by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Southwestern 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 Southwestern. 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 81% students making it past their freshmen year, Southwestern 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 Texas, the average is 68.17%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Southwestern | 81% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
How many of the estimated 312 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 65% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 72% of the students had graduated and after eight years 73% 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 Southwestern graduation rate 72%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 283 | 65% |
| Six Years | 312 | 72% |
| Eight Years | 2 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 119 | 27% |
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 119 students or 27% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 119 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
93 transferred to another institution.
Southwestern lost contact with the remaining 26 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 93 | 78.2% |
| Dropped Out | 26 | 21.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 70% |
| Black / African-American | 46% |
| Hispanic | 72% |
| International | 50% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 62% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 72% |
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.
The majority of students at Southwestern 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 Southwestern University represent 87.79% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southwestern graduation rate was 72%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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 | Southwestern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 64% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 72% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 47.82% |
106 first-time / full-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
81 transferred to another institution.
Southwestern lost contact with the remaining 25 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 81 | 76.42% |
| Dropped Out | 25 | 23.58% |
At this time we lack data for this cohort at Southwestern University.
Returning / full-time students at Southwestern University represent 12.21% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southwestern graduation rate was 75%, and by the eight year mark, 75% 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 | Southwestern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 75% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 75% | 55.07% |
13 non first-time / part-time students or 25% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
Southwestern lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 12 | 92.31% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 7.69% |
At this time we lack data for this cohort at Southwestern University.
