by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many USI first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore USI retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 75% students making it past their freshmen year, USI 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 Indiana, the average is 70.89%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| USI | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Indiana | 70.89% |
How many of the estimated 1,411 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 21% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 43% of the students had graduated and after eight years 45% of this class completed their degree.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official USI graduation rate 43%.
The typical USI student takes 4.45 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 913 | 28% |
| Six Years | 1,411 | 43% |
| Eight Years | 65 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,814 | 55% |
Approximately 1814 students or 55% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1814 students who did not complete their degree?
18 are still enrolled.
1187 transferred to another institution.
USI lost contact with the remaining 593 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 1.0% |
| Transferred | 1187 | 65.4% |
| Dropped Out | 593 | 32.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 30% |
| Hispanic | 45% |
| International | 33% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 42% |
| Unknown | 40% |
| White | 55% |
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 USI 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 Southern Indiana represent 63% of the students in the class of 2015, and 57.83% of USI bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 21%, first-time students in the USI class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the USI graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | USI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 40% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 47.82% |
1202 first-time / full-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
18 are still enrolled.
796 transferred to another institution.
USI lost contact with the remaining 379 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 1.50% |
| Transferred | 796 | 66.22% |
| Dropped Out | 379 | 31.53% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Southern Indiana represent 3.45% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 23%, first-time, part-time students in the USI class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 30%.
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 | USI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 23% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 23.72% |
79 first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
31 transferred to another institution.
USI lost contact with the remaining 45 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 3.80% |
| Transferred | 31 | 39.24% |
| Dropped Out | 45 | 56.96% |
737 USI students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 22.32% 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 55%, 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 56%.
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 | USI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 55% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 55.07% |
323 non first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
218 transferred to another institution.
USI lost contact with the remaining 102 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.93% |
| Transferred | 218 | 67.49% |
| Dropped Out | 102 | 31.58% |
386 USI students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.69% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 43%, 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 | USI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 43% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 37.80% |
210 non first-time / part-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
142 transferred to another institution.
USI lost contact with the remaining 67 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.48% |
| Transferred | 142 | 67.62% |
| Dropped Out | 67 | 31.90% |
