by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding WSU 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 67% students making it past their freshmen year, WSU 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 Utah, the average is 75.47%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| WSU | 67% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Utah | 75.47% |
Of the 2429 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 35% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 44% of the students had graduated and after eight years 46% 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 WSU graduation rate 44%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1964 | 35% |
| Six Years | 2429 | 44% |
| Eight Years | 137 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 3014 | 54% |
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 3014 students or 54% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3014 students who did not complete their degree?
53 are still enrolled.
1324 transferred to another institution.
WSU lost contact with the remaining 1643 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 53 | 1.8% |
| Transferred | 1324 | 43.9% |
| Dropped Out | 1643 | 54.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 8% |
| Asian | 42% |
| Black / African-American | 19% |
| Hawaiian | 27% |
| Hispanic | 26% |
| International | 68% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 42% |
| Unknown | 43% |
| White | 48% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at WSU are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Weber State University represent 45.53% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WSU graduation rate was 47%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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 | WSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 47% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 47.82% |
1249 first-time / full-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
522 transferred to another institution.
WSU lost contact with the remaining 711 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 1.28% |
| Transferred | 522 | 41.79% |
| Dropped Out | 711 | 56.93% |
First-time / part-time students at Weber State University represent 20.59% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WSU graduation rate was 20%, and by the eight year mark, 24% 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 | WSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 20% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 23.72% |
874 first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
18 are still enrolled.
356 transferred to another institution.
WSU lost contact with the remaining 500 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 2.06% |
| Transferred | 356 | 40.73% |
| Dropped Out | 500 | 57.21% |
Returning / full-time students at Weber State University represent 16.60% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WSU graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 63% 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 | WSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 62% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 55.07% |
349 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
174 transferred to another institution.
WSU lost contact with the remaining 171 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.15% |
| Transferred | 174 | 49.86% |
| Dropped Out | 171 | 49.00% |
Returning / part-time students at Weber State University represent 17.28% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WSU graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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 | WSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 40% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 44% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 37.80% |
542 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
272 transferred to another institution.
WSU lost contact with the remaining 261 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.66% |
| Transferred | 272 | 50.18% |
| Dropped Out | 261 | 48.15% |
