by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Tarleton 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 Tarleton. 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 70% students making it past their freshmen year, Tarleton has freshmen retention rates near 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 | |
|---|---|
| Tarleton | 70% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
Of the 2443 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 45% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 55% of the students had graduated and after eight years 57% 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 Tarleton graduation rate 55%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1968 | 45% |
| Six Years | 2443 | 55% |
| Eight Years | 80 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1893 | 43% |
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 1893 students or 43% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1893 students who did not complete their degree?
10 are still enrolled.
1174 transferred to another institution.
Tarleton lost contact with the remaining 690 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 1174 | 62.0% |
| Dropped Out | 690 | 36.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 60% |
| Asian | 14% |
| Black / African-American | 32% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 49% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 49% |
| Unknown | 22% |
| White | 54% |
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 Tarleton are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Tarleton State University represent 46.81% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tarleton graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 48% 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 | Tarleton | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 45% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 47.82% |
1080 first-time / full-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
712 transferred to another institution.
Tarleton lost contact with the remaining 358 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 0.93% |
| Transferred | 712 | 65.93% |
| Dropped Out | 358 | 33.15% |
First-time / part-time students at Tarleton State University represent 3.01% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tarleton graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 47% 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 | Tarleton | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 44% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 23.72% |
70 first-time / part-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
44 transferred to another institution.
Tarleton lost contact with the remaining 25 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.43% |
| Transferred | 44 | 62.86% |
| Dropped Out | 25 | 35.71% |
Returning / full-time students at Tarleton State University represent 29.49% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tarleton graduation rate was 68%, and by the eight year mark, 69% 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 | Tarleton | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 68% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 55.07% |
408 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
226 transferred to another institution.
Tarleton lost contact with the remaining 173 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 2.21% |
| Transferred | 226 | 55.39% |
| Dropped Out | 173 | 42.40% |
Returning / part-time students at Tarleton State University represent 20.69% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tarleton graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 63% 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 | Tarleton | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 56% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 62% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 37.80% |
335 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
192 transferred to another institution.
Tarleton lost contact with the remaining 134 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 2.69% |
| Transferred | 192 | 57.31% |
| Dropped Out | 134 | 40.00% |
