by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at SFSU? 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 82% students making it past their freshmen year, SFSU 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 | |
|---|---|
| SFSU | 82% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 5,426 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 18% of the cohort graduated. After six years 66% had completed their degree, and 68% after eight years.
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 SFSU graduation rate 66%.
The average SFSU student takes 4.75 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3,943 | 48% |
| Six Years | 5,426 | 66% |
| Eight Years | 178 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,640 | 32% |
Approximately 2640 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2640 students who did not complete their degree?
34 are still enrolled.
1652 transferred to another institution.
SFSU lost contact with the remaining 936 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 34 | 1.3% |
| Transferred | 1652 | 62.6% |
| Dropped Out | 936 | 35.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 29% |
| Asian | 65% |
| Black / African-American | 49% |
| Hawaiian | 58% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 57% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 50% |
| Unknown | 47% |
| White | 56% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 SFSU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at San Francisco State University represent 43% of the students in the class of 2015, and 35.04% of SFSU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 18%, first-time students in the SFSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SFSU graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | SFSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 53% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 47.82% |
1531 first-time / full-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
34 are still enrolled.
1092 transferred to another institution.
SFSU lost contact with the remaining 404 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 34 | 2.22% |
| Transferred | 1092 | 71.33% |
| Dropped Out | 404 | 26.39% |
First-time / part-time students at San Francisco State University represent 0.92% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time, part-time students in the SFSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 28%.
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 | SFSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 22% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 23.72% |
55 first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
42 transferred to another institution.
SFSU lost contact with the remaining 11 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 3.64% |
| Transferred | 42 | 76.36% |
| Dropped Out | 11 | 20.00% |
3739 SFSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 45.35% 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 80%, 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 80%.
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 | SFSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 80% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 80% | 55.07% |
730 non first-time / part-time students or 20% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
338 transferred to another institution.
SFSU lost contact with the remaining 384 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.10% |
| Transferred | 338 | 46.30% |
| Dropped Out | 384 | 52.60% |
866 SFSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 10.50% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 61%, 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 63%.
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 | SFSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 61% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 37.80% |
324 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
180 transferred to another institution.
SFSU lost contact with the remaining 137 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.16% |
| Transferred | 180 | 55.56% |
| Dropped Out | 137 | 42.28% |
