by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many TCNJ 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 TCNJ. 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 91% students making it past their freshmen year, TCNJ has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in New Jersey, the average is 74.83%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| TCNJ | 91% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New Jersey | 74.83% |
How many of the estimated 1632 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 75% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 85% of the students had graduated and after eight years 86% 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 TCNJ graduation rate 85%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1437 | 75% |
| Six Years | 1632 | 85% |
| Eight Years | 18 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 264 | 14% |
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 264 students or 14% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 264 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
187 transferred to another institution.
TCNJ lost contact with the remaining 75 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 187 | 70.8% |
| Dropped Out | 75 | 28.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 84% |
| Black / African-American | 87% |
| Hawaiian | 75% |
| Hispanic | 82% |
| International | 100% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 71% |
| Unknown | 84% |
| White | 86% |
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 TCNJ 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 The College of New Jersey represent 78.89% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the TCNJ graduation rate was 85%, and by the eight year mark, 86% 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 | TCNJ | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 74% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 85% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 86% | 47.82% |
208 first-time / full-time students or 14% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
151 transferred to another institution.
TCNJ lost contact with the remaining 55 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.96% |
| Transferred | 151 | 72.60% |
| Dropped Out | 55 | 26.44% |
First-time / part-time students at The College of New Jersey represent 0.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the TCNJ graduation rate was 80%, and by the eight year mark, 80% 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 | TCNJ | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 40% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 80% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 80% | 23.72% |
1 first-time / part-time students or 20% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
TCNJ lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
Returning / full-time students at The College of New Jersey represent 20.01% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the TCNJ graduation rate was 86%, and by the eight year mark, 87% 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 | TCNJ | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 86% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 87% | 55.07% |
51 non first-time / part-time students or 13% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
34 transferred to another institution.
TCNJ lost contact with the remaining 17 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 34 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 17 | 33.33% |
Returning / part-time students at The College of New Jersey represent 0.84% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the TCNJ graduation rate was 75%, and by the eight year mark, 75% 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 | TCNJ | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 63% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 75% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 75% | 37.80% |
4 non first-time / part-time students or 25% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
TCNJ lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 25.00% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 75.00% |
