by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at OSU? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 85% students making it past their freshmen year, OSU 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 Oklahoma, the average is 65.20%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| OSU | 85% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Oklahoma | 65.20% |
How many of the estimated 3,655 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 38% of the cohort graduated. After six years 58% had completed their degree, and 60% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of OSU is 58%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
The average OSU student takes 4.43 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,538 | 40% |
| Six Years | 3,655 | 58% |
| Eight Years | 136 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,510 | 40% |
Approximately 2510 students or 40% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2510 students who did not complete their degree?
11 are still enrolled.
1494 transferred to another institution.
OSU lost contact with the remaining 948 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 0.4% |
| Transferred | 1494 | 59.5% |
| Dropped Out | 948 | 37.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 73% |
| Black / African-American | 46% |
| Hawaiian | 25% |
| Hispanic | 61% |
| International | 61% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 57% |
| Unknown | 75% |
| White | 67% |
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 OSU 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 Oklahoma State University - Main Campus represent 59% of the students in the class of 2015, and 62.22% of OSU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 38%, first-time students in the OSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the OSU graduation rate was 61%, and by the eight year mark, 64% 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 | OSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 61% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 47.82% |
1348 first-time / full-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
685 transferred to another institution.
OSU lost contact with the remaining 634 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 0.82% |
| Transferred | 685 | 50.82% |
| Dropped Out | 634 | 47.03% |
First-time / part-time students at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus represent 3.95% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 33%, first-time, part-time students in the OSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 36%.
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 | OSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 33% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 23.72% |
159 first-time / part-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
141 transferred to another institution.
OSU lost contact with the remaining 15 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.89% |
| Transferred | 141 | 88.68% |
| Dropped Out | 15 | 9.43% |
1849 OSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 29.34% 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 60%.
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 | OSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 58% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 55.07% |
741 non first-time / part-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
23 are still enrolled.
466 transferred to another institution.
OSU lost contact with the remaining 252 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 3.10% |
| Transferred | 466 | 62.89% |
| Dropped Out | 252 | 34.01% |
491 OSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 7.79% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 46%, 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 47%.
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 | OSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 46% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 37.80% |
262 non first-time / part-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
202 transferred to another institution.
OSU lost contact with the remaining 47 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 4.96% |
| Transferred | 202 | 77.10% |
| Dropped Out | 47 | 17.94% |
