by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Southern Oregon University 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 68% students making it past their freshmen year, Southern Oregon 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 Oregon, the average is 67.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Southern Oregon University | 68% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Oregon | 67.48% |
There were approximately 757 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 41% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 49% of the students had graduated and after eight years 52% 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 Southern Oregon University graduation rate 49%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 626 | 41% |
| Six Years | 757 | 49% |
| Eight Years | 46 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 727 | 48% |
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 727 students or 48% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 727 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
418 transferred to another institution.
Southern Oregon University lost contact with the remaining 304 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.1% |
| Transferred | 418 | 57.5% |
| Dropped Out | 304 | 41.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 40% |
| Asian | 77% |
| Black / African-American | 19% |
| Hawaiian | 43% |
| Hispanic | 46% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 32% |
| Unknown | 38% |
| White | 46% |
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 Southern Oregon University 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 Oregon University represent 45.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southern Oregon University graduation rate was 46%, and by the eight year mark, 49% 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 | Southern Oregon University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 46% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 47.82% |
353 first-time / full-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
258 transferred to another institution.
Southern Oregon University lost contact with the remaining 94 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.28% |
| Transferred | 258 | 73.09% |
| Dropped Out | 94 | 26.63% |
First-time / part-time students at Southern Oregon University represent 2.48% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southern Oregon University graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 21% 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 | Southern Oregon University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 18% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 23.72% |
30 first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
16 transferred to another institution.
Southern Oregon University lost contact with the remaining 14 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 16 | 53.33% |
| Dropped Out | 14 | 46.67% |
Returning / full-time students at Southern Oregon University represent 37.43% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southern Oregon University graduation rate was 60%, and by the eight year mark, 63% 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 | Southern Oregon University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 60% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 55.07% |
212 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
99 transferred to another institution.
Southern Oregon University lost contact with the remaining 110 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.42% |
| Transferred | 99 | 46.70% |
| Dropped Out | 110 | 51.89% |
Returning / part-time students at Southern Oregon University represent 14.83% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southern Oregon University graduation rate was 38%, 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 | Southern Oregon University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 38% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
132 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.
45 transferred to another institution.
Southern Oregon University lost contact with the remaining 86 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.76% |
| Transferred | 45 | 34.09% |
| Dropped Out | 86 | 65.15% |
