by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Buffalo State 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 Buffalo State. 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 58% students making it past their freshmen year, Buffalo State 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 New York, the average is 73.51%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Buffalo State | 58% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New York | 73.51% |
How many of the estimated 1333 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 37% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 47% of the students had graduated and after eight years 48% 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 Buffalo State graduation rate 47%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1069 | 37% |
| Six Years | 1333 | 47% |
| Eight Years | 26 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1494 | 52% |
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 1494 students or 52% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1494 students who did not complete their degree?
5 are still enrolled.
894 transferred to another institution.
Buffalo State lost contact with the remaining 587 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.3% |
| Transferred | 894 | 59.8% |
| Dropped Out | 587 | 39.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 40% |
| Black / African-American | 35% |
| Hispanic | 25% |
| International | 26% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 26% |
| White | 47% |
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 Buffalo State 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 SUNY Buffalo State University represent 58.39% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Buffalo State graduation rate was 36%, and by the eight year mark, 37% 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 | Buffalo State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 36% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 47.82% |
1047 first-time / full-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
692 transferred to another institution.
Buffalo State lost contact with the remaining 349 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.57% |
| Transferred | 692 | 66.09% |
| Dropped Out | 349 | 33.33% |
First-time / part-time students at SUNY Buffalo State University represent 0.42% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Buffalo State graduation rate was 0%, and by the eight year mark, 0% 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 | Buffalo State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 0% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 0% | 23.72% |
12 first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
Buffalo State lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 9 | 75.00% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 25.00% |
Returning / full-time students at SUNY Buffalo State University represent 36.80% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Buffalo State graduation rate was 64%, and by the eight year mark, 65% 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 | Buffalo State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 64% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 65% | 55.07% |
371 non first-time / part-time students or 35% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
171 transferred to another institution.
Buffalo State lost contact with the remaining 193 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.89% |
| Transferred | 171 | 46.09% |
| Dropped Out | 193 | 52.02% |
Returning / part-time students at SUNY Buffalo State University represent 4.38% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Buffalo State graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 49% 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 | Buffalo State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 39% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 48% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 37.80% |
64 non first-time / part-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
22 transferred to another institution.
Buffalo State lost contact with the remaining 42 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 22 | 34.38% |
| Dropped Out | 42 | 65.62% |
