by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Penn State University Park 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 freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 93% students making it past their freshmen year, Penn State University Park 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Penn State University Park | 93% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
How many of the estimated 7557 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 70% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 84% of the students had graduated and after eight years 85% 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 Penn State University Park graduation rate 84%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6262 | 70% |
| Six Years | 7557 | 84% |
| Eight Years | 100 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1302 | 15% |
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 1302 students or 15% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1302 students who did not complete their degree?
36 are still enrolled.
1020 transferred to another institution.
Penn State University Park lost contact with the remaining 242 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 36 | 2.8% |
| Transferred | 1020 | 78.3% |
| Dropped Out | 242 | 18.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 62% |
| Asian | 89% |
| Black / African-American | 70% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 78% |
| International | 81% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 84% |
| Unknown | 92% |
| White | 88% |
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 Penn State University Park are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus represent 94.75% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Penn State University Park graduation rate was 85%, and by the eight year mark, 86% 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 | Penn State University Park | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 70% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 85% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 86% | 47.82% |
1208 first-time / full-time students or 14% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
37 are still enrolled.
956 transferred to another institution.
Penn State University Park lost contact with the remaining 215 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 37 | 3.06% |
| Transferred | 956 | 79.14% |
| Dropped Out | 215 | 17.80% |
First-time / part-time students at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus represent 0.94% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Penn State University Park graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 54% 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 | Penn State University Park | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 54% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 23.72% |
39 first-time / part-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
25 transferred to another institution.
Penn State University Park lost contact with the remaining 12 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 5.13% |
| Transferred | 25 | 64.10% |
| Dropped Out | 12 | 30.77% |
Returning / full-time students at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus represent 4.19% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Penn State University Park graduation rate was 86%, and by the eight year mark, 86% 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 | Penn State University Park | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 86% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 86% | 55.07% |
51 non first-time / part-time students or 14% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
35 transferred to another institution.
Penn State University Park lost contact with the remaining 15 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.96% |
| Transferred | 35 | 68.63% |
| Dropped Out | 15 | 29.41% |
Returning / part-time students at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus represent 0.12% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Penn State University Park graduation rate was 64%, and by the eight year mark, 64% 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 | Penn State University Park | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 64% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 37.80% |
4 non first-time / part-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
4 transferred to another institution.
Penn State University Park lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 4 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
