by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding SSU 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 79% students making it past their freshmen year, SSU 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 | |
|---|---|
| SSU | 79% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 1,788 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
29% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 66% in six years, and 68% in 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 SSU graduation rate 66%.
The average SSU student takes 4.54 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,234 | 45% |
| Six Years | 1,788 | 66% |
| Eight Years | 58 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 876 | 32% |
Approximately 876 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 876 students who did not complete their degree?
5 are still enrolled.
680 transferred to another institution.
SSU lost contact with the remaining 186 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 680 | 77.6% |
| Dropped Out | 186 | 21.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 56% |
| Black / African-American | 58% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 59% |
| International | 57% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 59% |
| Unknown | 62% |
| White | 62% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 SSU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Sonoma State University represent 66% of the students in the class of 2015, and 58.22% of SSU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 29%, first-time students in the SSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SSU graduation rate was 58%, and by the eight year mark, 61% 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 | SSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 58% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 47.82% |
695 first-time / full-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
566 transferred to another institution.
SSU lost contact with the remaining 121 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.72% |
| Transferred | 566 | 81.44% |
| Dropped Out | 121 | 17.41% |
First-time / part-time students at Sonoma State University represent 1.14% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 26%, first-time, part-time students in the SSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 26%.
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 | SSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 26% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 23.72% |
23 first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
21 transferred to another institution.
SSU lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 21 | 91.30% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 8.70% |
721 SSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 26.49% 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 85%, 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 85%.
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 | SSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 85% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 85% | 55.07% |
105 non first-time / part-time students or 15% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
63 transferred to another institution.
SSU lost contact with the remaining 41 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.95% |
| Transferred | 63 | 60.00% |
| Dropped Out | 41 | 39.05% |
184 SSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.76% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 69%, 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 71%.
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 | SSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 69% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 71% | 37.80% |
53 non first-time / part-time students or 29% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
30 transferred to another institution.
SSU lost contact with the remaining 22 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.89% |
| Transferred | 30 | 56.60% |
| Dropped Out | 22 | 41.51% |
