by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to KU after their first year? Are KU 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 86% students making it past their freshmen year, KU 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 Kansas, the average is 65.77%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| KU | 86% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Kansas | 65.77% |
Of the 3,418 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 41% of the cohort graduated. After six years 62% had completed their degree, and 64% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of KU is 62%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at KU? The standard length of time for most students is 4.33 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,486 | 45% |
| Six Years | 3,418 | 62% |
| Eight Years | 87 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,004 | 36% |
Approximately 2004 students or 36% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2004 students who did not complete their degree?
28 are still enrolled.
1534 transferred to another institution.
KU lost contact with the remaining 431 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 1.4% |
| Transferred | 1534 | 76.5% |
| Dropped Out | 431 | 21.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 20% |
| Asian | 67% |
| Black / African-American | 40% |
| Hawaiian | 17% |
| Hispanic | 54% |
| International | 65% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 51% |
| Unknown | 64% |
| White | 67% |
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 KU 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 University of Kansas represent 65% of the students in the class of 2015, and 66.15% of KU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 41%, first-time students in the KU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the KU graduation rate was 63%, and by the eight year mark, 64% 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 | KU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 41% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 63% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 47.82% |
1290 first-time / full-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
28 are still enrolled.
1021 transferred to another institution.
KU lost contact with the remaining 246 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 2.17% |
| Transferred | 1021 | 79.15% |
| Dropped Out | 246 | 19.07% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Kansas represent 1.61% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 48%, first-time, part-time students in the KU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 52%.
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 | KU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 48% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 23.72% |
43 first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
20 transferred to another institution.
KU lost contact with the remaining 22 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.33% |
| Transferred | 20 | 46.51% |
| Dropped Out | 22 | 51.16% |
1512 KU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 27.40% 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 65%, 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 67%.
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 | KU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 65% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 55.07% |
504 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
378 transferred to another institution.
KU lost contact with the remaining 117 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.79% |
| Transferred | 378 | 75.00% |
| Dropped Out | 117 | 23.21% |
310 KU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 5.62% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 44%, 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 46%.
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 | KU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 44% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 37.80% |
167 non first-time / part-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
115 transferred to another institution.
KU lost contact with the remaining 46 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 3.59% |
| Transferred | 115 | 68.86% |
| Dropped Out | 46 | 27.54% |
