by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many SCSU 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 SCSU. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 78% students making it past their freshmen year, SCSU 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 Connecticut, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SCSU | 78% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Connecticut | 72.64% |
Of the 1566 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 42% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 56% of the students had graduated and after eight years 59% 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 SCSU graduation rate 56%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1176 | 42% |
| Six Years | 1566 | 56% |
| Eight Years | 59 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1147 | 41% |
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 1147 students or 41% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1147 students who did not complete their degree?
15 are still enrolled.
737 transferred to another institution.
SCSU lost contact with the remaining 384 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.3% |
| Transferred | 737 | 64.3% |
| Dropped Out | 384 | 33.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 40% |
| Asian | 53% |
| Black / African-American | 39% |
| Hispanic | 39% |
| International | 100% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 35% |
| Unknown | 43% |
| White | 55% |
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 SCSU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Southern Connecticut State University represent 51.22% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SCSU graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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 | SCSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 53% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 47.82% |
632 first-time / full-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
419 transferred to another institution.
SCSU lost contact with the remaining 201 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 1.90% |
| Transferred | 419 | 66.30% |
| Dropped Out | 201 | 31.80% |
First-time / part-time students at Southern Connecticut State University represent 2.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SCSU graduation rate was 11%, and by the eight year mark, 13% 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 | SCSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 11% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
55 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
35 transferred to another institution.
SCSU lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.82% |
| Transferred | 35 | 63.64% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 34.55% |
Returning / full-time students at Southern Connecticut State University represent 35.08% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SCSU graduation rate was 66%, and by the eight year mark, 68% 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 | SCSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 66% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 55.07% |
313 non first-time / part-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
200 transferred to another institution.
SCSU lost contact with the remaining 109 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.28% |
| Transferred | 200 | 63.90% |
| Dropped Out | 109 | 34.82% |
Returning / part-time students at Southern Connecticut State University represent 11.43% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SCSU graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 54% 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 | SCSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 45% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 52% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 37.80% |
147 non first-time / part-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
83 transferred to another institution.
SCSU lost contact with the remaining 55 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 6.12% |
| Transferred | 83 | 56.46% |
| Dropped Out | 55 | 37.41% |
