by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at WestConn? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 75% students making it past their freshmen year, WestConn 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 Connecticut, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| WestConn | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Connecticut | 72.64% |
Of the 730 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 19% of the cohort graduated. After six years 43% had completed their degree, and 50% after eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official WestConn graduation rate 43%.
The average length of time it takes an WestConn undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.42 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 419 | 25% |
| Six Years | 730 | 43% |
| Eight Years | 116 | 7% |
| Did Not Complete | 837 | 50% |
Approximately 837 students or 50% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 837 students who did not complete their degree?
14 are still enrolled.
574 transferred to another institution.
WestConn lost contact with the remaining 229 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 1.7% |
| Transferred | 574 | 68.6% |
| Dropped Out | 229 | 27.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 47% |
| Black / African-American | 35% |
| Hawaiian | 67% |
| Hispanic | 49% |
| International | 50% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 36% |
| Unknown | 64% |
| White | 55% |
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 WestConn 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 Western Connecticut State University represent 54% of the students in the class of 2015, and 53.84% of WestConn bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 19%, first-time students in the WestConn class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the WestConn graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 | WestConn | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 43% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 47.82% |
488 first-time / full-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
334 transferred to another institution.
WestConn lost contact with the remaining 130 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 2.87% |
| Transferred | 334 | 68.44% |
| Dropped Out | 130 | 26.64% |
First-time / part-time students at Western Connecticut State University represent 1.25% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 14%, first-time, part-time students in the WestConn class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 19%.
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 | WestConn | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 23.72% |
17 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
WestConn lost contact with the remaining 16 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 5.88% |
| Dropped Out | 16 | 94.12% |
623 WestConn students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 36.97% 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 46%, 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 58%.
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 | WestConn | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 46% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 55.07% |
262 non first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
227 transferred to another institution.
WestConn lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.29% |
| Transferred | 227 | 86.64% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 11.07% |
132 WestConn students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 7.83% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 36%, 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 47%.
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 | WestConn | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 36% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 37.80% |
70 non first-time / part-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
WestConn lost contact with the remaining 54 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 5.71% |
| Transferred | 12 | 17.14% |
| Dropped Out | 54 | 77.14% |
