by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to Towson after their first year? Are Towson students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 85% students making it past their freshmen year, Towson 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 Maryland, the average is 71.84%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Towson | 85% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Maryland | 71.84% |
How many of the estimated 4,105 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
46% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 72% in six years, and 73% in eight years.
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 Towson graduation rate 72%.
The average length of time it takes an Towson undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.38 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3,218 | 57% |
| Six Years | 4,105 | 72% |
| Eight Years | 68 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,506 | 27% |
Approximately 1506 students or 27% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1506 students who did not complete their degree?
14 are still enrolled.
959 transferred to another institution.
Towson lost contact with the remaining 523 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 0.9% |
| Transferred | 959 | 63.7% |
| Dropped Out | 523 | 34.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 75% |
| Asian | 73% |
| Black / African-American | 74% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 63% |
| International | 64% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 66% |
| Unknown | 81% |
| White | 74% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 Towson are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Towson University represent 45% of the students in the class of 2015, and 44.87% of Towson bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 46%, first-time students in the Towson class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Towson graduation rate was 72%, and by the eight year mark, 73% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | Towson | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 46% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 72% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 73% | 47.82% |
694 first-time / full-time students or 27% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
518 transferred to another institution.
Towson lost contact with the remaining 164 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 2.02% |
| Transferred | 518 | 74.64% |
| Dropped Out | 164 | 23.63% |
First-time / part-time students at Towson University represent 0.04% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 50%, first-time, part-time students in the Towson class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 50%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | Towson | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 50% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 23.72% |
1 first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
Towson lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 100.00% |
2712 Towson students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 47.71% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 78%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 78%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | Towson | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 78% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 78% | 55.07% |
586 non first-time / part-time students or 22% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
312 transferred to another institution.
Towson lost contact with the remaining 264 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.71% |
| Transferred | 312 | 53.24% |
| Dropped Out | 264 | 45.05% |
394 Towson students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.93% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 41%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 43%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | Towson | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 41% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 37.80% |
225 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
129 transferred to another institution.
Towson lost contact with the remaining 94 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.89% |
| Transferred | 129 | 57.33% |
| Dropped Out | 94 | 41.78% |
