by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Virginia Tech first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Virginia Tech retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 93% students making it past their freshmen year, Virginia Tech 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 Virginia, the average is 69.66%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Virginia Tech | 93% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Virginia | 69.66% |
How many of the estimated 5,280 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 63% of the cohort graduated. After six years 84% had completed their degree, and 86% after 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 Virginia Tech graduation rate 84%.
The typical Virginia Tech student takes 4.28 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4,119 | 66% |
| Six Years | 5,280 | 84% |
| Eight Years | 82 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 908 | 14% |
Approximately 908 students or 14% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 908 students who did not complete their degree?
23 are still enrolled.
634 transferred to another institution.
Virginia Tech lost contact with the remaining 255 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 2.5% |
| Transferred | 634 | 69.8% |
| Dropped Out | 255 | 28.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 90% |
| Black / African-American | 74% |
| Hawaiian | 80% |
| Hispanic | 83% |
| International | 82% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 85% |
| Unknown | 87% |
| White | 87% |
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 Virginia Tech are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Virginia Tech represent 84% of the students in the class of 2015, and 83.84% of Virginia Tech bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 63%, first-time students in the Virginia Tech class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Virginia Tech graduation rate was 84%, and by the eight year mark, 86% 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 | Virginia Tech | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 63% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 84% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 86% | 47.82% |
746 first-time / full-time students or 14% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
23 are still enrolled.
535 transferred to another institution.
Virginia Tech lost contact with the remaining 196 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 3.08% |
| Transferred | 535 | 71.72% |
| Dropped Out | 196 | 26.27% |
First-time / part-time students at Virginia Tech represent 0.21% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 15%, first-time, part-time students in the Virginia Tech class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 15%.
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 | Virginia Tech | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 15% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
11 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
11 transferred to another institution.
Virginia Tech lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 11 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
993 Virginia Tech students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.82% 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 84%, 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 85%.
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 | Virginia Tech | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 84% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 85% | 55.07% |
147 non first-time / part-time students or 15% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
84 transferred to another institution.
Virginia Tech lost contact with the remaining 59 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.72% |
| Transferred | 84 | 57.14% |
| Dropped Out | 59 | 40.14% |
20 Virginia Tech students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 0.32% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 75%, 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 80%.
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 | Virginia Tech | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 75% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 80% | 37.80% |
4 non 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.
4 transferred to another institution.
Virginia Tech lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 4 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
