by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to Plymouth State after their first year? Are Plymouth State students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 70% students making it past their freshmen year, Plymouth State has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in New Hampshire, the average is 74.45%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Plymouth State | 70% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New Hampshire | 74.45% |
There were approximately 758 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 41% of the cohort graduated. After six years 52% had completed their degree, and 53% after eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official Plymouth State graduation rate 52%.
The average length of time it takes an Plymouth State undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.21 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 594 | 41% |
| Six Years | 758 | 52% |
| Eight Years | 22 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 681 | 47% |
Approximately 681 students or 47% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 681 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
302 transferred to another institution.
Plymouth State lost contact with the remaining 376 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.1% |
| Transferred | 302 | 44.3% |
| Dropped Out | 376 | 55.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 60% |
| Black / African-American | 50% |
| Hispanic | 59% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 30% |
| Unknown | 68% |
| White | 59% |
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 Plymouth State 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 Plymouth State University represent 72% of the students in the class of 2015, and 74.80% of Plymouth State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 41%, first-time students in the Plymouth State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Plymouth State graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 56% 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 | Plymouth State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 41% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 54% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 47.82% |
466 first-time / full-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
242 transferred to another institution.
Plymouth State lost contact with the remaining 221 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.21% |
| Transferred | 242 | 51.93% |
| Dropped Out | 221 | 47.42% |
First-time / part-time students at Plymouth State University represent 0.07% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 100%, first-time, part-time students in the Plymouth State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 100%.
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 | Plymouth State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 100% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 100% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 100% | 23.72% |
371 Plymouth State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 25.36% 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 48%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 50%.
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 | Plymouth State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 48% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 55.07% |
186 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.
53 transferred to another institution.
Plymouth State lost contact with the remaining 133 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 53 | 28.49% |
| Dropped Out | 133 | 71.51% |
40 Plymouth State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 2.73% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 28%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 28%.
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 | Plymouth State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 28% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 37.80% |
29 non first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
7 transferred to another institution.
Plymouth State lost contact with the remaining 22 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 7 | 24.14% |
| Dropped Out | 22 | 75.86% |
