by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Washburn University 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 Washburn University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 68% students making it past their freshmen year, Washburn 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 Kansas, the average is 65.77%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Washburn University | 68% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Kansas | 65.77% |
Of the 1057 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 44% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 59% of the students had graduated and after eight years 61% 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 Washburn University graduation rate 59%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 793 | 44% |
| Six Years | 1057 | 59% |
| Eight Years | 36 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 692 | 39% |
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 692 students or 39% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 692 students who did not complete their degree?
8 are still enrolled.
468 transferred to another institution.
Washburn University lost contact with the remaining 204 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.2% |
| Transferred | 468 | 67.6% |
| Dropped Out | 204 | 29.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 29% |
| Asian | 80% |
| Black / African-American | 28% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 70% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 46% |
| Unknown | 58% |
| White | 56% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Washburn University are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Washburn University represent 53.11% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Washburn University graduation rate was 58%, and by the eight year mark, 60% 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 | Washburn University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 37% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 58% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 47.82% |
375 first-time / full-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
262 transferred to another institution.
Washburn University lost contact with the remaining 98 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 4.00% |
| Transferred | 262 | 69.87% |
| Dropped Out | 98 | 26.13% |
First-time / part-time students at Washburn University represent 5.37% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Washburn University graduation rate was 21%, and by the eight year mark, 23% 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 | Washburn University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 23.72% |
74 first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
28 transferred to another institution.
Washburn University lost contact with the remaining 43 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 4.05% |
| Transferred | 28 | 37.84% |
| Dropped Out | 43 | 58.11% |
Returning / full-time students at Washburn University represent 28.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Washburn University graduation rate was 72%, and by the eight year mark, 74% 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 | Washburn University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 72% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 55.07% |
135 non first-time / part-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
106 transferred to another institution.
Washburn University lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 106 | 78.52% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 21.48% |
Returning / part-time students at Washburn University represent 12.65% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Washburn University graduation rate was 50%, and by the eight year mark, 52% 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 | Washburn University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 43% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 50% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 37.80% |
108 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
72 transferred to another institution.
Washburn University lost contact with the remaining 34 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.85% |
| Transferred | 72 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 34 | 31.48% |
