by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Saint Paul College first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at Saint Paul College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 60% students making it past their freshmen year, Saint Paul College 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 Minnesota, the average is 67.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Saint Paul College | 60% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Minnesota | 67.05% |
There were approximately 948 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 29% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 33% of the students had graduated and after eight years 34% 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 Saint Paul College graduation rate 33%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 838 | 29% |
| Six Years | 948 | 33% |
| Eight Years | 25 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1927 | 66% |
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 1927 students or 66% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1927 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
816 transferred to another institution.
Saint Paul College lost contact with the remaining 1081 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 816 | 42.3% |
| Dropped Out | 1081 | 56.1% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at Saint Paul College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Saint Paul College represent 29.00% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Saint Paul College graduation rate was 35%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 | Saint Paul College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 35% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 47.82% |
538 first-time / full-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
217 transferred to another institution.
Saint Paul College lost contact with the remaining 312 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.67% |
| Transferred | 217 | 40.33% |
| Dropped Out | 312 | 57.99% |
First-time / part-time students at Saint Paul College represent 27.34% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Saint Paul College graduation rate was 23%, and by the eight year mark, 24% 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 | Saint Paul College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 23% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 23.72% |
602 first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
198 transferred to another institution.
Saint Paul College lost contact with the remaining 394 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.66% |
| Transferred | 198 | 32.89% |
| Dropped Out | 394 | 65.45% |
Returning / full-time students at Saint Paul College represent 17.48% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Saint Paul College 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.
| Completions | Saint Paul College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 50% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 55.07% |
254 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
127 transferred to another institution.
Saint Paul College lost contact with the remaining 124 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.18% |
| Transferred | 127 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 124 | 48.82% |
Returning / part-time students at Saint Paul College represent 26.17% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Saint Paul College graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | Saint Paul College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 29% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 37.80% |
533 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
274 transferred to another institution.
Saint Paul College lost contact with the remaining 251 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.50% |
| Transferred | 274 | 51.41% |
| Dropped Out | 251 | 47.09% |
