after eight years 52% 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 NKU graduation rate 50%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1204 | 36% |
| Six Years | 1691 | 50% |
| Eight Years | 52 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1634 | 48% |
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 1634 students or 48% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1634 students who did not complete their degree?
26 are still enrolled.
726 transferred to another institution.
NKU lost contact with the remaining 863 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 1.6% |
| Transferred | 726 | 44.4% |
| Dropped Out | 863 | 52.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 52% |
| Black / African-American | 39% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 42% |
| International | 53% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 32% |
| Unknown | 36% |
| White | 50% |
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 NKU 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 Northern Kentucky University represent 64.43% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the NKU graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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 | NKU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 49% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 47.82% |
1065 first-time / full-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
27 are still enrolled.
491 transferred to another institution.
NKU lost contact with the remaining 547 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 27 | 2.54% |
| Transferred | 491 | 46.10% |
| Dropped Out | 547 | 51.36% |
First-time / part-time students at Northern Kentucky University represent 1.83% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the NKU graduation rate was 16%, and by the eight year mark, 16% 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 | NKU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 23.72% |
52 first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
11 transferred to another institution.
NKU lost contact with the remaining 35 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 11.54% |
| Transferred | 11 | 21.15% |
| Dropped Out | 35 | 67.31% |
Returning / full-time students at Northern Kentucky University represent 23.86% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the NKU graduation rate was 58%, and by the eight year mark, 59% 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 | NKU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 58% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 55.07% |
329 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
151 transferred to another institution.
NKU lost contact with the remaining 168 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 3.04% |
| Transferred | 151 | 45.90% |
| Dropped Out | 168 | 51.06% |
Returning / part-time students at Northern Kentucky University represent 9.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the NKU graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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 | NKU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 37.80% |
188 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
73 transferred to another institution.
NKU lost contact with the remaining 113 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.06% |
| Transferred | 73 | 38.83% |
| Dropped Out | 113 | 60.11% |
