by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many SFASU 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 SFASU. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 72% students making it past their freshmen year, SFASU 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 | |
|---|---|
| SFASU | 72% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
Of the 2032 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 42% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 55% of the students had graduated and after eight years 56% 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 SFASU graduation rate 55%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1553 | 42% |
| Six Years | 2032 | 55% |
| Eight Years | 42 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1611 | 44% |
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 1611 students or 44% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1611 students who did not complete their degree?
11 are still enrolled.
1080 transferred to another institution.
SFASU lost contact with the remaining 513 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 1080 | 67.0% |
| Dropped Out | 513 | 31.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 73% |
| Asian | 67% |
| Black / African-American | 47% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 44% |
| International | 38% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 43% |
| Unknown | 40% |
| White | 57% |
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 SFASU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Stephen F Austin State University represent 63.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SFASU graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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 | SFASU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 53% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 47.82% |
1071 first-time / full-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
764 transferred to another institution.
SFASU lost contact with the remaining 295 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 1.12% |
| Transferred | 764 | 71.34% |
| Dropped Out | 295 | 27.54% |
First-time / part-time students at Stephen F Austin State University represent 1.06% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SFASU graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 23% 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 | SFASU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 18% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 23.72% |
30 first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
17 transferred to another institution.
SFASU lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 17 | 56.67% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 43.33% |
Returning / full-time students at Stephen F Austin State University represent 29.20% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SFASU graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 62% 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 | SFASU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 62% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 55.07% |
411 non first-time / part-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
243 transferred to another institution.
SFASU lost contact with the remaining 165 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.73% |
| Transferred | 243 | 59.12% |
| Dropped Out | 165 | 40.15% |
Returning / part-time students at Stephen F Austin State University represent 5.86% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SFASU graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 54% 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 | SFASU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 44% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 52% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 37.80% |
99 non first-time / part-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
56 transferred to another institution.
SFASU lost contact with the remaining 40 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 3.03% |
| Transferred | 56 | 56.57% |
| Dropped Out | 40 | 40.40% |
