by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Shaw University 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 Shaw University. 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 52% students making it past their freshmen year, Shaw University has freshmen retention rates below 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 | |
|---|---|
| Shaw University | 52% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
There were approximately 145 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 12% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 18% of the students had graduated and after eight years 20% 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 Shaw University graduation rate 18%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 96 | 12% |
| Six Years | 145 | 18% |
| Eight Years | 15 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 655 | 80% |
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 655 students or 80% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 655 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
389 transferred to another institution.
Shaw University lost contact with the remaining 263 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.2% |
| Transferred | 389 | 59.4% |
| Dropped Out | 263 | 40.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Black / African-American | 21% |
| Hawaiian | 17% |
| International | 42% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 12% |
| Unknown | 14% |
| White | 50% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Shaw University 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 Shaw University represent 83.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Shaw University graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 16% 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 | Shaw University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 14% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 47.82% |
575 first-time / full-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
338 transferred to another institution.
Shaw University lost contact with the remaining 235 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.35% |
| Transferred | 338 | 58.78% |
| Dropped Out | 235 | 40.87% |
First-time / part-time students at Shaw University represent 1.96% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Shaw University graduation rate was 0%, and by the eight year mark, 6% 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 | Shaw University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 0% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 6% | 23.72% |
15 first-time / part-time students or 94% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
Shaw University lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 9 | 60.00% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 40.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Shaw University represent 12.02% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Shaw University graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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 | Shaw University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 42% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 55.07% |
54 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
35 transferred to another institution.
Shaw University lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 35 | 64.81% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 35.19% |
Returning / part-time students at Shaw University represent 2.33% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Shaw University graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | Shaw University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 37% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
11 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
7 transferred to another institution.
Shaw University lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 9.09% |
| Transferred | 7 | 63.64% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 27.27% |
