by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Oregon State 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 Oregon State. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 88% students making it past their freshmen year, Oregon State 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 Oregon, the average is 67.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Oregon State | 88% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Oregon | 67.48% |
Of the 4496 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 49% 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 Oregon State graduation rate 66%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3323 | 49% |
| Six Years | 4496 | 66% |
| Eight Years | 144 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2176 | 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 2176 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2176 students who did not complete their degree?
23 are still enrolled.
1222 transferred to another institution.
Oregon State lost contact with the remaining 893 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 1.1% |
| Transferred | 1222 | 56.2% |
| Dropped Out | 893 | 41.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 41% |
| Asian | 77% |
| Black / African-American | 53% |
| Hawaiian | 80% |
| Hispanic | 65% |
| International | 64% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 70% |
| Unknown | 70% |
| White | 72% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Oregon State 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 Oregon State University represent 52.93% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Oregon State graduation rate was 70%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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 | Oregon State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 46% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 70% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 47.82% |
1015 first-time / full-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
25 are still enrolled.
673 transferred to another institution.
Oregon State lost contact with the remaining 317 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 25 | 2.46% |
| Transferred | 673 | 66.31% |
| Dropped Out | 317 | 31.23% |
First-time / part-time students at Oregon State University represent 5.00% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Oregon State graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | Oregon State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 53% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 23.72% |
146 first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
95 transferred to another institution.
Oregon State lost contact with the remaining 47 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.74% |
| Transferred | 95 | 65.07% |
| Dropped Out | 47 | 32.19% |
Returning / full-time students at Oregon State University represent 27.65% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Oregon State graduation rate was 70%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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 | Oregon State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 70% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 55.07% |
537 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
242 transferred to another institution.
Oregon State lost contact with the remaining 279 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 2.98% |
| Transferred | 242 | 45.07% |
| Dropped Out | 279 | 51.96% |
Returning / part-time students at Oregon State University represent 14.41% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Oregon State graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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 | Oregon State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 40% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 49% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 37.80% |
478 non first-time / part-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
212 transferred to another institution.
Oregon State lost contact with the remaining 250 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 3.35% |
| Transferred | 212 | 44.35% |
| Dropped Out | 250 | 52.30% |
