by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Northwood 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 Northwood. 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 79% students making it past their freshmen year, Northwood 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 Michigan, the average is 70.80%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Northwood | 79% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
There were approximately 853 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 61% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 66% of the students had graduated and after eight years 68% 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 Northwood graduation rate 66%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 779 | 61% |
| Six Years | 853 | 66% |
| Eight Years | 16 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 417 | 32% |
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 417 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 417 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
197 transferred to another institution.
Northwood lost contact with the remaining 212 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.2% |
| Transferred | 197 | 47.2% |
| Dropped Out | 212 | 50.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 25% |
| Black / African-American | 25% |
| Hispanic | 67% |
| International | 57% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 43% |
| Unknown | 33% |
| White | 70% |
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 Northwood are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Northwood University represent 25.08% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northwood graduation rate was 63%, and by the eight year mark, 64% 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 | Northwood | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 52% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 63% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 47.82% |
115 first-time / full-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
87 transferred to another institution.
Northwood lost contact with the remaining 27 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.87% |
| Transferred | 87 | 75.65% |
| Dropped Out | 27 | 23.48% |
First-time / part-time students at Northwood University represent 3.65% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northwood graduation rate was 13%, and by the eight year mark, 15% 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 | Northwood | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
40 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
Northwood lost contact with the remaining 28 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 12 | 30.00% |
| Dropped Out | 28 | 70.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Northwood University represent 31.99% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northwood graduation rate was 85%, and by the eight year mark, 85% 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 | Northwood | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 85% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 85% | 55.07% |
62 non first-time / part-time students or 15% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
27 transferred to another institution.
Northwood lost contact with the remaining 33 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 3.23% |
| Transferred | 27 | 43.55% |
| Dropped Out | 33 | 53.23% |
Returning / part-time students at Northwood University represent 39.29% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northwood graduation rate was 58%, and by the eight year mark, 60% 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 | Northwood | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 53% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 58% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 37.80% |
200 non first-time / part-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
71 transferred to another institution.
Northwood lost contact with the remaining 124 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 2.50% |
| Transferred | 71 | 35.50% |
| Dropped Out | 124 | 62.00% |
