Western Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

Western Colorado University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How 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.

• Western Retention Rate
• Western Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• Western Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

Western Retention Rate

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

With 72% students making it past their freshmen year, Western 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 Colorado, the average is 70.70%.

Western Graduation Rates

Of the 334 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?

Four years after beginning their degree, 42% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 46% of the students had graduated and after eight years 47% 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 46%.

Western Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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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Western Drop Out Rate

Approximately 381 students or 53% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 381 students who did not complete their degree?

• 1 are still enrolled.

• 242 transferred to another institution.

• Western lost contact with the remaining 139 who we assumed dropped out.

Western Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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

Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.

First-Time / Full-Time Western Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at Western Colorado University represent 66.62% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Western graduation rate was 46%, and by the eight year mark, 47% 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.

Western First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

First-Time / Full-Time Western Drop Out Rates

253 first-time / full-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 163 transferred to another institution.

• Western lost contact with the remaining 90 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at Western Colorado University represent 0.97% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Western graduation rate was 0%, and by the eight year mark, 0% 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.

First-Time / Part-Time Western Graduation Rates vs. National Average

First-Time / Part-Time Western Drop Out Rates

7 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.

• 4 transferred to another institution.

• Western lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

Returning / full-time students at Western Colorado University represent 31.43% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Western graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 49% 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.

Western Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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

116 non first-time / part-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 70 transferred to another institution.

• Western lost contact with the remaining 46 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Returning / part-time students at Western Colorado University represent 0.97% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Western graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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.

Western Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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

5 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 0 who we assumed dropped out.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics
• Image Credit: By Draconrex under License