by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Salem first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Salem retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 48% students making it past their freshmen year, Salem 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 | |
|---|---|
| Salem | 48% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
How many of the estimated 206 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 53% of the cohort graduated. After six years 57% had completed their degree, and 58% 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 Salem graduation rate 57%.
The average Salem student takes 4.02 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 187 | 51% |
| Six Years | 206 | 57% |
| Eight Years | 5 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 153 | 42% |
Approximately 153 students or 42% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 153 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
86 transferred to another institution.
Salem lost contact with the remaining 67 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 86 | 56.2% |
| Dropped Out | 67 | 43.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 80% |
| Black / African-American | 82% |
| Hispanic | 62% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 40% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 64% |
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.
The majority of students at Salem are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
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 Salem College represent 54% of the students in the class of 2015, and 53.40% of Salem bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 53%, first-time students in the Salem class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Salem graduation rate was 56%, 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 | Salem | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 53% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 56% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 47.82% |
86 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.
55 transferred to another institution.
Salem lost contact with the remaining 31 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.16% |
| Transferred | 55 | 63.95% |
| Dropped Out | 31 | 36.05% |
First-time / part-time students at Salem College represent 6.87% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 40%, first-time, part-time students in the Salem class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 48%.
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 | Salem | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 40% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 23.72% |
13 first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
6 transferred to another institution.
Salem lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 6 | 46.15% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 53.85% |
100 Salem students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 27.47% 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 63%, 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 64%.
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 | Salem | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 63% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 55.07% |
36 non first-time / part-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
17 transferred to another institution.
Salem lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 17 | 47.22% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 52.78% |
42 Salem students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.54% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 55%, 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 57%.
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 | Salem | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 55% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 37.80% |
18 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
8 transferred to another institution.
Salem lost contact with the remaining 10 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 8 | 44.44% |
| Dropped Out | 10 | 55.56% |
