by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many SHSU 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 SHSU. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 73% students making it past their freshmen year, SHSU has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Texas, the average is 68.17%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SHSU | 73% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
There were approximately 3897 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 47% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 61% of the students had graduated and after eight years 63% 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 SHSU graduation rate 61%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3005 | 47% |
| Six Years | 3897 | 61% |
| Eight Years | 113 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2373 | 37% |
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 2373 students or 37% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2373 students who did not complete their degree?
21 are still enrolled.
1439 transferred to another institution.
SHSU lost contact with the remaining 888 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 0.9% |
| Transferred | 1439 | 60.6% |
| Dropped Out | 888 | 37.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 29% |
| Asian | 51% |
| Black / African-American | 46% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 60% |
| International | 47% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 56% |
| Unknown | 33% |
| White | 56% |
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 SHSU are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Sam Houston State University represent 42.57% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SHSU graduation rate was 56%, and by the eight year mark, 58% 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 | SHSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 56% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 47.82% |
1142 first-time / full-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
21 are still enrolled.
731 transferred to another institution.
SHSU lost contact with the remaining 390 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 1.84% |
| Transferred | 731 | 64.01% |
| Dropped Out | 390 | 34.15% |
First-time / part-time students at Sam Houston State University represent 1.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SHSU graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | SHSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 31% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 23.72% |
66 first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
34 transferred to another institution.
SHSU lost contact with the remaining 31 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.52% |
| Transferred | 34 | 51.52% |
| Dropped Out | 31 | 46.97% |
Returning / full-time students at Sam Houston State University represent 37.15% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SHSU graduation rate was 70%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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 | SHSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 70% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 55.07% |
673 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
387 transferred to another institution.
SHSU lost contact with the remaining 275 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 1.63% |
| Transferred | 387 | 57.50% |
| Dropped Out | 275 | 40.86% |
Returning / part-time students at Sam Houston State University represent 18.74% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SHSU graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 59% 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 | SHSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 47% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 57% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 37.80% |
492 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
287 transferred to another institution.
SHSU lost contact with the remaining 192 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 2.64% |
| Transferred | 287 | 58.33% |
| Dropped Out | 192 | 39.02% |
