by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many SIUE 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 SIUE. 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 76% students making it past their freshmen year, SIUE 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 Illinois, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SIUE | 76% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
There were approximately 2330 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 48% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 59% of the students had graduated and after eight years 61% 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 SIUE graduation rate 59%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1889 | 48% |
| Six Years | 2330 | 59% |
| Eight Years | 74 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1554 | 39% |
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 1554 students or 39% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1554 students who did not complete their degree?
21 are still enrolled.
1044 transferred to another institution.
SIUE lost contact with the remaining 479 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 1.4% |
| Transferred | 1044 | 67.2% |
| Dropped Out | 479 | 30.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 57% |
| Black / African-American | 36% |
| Hispanic | 46% |
| International | 83% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 52% |
| Unknown | 36% |
| White | 60% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at SIUE are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville represent 49.94% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SIUE graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 56% 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 | SIUE | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 53% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 47.82% |
877 first-time / full-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
21 are still enrolled.
604 transferred to another institution.
SIUE lost contact with the remaining 252 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 2.39% |
| Transferred | 604 | 68.87% |
| Dropped Out | 252 | 28.73% |
First-time / part-time students at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville represent 0.81% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SIUE graduation rate was 16%, and by the eight year mark, 16% 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 | SIUE | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 23.72% |
27 first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
20 transferred to another institution.
SIUE lost contact with the remaining 5 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 7.41% |
| Transferred | 20 | 74.07% |
| Dropped Out | 5 | 18.52% |
Returning / full-time students at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville represent 34.38% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SIUE graduation rate was 64%, and by the eight year mark, 66% 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 | SIUE | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 64% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 55.07% |
468 non first-time / part-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
310 transferred to another institution.
SIUE lost contact with the remaining 153 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.07% |
| Transferred | 310 | 66.24% |
| Dropped Out | 153 | 32.69% |
Returning / part-time students at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville represent 14.87% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SIUE graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 69% 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 | SIUE | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 64% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 69% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 37.80% |
182 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
110 transferred to another institution.
SIUE lost contact with the remaining 69 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.65% |
| Transferred | 110 | 60.44% |
| Dropped Out | 69 | 37.91% |
