by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Tennessee State University 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 Tennessee State University. 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 33% students making it past their freshmen year, Tennessee State University 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 Tennessee, the average is 71.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Tennessee State University | 33% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Tennessee | 71.48% |
How many of the estimated 890 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 28% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 38% of the students had graduated and after eight years 39% 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 Tennessee State University graduation rate 38%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 667 | 28% |
| Six Years | 890 | 38% |
| Eight Years | 34 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1446 | 61% |
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 1446 students or 61% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1446 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
696 transferred to another institution.
Tennessee State University lost contact with the remaining 742 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 696 | 48.1% |
| Dropped Out | 742 | 51.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 67% |
| Black / African-American | 33% |
| Hispanic | 34% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 20% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 41% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Tennessee State University 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 Tennessee State University represent 61.32% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tennessee State University graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | Tennessee State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 32% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 47.82% |
959 first-time / full-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
462 transferred to another institution.
Tennessee State University lost contact with the remaining 493 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.42% |
| Transferred | 462 | 48.18% |
| Dropped Out | 493 | 51.41% |
First-time / part-time students at Tennessee State University represent 4.01% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tennessee State University graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 | Tennessee State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 34% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 23.72% |
62 first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
27 transferred to another institution.
Tennessee State University lost contact with the remaining 34 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.61% |
| Transferred | 27 | 43.55% |
| Dropped Out | 34 | 54.84% |
Returning / full-time students at Tennessee State University represent 17.97% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tennessee State University graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 54% 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 | Tennessee State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 53% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 55.07% |
196 non first-time / part-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
96 transferred to another institution.
Tennessee State University lost contact with the remaining 99 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.51% |
| Transferred | 96 | 48.98% |
| Dropped Out | 99 | 50.51% |
Returning / part-time students at Tennessee State University represent 16.70% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tennessee State University graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | Tennessee State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 37% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 41% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
229 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
111 transferred to another institution.
Tennessee State University lost contact with the remaining 116 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.87% |
| Transferred | 111 | 48.47% |
| Dropped Out | 116 | 50.66% |
