by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Oakland 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 Oakland. 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 78% students making it past their freshmen year, Oakland 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 | |
|---|---|
| Oakland | 78% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
Of the 2994 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 42% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 59% of the students had graduated and after eight years 62% 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 Oakland graduation rate 59%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2143 | 42% |
| Six Years | 2994 | 59% |
| Eight Years | 129 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1943 | 38% |
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 1943 students or 38% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1943 students who did not complete their degree?
41 are still enrolled.
1302 transferred to another institution.
Oakland lost contact with the remaining 574 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 41 | 2.1% |
| Transferred | 1302 | 67.0% |
| Dropped Out | 574 | 29.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 25% |
| Asian | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 36% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 47% |
| International | 80% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 48% |
| Unknown | 41% |
| White | 61% |
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 Oakland are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Oakland University represent 50.41% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Oakland graduation rate was 58%, and by the eight year mark, 61% 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 | Oakland | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 58% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 47.82% |
1004 first-time / full-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
41 are still enrolled.
714 transferred to another institution.
Oakland lost contact with the remaining 249 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 41 | 4.08% |
| Transferred | 714 | 71.12% |
| Dropped Out | 249 | 24.80% |
First-time / part-time students at Oakland University represent 1.16% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Oakland graduation rate was 37%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | Oakland | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 37% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 23.72% |
34 first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
18 transferred to another institution.
Oakland lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 8.82% |
| Transferred | 18 | 52.94% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 38.24% |
Returning / full-time students at Oakland University represent 34.62% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Oakland graduation rate was 66%, and by the eight year mark, 67% 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 | Oakland | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 66% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 55.07% |
576 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
371 transferred to another institution.
Oakland lost contact with the remaining 190 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 2.60% |
| Transferred | 371 | 64.41% |
| Dropped Out | 190 | 32.99% |
Returning / part-time students at Oakland University represent 13.81% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Oakland graduation rate was 50%, and by the eight year mark, 53% 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 | Oakland | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 42% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 50% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 37.80% |
329 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
199 transferred to another institution.
Oakland lost contact with the remaining 122 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 2.43% |
| Transferred | 199 | 60.49% |
| Dropped Out | 122 | 37.08% |
