by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Williston State College 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 Williston State College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 66% students making it past their freshmen year, Williston State College 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 North Dakota, the average is 67.00%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Williston State College | 66% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Dakota | 67.00% |
How many of the estimated 155 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 37% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 39% of the students had graduated and after eight years 39% 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 Williston State College graduation rate 39%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 147 | 37% |
| Six Years | 155 | 39% |
| Eight Years | 1 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 244 | 61% |
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 244 students or 61% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 244 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
237 transferred to another institution.
Williston State College lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 237 | 97.1% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 1.2% |
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 Williston State College 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 students at Williston State College represent 63.00% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Williston State College graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | Williston State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 39% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 47.82% |
152 first-time / full-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
147 transferred to another institution.
Williston State College lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.97% |
| Transferred | 147 | 96.71% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 1.32% |
First-time / part-time students at Williston State College represent 4.50% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Williston State College graduation rate was 22%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | Williston State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 17% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 22% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 23.72% |
14 first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
14 transferred to another institution.
Williston State College lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 14 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Williston State College represent 17.75% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Williston State College graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | Williston State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 42% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 55.07% |
41 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
41 transferred to another institution.
Williston State College lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 41 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
Returning / part-time students at Williston State College represent 14.75% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Williston State College graduation rate was 37%, and by the eight year mark, 37% 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 | Williston State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 37% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 37.80% |
37 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
35 transferred to another institution.
Williston State College lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.70% |
| Transferred | 35 | 94.59% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 2.70% |
