by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Walden University retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 0% students making it past their freshmen year, Walden University has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Minnesota, the average is 67.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Walden University | 0% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Minnesota | 67.05% |
How many of the estimated 1597 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 27% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 31% of the students had graduated and after eight years 32% of this class completed their degree.
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 Walden University graduation rate 31%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1400 | 27% |
| Six Years | 1597 | 31% |
| Eight Years | 38 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 3550 | 68% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 3550 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3550 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1650 transferred to another institution.
Walden University lost contact with the remaining 1879 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1650 | 46.5% |
| Dropped Out | 1879 | 52.9% |
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.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
At this time we lack data for this cohort at Walden University.
First-time / part-time students at Walden University represent 7.42% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Walden University graduation rate was 5%, and by the eight year mark, 5% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Walden University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 5% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 5% | 23.72% |
364 first-time / part-time students or 95% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
70 transferred to another institution.
Walden University lost contact with the remaining 294 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 70 | 19.23% |
| Dropped Out | 294 | 80.77% |
Returning / full-time students at Walden University represent 1.04% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Walden University graduation rate was 50%, and by the eight year mark, 50% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Walden University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 50% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 55.07% |
27 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
18 transferred to another institution.
Walden University lost contact with the remaining 8 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 3.70% |
| Transferred | 18 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 8 | 29.63% |
Returning / part-time students at Walden University represent 91.54% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Walden University graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 33% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Walden University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 33% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 37.80% |
3159 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
1562 transferred to another institution.
Walden University lost contact with the remaining 1577 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 0.63% |
| Transferred | 1562 | 49.45% |
| Dropped Out | 1577 | 49.92% |
