SNHU Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

Southern New Hampshire University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How many SNHU 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 SNHU. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.

• SNHU Retention Rate
• SNHU Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• SNHU Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

SNHU Retention Rate

The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.

With 61% students making it past their freshmen year, SNHU 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 New Hampshire, the average is 74.45%.

SNHU Graduation Rates

There were approximately 10179 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?

Four years after beginning their degree, 26% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 32% of the students had graduated and after eight years 34% 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 SNHU graduation rate 32%.

SNHU Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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.

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SNHU Drop Out Rate

Approximately 20902 students or 66% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 20902 students who did not complete their degree?

• 24 are still enrolled.

• 7034 transferred to another institution.

• SNHU lost contact with the remaining 13335 who we assumed dropped out.

SNHU Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 SNHU are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.

Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.

First-Time / Full-Time SNHU Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at Southern New Hampshire University represent 7.35% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the SNHU graduation rate was 38%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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.

SNHU First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

First-Time / Full-Time SNHU Drop Out Rates

1400 first-time / full-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 28 are still enrolled.

• 504 transferred to another institution.

• SNHU lost contact with the remaining 868 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at Southern New Hampshire University represent 26.63% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the SNHU graduation rate was 15%, and by the eight year mark, 18% 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.

First-Time / Part-Time SNHU Graduation Rates vs. National Average

First-Time / Part-Time SNHU Drop Out Rates

6940 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 137 are still enrolled.

• 1837 transferred to another institution.

• SNHU lost contact with the remaining 4966 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

Returning / full-time students at Southern New Hampshire University represent 7.56% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the SNHU graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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.

SNHU Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Full-Time SNHU Drop Out Rates

1289 non first-time / part-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 25 are still enrolled.

• 591 transferred to another institution.

• SNHU lost contact with the remaining 673 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Returning / part-time students at Southern New Hampshire University represent 58.47% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the SNHU graduation rate was 37%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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.

SNHU Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Part-Time SNHU Drop Out Rates

11273 non first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 343 are still enrolled.

• 4102 transferred to another institution.

• SNHU lost contact with the remaining 6828 who we assumed dropped out.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics
• Image Credit: By Kylejtod at en.wikipedia under License