by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Northwood 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.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
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% |
How many of the estimated 1,037 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 38% of those students had graduated. By 2017, 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%.
The average length of time it takes an Northwood undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.18 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 901 | 57% |
| Six Years | 1,037 | 66% |
| Eight Years | 26 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 510 | 32% |
Approximately 510 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 510 students who did not complete their degree?
4 are still enrolled.
243 transferred to another institution.
Northwood lost contact with the remaining 248 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 243 | 47.6% |
| Dropped Out | 248 | 48.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Black / African-American | 27% |
| Hispanic | 10% |
| International | 42% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 38% |
| Unknown | 25% |
| White | 66% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 Northwood are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Northwood University represent 26% of the students in the class of 2015, and 21.41% of Northwood bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 38%, first-time students in the Northwood class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Northwood graduation rate was 55%, and by the eight year mark, 56% 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 | Northwood | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 55% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 47.82% |
178 first-time / full-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
102 transferred to another institution.
Northwood lost contact with the remaining 73 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.25% |
| Transferred | 102 | 57.30% |
| Dropped Out | 73 | 41.01% |
First-time / part-time students at Northwood University represent 2.22% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 9%, first-time, part-time students in the Northwood class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 11%.
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 | Northwood | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 9% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 11% | 23.72% |
31 first-time / part-time students or 89% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
11 transferred to another institution.
Northwood lost contact with the remaining 16 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 12.90% |
| Transferred | 11 | 35.48% |
| Dropped Out | 16 | 51.61% |
601 Northwood students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 38.18% 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 81%, 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 82%.
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 | Northwood | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 81% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 82% | 55.07% |
110 non first-time / part-time students or 18% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
57 transferred to another institution.
Northwood lost contact with the remaining 51 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.82% |
| Transferred | 57 | 51.82% |
| Dropped Out | 51 | 46.36% |
536 Northwood students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 34.05% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 61%, 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 64%.
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 | Northwood | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 61% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 37.80% |
191 non first-time / part-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
73 transferred to another institution.
Northwood lost contact with the remaining 108 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 5.24% |
| Transferred | 73 | 38.22% |
| Dropped Out | 108 | 56.54% |
