by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Western first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Western retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
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, Western has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Colorado, the average is 70.70%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Western | 67% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Colorado | 70.70% |
How many of the estimated 317 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 28% of the cohort graduated. After six years 47% had completed their degree, and 48% 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 Western graduation rate 47%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at Western? The standard length of time for most students is 4.53 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 245 | 36% |
| Six Years | 317 | 47% |
| Eight Years | 8 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 351 | 52% |
Approximately 351 students or 52% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 351 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
191 transferred to another institution.
Western lost contact with the remaining 160 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 191 | 54.4% |
| Dropped Out | 160 | 45.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 75% |
| Asian | 75% |
| Black / African-American | 29% |
| Hispanic | 45% |
| International | 50% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 52% |
| Unknown | 62% |
| White | 52% |
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 Western 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 students at Western Colorado University represent 66% of the students in the class of 2015, and 58.36% of Western bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 28%, first-time students in the Western class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Western graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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 | Western | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 42% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 47.82% |
252 first-time / full-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
139 transferred to another institution.
Western lost contact with the remaining 113 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.79% |
| Transferred | 139 | 55.16% |
| Dropped Out | 113 | 44.84% |
First-time / part-time students at Western Colorado University represent 0.89% of the students in the class of 2015.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | Western | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 1% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 1% | 23.72% |
6 first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
Western lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 33.33% |
| Dropped Out | 4 | 66.67% |
209 Western students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 30.92% 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 61%, 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 61%.
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 | Western | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 61% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 55.07% |
81 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
45 transferred to another institution.
Western lost contact with the remaining 36 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 45 | 55.56% |
| Dropped Out | 36 | 44.44% |
17 Western students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 2.51% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 29%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 29%.
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 | Western | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 29% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 37.80% |
12 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
5 transferred to another institution.
Western lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 5 | 41.67% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 58.33% |
