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WWU Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

38% 4-Year Graduation Rate
72% 6-Year Graduation Rate
79% Retention Rate

Western Washington University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

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

WWU Retention Rate

79% Freshmen Retention Rate
Good Retention Rate

The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.

With 79% students making it past their freshmen year, WWU 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 Washington, the average is 73.95%.

WWU Retention  79 out of 100
0%
100%
Washington Retention  74 out of 100
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100%
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Retention Rate
WWU79%
Nationwide70.57%
Washington73.95%

WWU Graduation Rates

72% 6-Year Graduation Rate
14.81% Transfer Rate
10.48% Dropout Rate

There were approximately 3,041 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?

After four years 38% of the cohort graduated. After six years 72% had completed their degree, and 74% 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 WWU graduation rate 72%.

How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at WWU? The standard length of time for most students is 4.54 years.

Four Year Graduation Rate  50%
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  72%
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  74%
0%
100%

WWU Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years2,09550%
Six Years3,04172%
Eight Years812%
Did Not Complete1,07726%
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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WWU Drop Out Rate

Approximately 1077 students or 26% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 1077 students who did not complete their degree?

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Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled151.4%
Transferred62257.8%
Dropped Out44040.9%

WWU Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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Race/EthnicityGraduation Rate
American Indian or Alaskan Native63%
Asian65%
Black / African-American57%
Hawaiian40%
Hispanic60%
International57%
Multi-Ethnic68%
Unknown57%
White69%

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 WWU 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 WWU Graduation Rates

64% First-Time, Full-Time
69% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / full-time students at Western Washington University represent 64% of the students in the class of 2015, and 61.30% of WWU bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 38%, first-time students in the WWU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the WWU graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 71% 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  38 out of 100
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100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  69 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  71 out of 100
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100%

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

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First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsWWUNationwide
Four Years38%37.92%
Six Years69%46.43%
Eight Years71%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time WWU Drop Out Rates

774 first-time / full-time students or 29% 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 Enrolled151.94%
Transferred47761.63%
Dropped Out28536.82%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

1% First-Time, Part-Time
57% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / part-time students at Western Washington University represent 0.67% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 57%, first-time, part-time students in the WWU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 61%.

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  57 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  61 out of 100
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100%

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

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First-Time / Part-Time CompletionsWWUNationwide
Four Years29%14.37%
Six Years57%21.59%
Eight Years61%23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time WWU Drop Out Rates

11 first-time / part-time students or 39% 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 Enrolled00.00%
Transferred436.36%
Dropped Out763.64%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

31% Returning, Full-Time
81% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

1294 WWU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 30.82% 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 81%, 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 82%.

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  81 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  82 out of 100
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100%

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

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Returning / Full-Time CompletionsWWUNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years81%53.83%
Eight Years82%55.07%

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

235 non first-time / part-time students or 18% 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 Enrolled20.85%
Transferred11348.09%
Dropped Out12051.06%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

4% Returning, Part-Time
67% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

175 WWU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 4.17% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 67%, 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 67%.

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  67 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  67 out of 100
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100%

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

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Returning / Part-Time CompletionsWWUNationwide
Four Years0%30.46%
Six Years67%36.03%
Eight Years67%37.80%

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

57 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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Returning / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled11.75%
Transferred2849.12%
Dropped Out2849.12%

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