by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to Northwest University after their first year? Are Northwest University 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 83% students making it past their freshmen year, Northwest University 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 Washington, the average is 73.95%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Northwest University | 83% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Washington | 73.95% |
How many of the estimated 277 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 52% of the cohort graduated. After six years 59% had completed their degree, and 61% after eight years.
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 Northwest University graduation rate 59%.
The average length of time it takes an Northwest University undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.14 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 254 | 54% |
| Six Years | 277 | 59% |
| Eight Years | 11 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 185 | 39% |
Approximately 185 students or 39% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 185 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
107 transferred to another institution.
Northwest University lost contact with the remaining 76 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 107 | 57.8% |
| Dropped Out | 76 | 41.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 80% |
| Asian | 67% |
| Black / African-American | 58% |
| Hawaiian | 17% |
| Hispanic | 48% |
| International | 25% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 45% |
| White | 62% |
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 Northwest University 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 Northwest University represent 41% of the students in the class of 2015, and 40.43% of Northwest University bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 52%, first-time students in the Northwest University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Northwest University graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 59% 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 | Northwest University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 52% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 57% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 47.82% |
80 first-time / full-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
45 transferred to another institution.
Northwest University lost contact with the remaining 33 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 45 | 56.25% |
| Dropped Out | 33 | 41.25% |
First-time / part-time students at Northwest University represent 5.07% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 38%, first-time, part-time students in the Northwest University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 63%.
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 | Northwest University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 38% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 23.72% |
9 first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
Northwest University lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 22.22% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 77.78% |
237 Northwest University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 50.11% 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 65%, 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 66%.
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 | Northwest University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 65% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 55.07% |
81 non first-time / part-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
51 transferred to another institution.
Northwest University lost contact with the remaining 30 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 51 | 62.96% |
| Dropped Out | 30 | 37.04% |
17 Northwest University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.59% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 12%, 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 12%.
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 | Northwest University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 12% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 12% | 37.80% |
15 non first-time / part-time students or 88% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
Northwest University lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 9 | 60.00% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 40.00% |
