by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Walla Walla U first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at Walla Walla U. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 85% students making it past their freshmen year, Walla Walla U 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 Washington, the average is 73.95%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Walla Walla U | 85% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Washington | 73.95% |
There were approximately 335 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 40% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 65% of the students had graduated and after eight years 67% 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 Walla Walla U graduation rate 65%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 206 | 40% |
| Six Years | 335 | 65% |
| Eight Years | 10 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 173 | 33% |
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 173 students or 33% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 173 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
136 transferred to another institution.
Walla Walla U lost contact with the remaining 37 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 136 | 78.6% |
| Dropped Out | 37 | 21.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 71% |
| Black / African-American | 17% |
| Hispanic | 51% |
| International | 62% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 50% |
| Unknown | 67% |
| White | 72% |
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 Walla Walla U 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 Walla Walla University represent 75.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Walla Walla U graduation rate was 63%, and by the eight year mark, 65% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Walla Walla U | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 63% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 65% | 47.82% |
135 first-time / full-time students or 35% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
104 transferred to another institution.
Walla Walla U lost contact with the remaining 31 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 104 | 77.04% |
| Dropped Out | 31 | 22.96% |
First-time / part-time students at Walla Walla University represent 0.19% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Walla Walla U graduation rate was 0%, and by the eight year mark, 0% 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 | Walla Walla U | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 0% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 0% | 23.72% |
1 first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
Walla Walla U lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 100.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Walla Walla University represent 22.93% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Walla Walla U graduation rate was 71%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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 | Walla Walla U | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 71% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 55.07% |
33 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
28 transferred to another institution.
Walla Walla U lost contact with the remaining 5 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 28 | 84.85% |
| Dropped Out | 5 | 15.15% |
Returning / part-time students at Walla Walla University represent 1.73% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Walla Walla U graduation rate was 56%, and by the eight year mark, 56% 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 | Walla Walla U | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 44% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 56% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 37.80% |
4 non first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
4 transferred to another institution.
Walla Walla U lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 4 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
