by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to Bentley after their first year? Are Bentley students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 92% students making it past their freshmen year, Bentley 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 | |
|---|---|
| Bentley | 92% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Massachusetts | 73.02% |
How many of the estimated 1,003 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 86% of the cohort graduated. After six years 89% had completed their degree, and 89% 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 Bentley graduation rate 89%.
The average length of time it takes an Bentley undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.06 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 962 | 85% |
| Six Years | 1,003 | 89% |
| Eight Years | 4 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 124 | 11% |
Approximately 124 students or 11% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 124 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
23 transferred to another institution.
Bentley lost contact with the remaining 99 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 23 | 18.5% |
| Dropped Out | 99 | 79.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 90% |
| Black / African-American | 74% |
| Hispanic | 84% |
| International | 88% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 79% |
| Unknown | 92% |
| White | 92% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 Bentley are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Bentley University represent 83% of the students in the class of 2015, and 84.25% of Bentley bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 86%, first-time students in the Bentley class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Bentley graduation rate was 90%, and by the eight year mark, 91% 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 | Bentley | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 86% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 90% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 91% | 47.82% |
86 first-time / full-time students or 9% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
21 transferred to another institution.
Bentley lost contact with the remaining 64 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 21 | 24.42% |
| Dropped Out | 64 | 74.42% |
First-time / part-time students at Bentley University represent 0.44% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 20%, first-time, part-time students in the Bentley class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 20%.
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 | Bentley | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 20% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
4 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
Bentley lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 25.00% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 75.00% |
172 Bentley students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.19% 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 91%, 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 91%.
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 | Bentley | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 91% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 91% | 55.07% |
15 non first-time / part-time students or 9% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
Bentley lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 6.67% |
| Transferred | 1 | 6.67% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 86.67% |
19 Bentley students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 1.68% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 0%, 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 0%.
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.
19 non 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.
0 transferred to another institution.
Bentley lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 100.00% |
