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WIU Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

29% 4-Year Graduation Rate
57% 6-Year Graduation Rate
77% Retention Rate

Western Illinois University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How long does it take to earn a degree at WIU? 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.

WIU Retention Rate

77% Freshmen Retention Rate
Good Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 77% students making it past their freshmen year, WIU 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 Illinois, the average is 72.64%.

WIU Retention  77 out of 100
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Illinois Retention  73 out of 100
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100%
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Retention Rate
WIU77%
Nationwide70.57%
Illinois72.64%

WIU Graduation Rates

57% 6-Year Graduation Rate
29.31% Transfer Rate
12.12% Dropout Rate

How many of the estimated 2,072 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?

After four years 29% of the cohort graduated. After six years 57% had completed their degree, and 58% after eight years.

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 WIU graduation rate 57%.

The average length of time it takes an WIU undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.39 years.

Four Year Graduation Rate  42%
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100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  57%
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  58%
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100%

WIU Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years1,55242%
Six Years2,07257%
Eight Years441%
Did Not Complete1,53742%
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.
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WIU Drop Out Rate

Approximately 1537 students or 42% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 1537 students who did not complete their degree?

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Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled100.7%
Transferred107469.9%
Dropped Out44428.9%

WIU Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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Race/EthnicityGraduation Rate
Asian50%
Black / African-American30%
Hawaiian50%
Hispanic39%
International100%
Multi-Ethnic37%
Unknown40%
White61%

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.

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 WIU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.

How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?

First-Time / Full-Time WIU Graduation Rates

54% First-Time, Full-Time
50% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / full-time students at Western Illinois University represent 54% of the students in the class of 2015, and 47.01% of WIU bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 29%, first-time students in the WIU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the WIU graduation rate was 50%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  29 out of 100
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Six Year Graduation Rate  50 out of 100
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Eight Year Graduation Rate  51 out of 100
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WIU First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsWIUNationwide
Four Years29%37.92%
Six Years50%46.43%
Eight Years51%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time WIU Drop Out Rates

953 first-time / full-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled101.05%
Transferred72676.18%
Dropped Out22123.19%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

1% First-Time, Part-Time
34% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / part-time students at Western Illinois University represent 1.04% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 34%, first-time, part-time students in the WIU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 34%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  34 out of 100
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Eight Year Graduation Rate  34 out of 100
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First-Time / Part-Time WIU Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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First-Time / Part-Time CompletionsWIUNationwide
Four Years13%14.37%
Six Years34%21.59%
Eight Years34%23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time WIU Drop Out Rates

25 first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled14.00%
Transferred1768.00%
Dropped Out728.00%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

39% Returning, Full-Time
69% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

1412 WIU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 38.54% 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 69%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 70%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  69 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  70 out of 100
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WIU Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Full-Time CompletionsWIUNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years69%53.83%
Eight Years70%55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time WIU Drop Out Rates

425 non first-time / part-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled51.18%
Transferred26261.65%
Dropped Out15837.18%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

7% Returning, Part-Time
44% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

249 WIU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.80% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 44%, 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 46%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  44 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  46 out of 100
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WIU Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Part-Time CompletionsWIUNationwide
Four Years0%30.46%
Six Years44%36.03%
Eight Years46%37.80%

Non First-Time / Part-Time WIU Drop Out Rates

134 non first-time / part-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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Returning / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled75.22%
Transferred6951.49%
Dropped Out5843.28%

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