by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Virginia State 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 State retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 62% students making it past their freshmen year, Virginia State has freshmen retention rates similar to 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 State | 62% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Virginia | 69.66% |
There were approximately 751 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 26% of the cohort graduated. After six years 45% had completed their degree, and 58% 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 State graduation rate 45%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at Virginia State? The standard length of time for most students is 4.44 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 457 | 28% |
| Six Years | 751 | 45% |
| Eight Years | 205 | 13% |
| Did Not Complete | 697 | 42% |
Approximately 697 students or 42% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 697 students who did not complete their degree?
17 are still enrolled.
494 transferred to another institution.
Virginia State lost contact with the remaining 188 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 2.4% |
| Transferred | 494 | 70.9% |
| Dropped Out | 188 | 27.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 70% |
| Black / African-American | 46% |
| Hispanic | 43% |
| Unknown | 41% |
| White | 64% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 State are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Virginia State University represent 78% of the students in the class of 2015, and 76.30% of Virginia State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 26%, first-time students in the Virginia State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Virginia State graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 52% 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 State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 44% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 47.82% |
616 first-time / full-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
472 transferred to another institution.
Virginia State lost contact with the remaining 136 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 2.76% |
| Transferred | 472 | 76.62% |
| Dropped Out | 136 | 22.08% |
First-time / part-time students at Virginia State University represent 0.36% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 67%, first-time, part-time students in the Virginia State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 83%.
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 State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 17% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 67% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 83% | 23.72% |
1 first-time / part-time students or 17% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
Virginia State 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% |
307 Virginia State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 18.57% 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 50%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 82%.
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 State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 50% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 82% | 55.07% |
54 non first-time / part-time students or 18% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
18 transferred to another institution.
Virginia State lost contact with the remaining 31 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 9.26% |
| Transferred | 18 | 33.33% |
| Dropped Out | 31 | 57.41% |
50 Virginia State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.02% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 38%, 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 48%.
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 State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 38% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 37.80% |
26 non first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
4 transferred to another institution.
Virginia State lost contact with the remaining 20 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 7.69% |
| Transferred | 4 | 15.38% |
| Dropped Out | 20 | 76.92% |
