by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to Worcester State after their first year? Are Worcester State students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 80% students making it past their freshmen year, Worcester State 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 Massachusetts, the average is 73.02%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Worcester State | 80% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Massachusetts | 73.02% |
How many of the estimated 916 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 35% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 58% of the students had graduated and after eight years 60% of this class completed their degree.
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 Worcester State graduation rate 58%.
The average length of time it takes an Worcester State undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.32 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 679 | 43% |
| Six Years | 916 | 58% |
| Eight Years | 33 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 642 | 40% |
Approximately 642 students or 40% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 642 students who did not complete their degree?
5 are still enrolled.
301 transferred to another institution.
Worcester State lost contact with the remaining 319 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 301 | 46.9% |
| Dropped Out | 319 | 49.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 61% |
| Black / African-American | 49% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 46% |
| International | 33% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 45% |
| Unknown | 72% |
| White | 61% |
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 Worcester State 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 students at Worcester State University represent 50% of the students in the class of 2015, and 48.36% of Worcester State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 35%, first-time students in the Worcester State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Worcester State graduation rate was 56%, and by the eight year mark, 58% 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 | Worcester State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 56% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 47.82% |
337 first-time / full-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
220 transferred to another institution.
Worcester State lost contact with the remaining 109 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.48% |
| Transferred | 220 | 65.28% |
| Dropped Out | 109 | 32.34% |
First-time / part-time students at Worcester State University represent 0.50% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time, part-time students in the Worcester State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 38%.
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.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | Worcester State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 23.72% |
5 first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
Worcester State lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 60.00% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 40.00% |
610 Worcester State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 38.20% 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 65%, 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 67%.
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 | Worcester State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 65% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 55.07% |
203 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
40 transferred to another institution.
Worcester State lost contact with the remaining 154 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 4.43% |
| Transferred | 40 | 19.70% |
| Dropped Out | 154 | 75.86% |
180 Worcester State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.27% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 42%, 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 46%.
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 | Worcester State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 37.80% |
97 non first-time / part-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
38 transferred to another institution.
Worcester State lost contact with the remaining 54 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 5.15% |
| Transferred | 38 | 39.18% |
| Dropped Out | 54 | 55.67% |
