by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Sul Ross 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 Sul Ross. 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 45% students making it past their freshmen year, Sul Ross 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 Texas, the average is 68.17%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Sul Ross | 45% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
How many of the estimated 340 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 29% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 39% of the students had graduated and after eight years 41% 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 Sul Ross graduation rate 39%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 248 | 29% |
| Six Years | 340 | 39% |
| Eight Years | 14 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 516 | 59% |
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 516 students or 59% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 516 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
220 transferred to another institution.
Sul Ross lost contact with the remaining 286 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.2% |
| Transferred | 220 | 42.6% |
| Dropped Out | 286 | 55.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Black / African-American | 14% |
| Hispanic | 30% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 14% |
| White | 29% |
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 Sul Ross are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
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 Sul Ross State University represent 41.38% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Sul Ross graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 28% 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 | Sul Ross | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 26% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 47.82% |
261 first-time / full-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
132 transferred to another institution.
Sul Ross lost contact with the remaining 128 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.38% |
| Transferred | 132 | 50.57% |
| Dropped Out | 128 | 49.04% |
First-time / part-time students at Sul Ross State University represent 1.95% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Sul Ross graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 24% 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 | Sul Ross | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 24% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 23.72% |
13 first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
6 transferred to another institution.
Sul Ross lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 7.69% |
| Transferred | 6 | 46.15% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 46.15% |
Returning / full-time students at Sul Ross State University represent 24.71% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Sul Ross graduation rate was 55%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | Sul Ross | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 55% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 55.07% |
93 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
39 transferred to another institution.
Sul Ross lost contact with the remaining 51 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 3.23% |
| Transferred | 39 | 41.94% |
| Dropped Out | 51 | 54.84% |
Returning / part-time students at Sul Ross State University represent 31.95% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Sul Ross graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 | Sul Ross | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 44% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 37.80% |
149 non first-time / part-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
43 transferred to another institution.
Sul Ross lost contact with the remaining 101 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 3.36% |
| Transferred | 43 | 28.86% |
| Dropped Out | 101 | 67.79% |
