by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many WPU first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore WPU retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 74% students making it past their freshmen year, WPU 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 North Carolina, the average is 66.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| WPU | 74% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
There were approximately 114 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 30% of the cohort graduated. After six years 47% had completed their degree, and 47% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of WPU is 47%. 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 typical WPU student takes 4.28 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 96 | 39% |
| Six Years | 114 | 47% |
| Eight Years | 2 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 129 | 53% |
Approximately 129 students or 53% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 129 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
101 transferred to another institution.
WPU lost contact with the remaining 26 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 101 | 78.3% |
| Dropped Out | 26 | 20.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 25% |
| Black / African-American | 42% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 33% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 100% |
| Unknown | 25% |
| White | 49% |
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 WPU 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 William Peace University represent 57% of the students in the class of 2015, and 47.37% of WPU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 30%, first-time students in the WPU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the WPU graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 | WPU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 39% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 47.82% |
85 first-time / full-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
73 transferred to another institution.
WPU lost contact with the remaining 10 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.18% |
| Transferred | 73 | 85.88% |
| Dropped Out | 10 | 11.76% |
First-time / part-time students at William Peace University represent 2.86% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 29%, first-time, part-time students in the WPU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 29%.
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 | WPU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 29% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 23.72% |
5 first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
WPU lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 60.00% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 40.00% |
63 WPU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 25.71% 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 71%, 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 73%.
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 | WPU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 71% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 73% | 55.07% |
17 non first-time / part-time students or 27% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
13 transferred to another institution.
WPU lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 13 | 76.47% |
| Dropped Out | 4 | 23.53% |
36 WPU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 14.69% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 36%, 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 39%.
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 | WPU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 36% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 37.80% |
22 non first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
WPU lost contact with the remaining 10 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 12 | 54.55% |
| Dropped Out | 10 | 45.45% |
