by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding SDSU retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree 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 91% students making it past their freshmen year, SDSU 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SDSU | 91% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 7322 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 66% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 81% of the students had graduated and after eight years 83% 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 SDSU graduation rate 81%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5963 | 66% |
| Six Years | 7322 | 81% |
| Eight Years | 117 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1548 | 17% |
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 1548 students or 17% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1548 students who did not complete their degree?
26 are still enrolled.
947 transferred to another institution.
SDSU lost contact with the remaining 566 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 1.7% |
| Transferred | 947 | 61.2% |
| Dropped Out | 566 | 36.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 81% |
| Asian | 82% |
| Black / African-American | 79% |
| Hawaiian | 75% |
| Hispanic | 76% |
| International | 73% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 78% |
| Unknown | 81% |
| White | 79% |
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 SDSU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at San Diego State University represent 53.98% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SDSU graduation rate was 78%, and by the eight year mark, 80% 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 | SDSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 53% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 78% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 80% | 47.82% |
980 first-time / full-time students or 20% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
27 are still enrolled.
672 transferred to another institution.
SDSU lost contact with the remaining 281 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 27 | 2.76% |
| Transferred | 672 | 68.57% |
| Dropped Out | 281 | 28.67% |
First-time / part-time students at San Diego State University represent 3.00% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SDSU 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 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | SDSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 56% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 23.72% |
114 first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
77 transferred to another institution.
SDSU lost contact with the remaining 36 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.88% |
| Transferred | 77 | 67.54% |
| Dropped Out | 36 | 31.58% |
Returning / full-time students at San Diego State University represent 38.03% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SDSU graduation rate was 90%, and by the eight year mark, 90% 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 | SDSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 90% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 90% | 55.07% |
338 non first-time / part-time students or 10% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
151 transferred to another institution.
SDSU lost contact with the remaining 181 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.78% |
| Transferred | 151 | 44.67% |
| Dropped Out | 181 | 53.55% |
Returning / part-time students at San Diego State University represent 4.98% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SDSU graduation rate was 71%, and by the eight year mark, 74% 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 | SDSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 62% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 71% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 37.80% |
116 non first-time / part-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
47 transferred to another institution.
SDSU lost contact with the remaining 68 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.86% |
| Transferred | 47 | 40.52% |
| Dropped Out | 68 | 58.62% |
