by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at STU? 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 49% students making it past their freshmen year, STU 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 Florida, the average is 70.38%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| STU | 49% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Florida | 70.38% |
How many of the estimated 256 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 31% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 50% of the students had graduated and after eight years 51% 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 STU graduation rate 50%.
The average length of time it takes an STU undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.24 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 211 | 41% |
| Six Years | 256 | 50% |
| Eight Years | 4 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 254 | 49% |
Approximately 254 students or 49% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 254 students who did not complete their degree?
3 are still enrolled.
147 transferred to another institution.
STU lost contact with the remaining 102 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.2% |
| Transferred | 147 | 57.9% |
| Dropped Out | 102 | 40.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Black / African-American | 21% |
| Hispanic | 38% |
| International | 45% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 33% |
| White | 36% |
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 STU 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 St. Thomas University represent 44% of the students in the class of 2015, and 37.50% of STU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 31%, first-time students in the STU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the STU graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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 | STU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 42% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 47.82% |
129 first-time / full-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
85 transferred to another institution.
STU lost contact with the remaining 43 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.33% |
| Transferred | 85 | 65.89% |
| Dropped Out | 43 | 33.33% |
First-time / part-time students at St. Thomas University represent 3.11% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 44%, first-time, part-time students in the STU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 44%.
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 | STU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 44% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 23.72% |
9 first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
6 transferred to another institution.
STU lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 6 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 33.33% |
242 STU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 47.08% 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 59%, 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 | STU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 59% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 55.07% |
97 non first-time / part-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
46 transferred to another institution.
STU lost contact with the remaining 48 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 3.09% |
| Transferred | 46 | 47.42% |
| Dropped Out | 48 | 49.48% |
30 STU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 5.84% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 37%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 37%.
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 | STU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 37% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 37.80% |
19 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
10 transferred to another institution.
STU lost contact with the remaining 8 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 5.26% |
| Transferred | 10 | 52.63% |
| Dropped Out | 8 | 42.11% |
