Philander Smith Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

Philander Smith University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

Make an informed decision about your education by understanding Philander Smith 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.

• Philander Smith Retention Rate
• Philander Smith Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• Philander Smith Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

Philander Smith Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 66% students making it past their freshmen year, Philander Smith has freshmen retention rates below the national average.

Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.

When looking at just colleges and universities in Arkansas, the average is 66.23%.

Philander Smith Graduation Rates

There were approximately 157 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?

Four years after beginning their degree, 34% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 43% of the students had graduated and after eight years 44% 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 Philander Smith graduation rate 43%.

Philander Smith Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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.

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Philander Smith Drop Out Rate

Approximately 205 students or 56% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 205 students who did not complete their degree?

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 115 transferred to another institution.

• Philander Smith lost contact with the remaining 89 who we assumed dropped out.

Philander Smith Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 Philander Smith 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 Philander Smith Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at Philander Smith University represent 78.75% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Philander Smith graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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.

Philander Smith First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

First-Time / Full-Time Philander Smith Drop Out Rates

159 first-time / full-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 1 are still enrolled.

• 102 transferred to another institution.

• Philander Smith lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at Philander Smith University represent 3.27% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Philander Smith graduation rate was 0%, and by the eight year mark, 0% 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.

First-Time / Part-Time Philander Smith Graduation Rates vs. National Average

First-Time / Part-Time Philander Smith Drop Out Rates

12 first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 0 transferred to another institution.

• Philander Smith lost contact with the remaining 12 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

Returning / full-time students at Philander Smith University represent 16.35% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Philander Smith graduation rate was 50%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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.

Philander Smith Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Full-Time Philander Smith Drop Out Rates

30 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 10 transferred to another institution.

• Philander Smith lost contact with the remaining 20 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Returning / part-time students at Philander Smith University represent 1.63% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Philander Smith graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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.

Philander Smith Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Part-Time Philander Smith Drop Out Rates

4 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 3 transferred to another institution.

• Philander Smith lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics