by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many TSU 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 TSU. 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 66% students making it past their freshmen year, TSU 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 | |
|---|---|
| TSU | 66% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
How many of the estimated 892 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 27% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 34% of the students had graduated and after eight years 37% 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 TSU graduation rate 34%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 707 | 27% |
| Six Years | 892 | 34% |
| Eight Years | 79 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1671 | 63% |
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 1671 students or 63% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1671 students who did not complete their degree?
26 are still enrolled.
731 transferred to another institution.
TSU lost contact with the remaining 896 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 1.6% |
| Transferred | 731 | 43.7% |
| Dropped Out | 896 | 53.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 7% |
| Asian | 32% |
| Black / African-American | 19% |
| Hispanic | 18% |
| International | 71% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 23% |
| White | 20% |
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 TSU are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Texas Southern University represent 49.85% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the TSU graduation rate was 25%, 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 | TSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 25% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 47.82% |
948 first-time / full-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
26 are still enrolled.
437 transferred to another institution.
TSU lost contact with the remaining 485 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 2.74% |
| Transferred | 437 | 46.10% |
| Dropped Out | 485 | 51.16% |
First-time / part-time students at Texas Southern University represent 1.85% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the TSU graduation rate was 4%, and by the eight year mark, 4% 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 | TSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 4% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 4% | 23.72% |
47 first-time / part-time students or 96% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
22 transferred to another institution.
TSU lost contact with the remaining 25 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 22 | 46.81% |
| Dropped Out | 25 | 53.19% |
Returning / full-time students at Texas Southern University represent 39.06% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the TSU graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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 | TSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 48% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 55.07% |
509 non first-time / part-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
193 transferred to another institution.
TSU lost contact with the remaining 304 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 2.36% |
| Transferred | 193 | 37.92% |
| Dropped Out | 304 | 59.72% |
Returning / part-time students at Texas Southern University represent 9.24% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the TSU graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | TSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 28% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 37.80% |
167 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
79 transferred to another institution.
TSU lost contact with the remaining 82 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 3.59% |
| Transferred | 79 | 47.31% |
| Dropped Out | 82 | 49.10% |
