by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at SAU? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 52% students making it past their freshmen year, SAU 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 North Carolina, the average is 66.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SAU | 52% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
There were approximately 237 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 18% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 34% of the students had graduated and after eight years 34% of this class completed their degree.
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 SAU graduation rate 34%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at SAU? The standard length of time for most students is 4.25 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 179 | 25% |
| Six Years | 237 | 34% |
| Eight Years | 2 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 468 | 66% |
Approximately 468 students or 66% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 468 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
209 transferred to another institution.
SAU lost contact with the remaining 259 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 209 | 44.7% |
| Dropped Out | 259 | 55.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 18% |
| International | 100% |
| White | 33% |
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 SAU 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 Saint Augustine's University represent 77% of the students in the class of 2015, and 65.40% of SAU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 18%, first-time students in the SAU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SAU graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 | SAU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 28% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 47.82% |
387 first-time / full-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
173 transferred to another institution.
SAU lost contact with the remaining 214 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 173 | 44.70% |
| Dropped Out | 214 | 55.30% |
First-time / part-time students at Saint Augustine's University represent 1.41% of the students in the class of 2015.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | SAU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 1% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 1% | 23.72% |
10 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.
1 transferred to another institution.
SAU lost contact with the remaining 9 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 10.00% |
| Dropped Out | 9 | 90.00% |
137 SAU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 19.38% 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 60%, 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 60%.
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 | SAU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 60% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 55.07% |
55 non first-time / part-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
23 transferred to another institution.
SAU lost contact with the remaining 32 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 23 | 41.82% |
| Dropped Out | 32 | 58.18% |
16 SAU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 2.26% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 0%, 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 0%.
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.
16 non 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.
12 transferred to another institution.
SAU lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 12 | 75.00% |
| Dropped Out | 4 | 25.00% |
