by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Western 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 Western. 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 56% students making it past their freshmen year, Western 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 Oklahoma, the average is 65.20%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Western | 56% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Oklahoma | 65.20% |
How many of the estimated 214 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 29% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 31% of the students had graduated and after eight years 32% 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 Western graduation rate 31%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 201 | 29% |
| Six Years | 214 | 31% |
| Eight Years | 1 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 467 | 68% |
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 467 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 467 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
122 transferred to another institution.
Western lost contact with the remaining 341 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 122 | 26.1% |
| Dropped Out | 341 | 73.0% |
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 Western are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Western Oklahoma State College represent 50.15% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Western graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | Western | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 33% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
230 first-time / full-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
51 transferred to another institution.
Western lost contact with the remaining 177 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.87% |
| Transferred | 51 | 22.17% |
| Dropped Out | 177 | 76.96% |
First-time / part-time students at Western Oklahoma State College represent 14.37% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Western graduation rate was 13%, and by the eight year mark, 14% 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 | Western | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
84 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
25 transferred to another institution.
Western lost contact with the remaining 58 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.19% |
| Transferred | 25 | 29.76% |
| Dropped Out | 58 | 69.05% |
Returning / full-time students at Western Oklahoma State College represent 9.24% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Western graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | Western | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 30% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 55.07% |
44 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
10 transferred to another institution.
Western lost contact with the remaining 34 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 10 | 22.73% |
| Dropped Out | 34 | 77.27% |
Returning / part-time students at Western Oklahoma State College represent 26.25% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Western graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 | Western | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 37% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 39% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 37.80% |
109 non first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
36 transferred to another institution.
Western lost contact with the remaining 72 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.92% |
| Transferred | 36 | 33.03% |
| Dropped Out | 72 | 66.06% |
