by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Southern University and A & M College 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 Southern University and A & M College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 60% students making it past their freshmen year, Southern University and A & M College 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 Louisiana, the average is 67.86%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Southern University and A & M College | 60% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Louisiana | 67.86% |
Of the 515 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 15% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 32% of the students had graduated and after eight years 36% 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 University and A & M College graduation rate 32%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 239 | 15% |
| Six Years | 515 | 32% |
| Eight Years | 70 | 4% |
| Did Not Complete | 1019 | 64% |
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 1019 students or 64% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1019 students who did not complete their degree?
20 are still enrolled.
507 transferred to another institution.
Southern University and A & M College lost contact with the remaining 483 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 2.0% |
| Transferred | 507 | 49.8% |
| Dropped Out | 483 | 47.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 17% |
| Black / African-American | 28% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 38% |
| International | 20% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 33% |
| White | 35% |
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 Southern University and A & M College are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Southern University and A & M College represent 69.01% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southern University and A & M College graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 University and A & M College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 29% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 47.82% |
726 first-time / full-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
21 are still enrolled.
380 transferred to another institution.
Southern University and A & M College lost contact with the remaining 325 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 2.89% |
| Transferred | 380 | 52.34% |
| Dropped Out | 325 | 44.77% |
First-time / part-time students at Southern University and A & M College represent 1.43% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southern University and A & M College graduation rate was 4%, and by the eight year mark, 9% 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 University and A & M College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 4% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 9% | 23.72% |
21 first-time / part-time students or 91% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
Southern University and A & M College lost contact with the remaining 9 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 12 | 57.14% |
| Dropped Out | 9 | 42.86% |
Returning / full-time students at Southern University and A & M College represent 22.63% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southern University and A & M College graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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 University and A & M College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 41% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 55.07% |
201 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
90 transferred to another institution.
Southern University and A & M College lost contact with the remaining 104 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 3.48% |
| Transferred | 90 | 44.78% |
| Dropped Out | 104 | 51.74% |
Returning / part-time students at Southern University and A & M College represent 6.92% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southern University and A & M College graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 University and A & M College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 24% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 34% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 37.80% |
71 non first-time / part-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
25 transferred to another institution.
Southern University and A & M College lost contact with the remaining 45 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.41% |
| Transferred | 25 | 35.21% |
| Dropped Out | 45 | 63.38% |
