by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to NKU after their first year? Are NKU students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 75% 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 | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Kentucky | 67.55% |
Of the 1,556 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
15% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 44% in six years, and 46% in eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official NKU graduation rate 44%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at NKU? The standard length of time for most students is 4.56 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 874 | 24% |
| Six Years | 1,556 | 44% |
| Eight Years | 97 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,916 | 54% |
Approximately 1916 students or 54% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1916 students who did not complete their degree?
30 are still enrolled.
944 transferred to another institution.
NKU lost contact with the remaining 915 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 1.6% |
| Transferred | 944 | 49.3% |
| Dropped Out | 915 | 47.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 17% |
| Asian | 70% |
| Black / African-American | 32% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 59% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 38% |
| Unknown | 29% |
| White | 48% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Northern Kentucky University represent 67% of the students in the class of 2015, and 59.96% of NKU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 15%, first-time students in the NKU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the NKU graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | NKU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 39% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 47.82% |
1375 first-time / full-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
689 transferred to another institution.
NKU lost contact with the remaining 643 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 2.18% |
| Transferred | 689 | 50.11% |
| Dropped Out | 643 | 46.76% |
First-time / part-time students at Northern Kentucky University represent 2.83% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 15%, first-time, part-time students in the NKU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 20%.
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 | NKU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 15% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
81 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
24 transferred to another institution.
NKU lost contact with the remaining 54 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 3.70% |
| Transferred | 24 | 29.63% |
| Dropped Out | 54 | 66.67% |
733 NKU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 20.53% 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 58%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 59%.
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 | NKU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 58% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 55.07% |
299 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
157 transferred to another institution.
NKU lost contact with the remaining 136 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.01% |
| Transferred | 157 | 52.51% |
| Dropped Out | 136 | 45.48% |
358 NKU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 10.03% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 52%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 55%.
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 | NKU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 52% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 37.80% |
161 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
74 transferred to another institution.
NKU lost contact with the remaining 82 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 3.11% |
| Transferred | 74 | 45.96% |
| Dropped Out | 82 | 50.93% |
