by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Bethel retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 61% students making it past their freshmen year, Bethel has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Tennessee, the average is 71.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Bethel | 61% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Tennessee | 71.48% |
How many of the estimated 754 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 12% of the cohort graduated. After six years 44% had completed their degree, and 50% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of Bethel is 44%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
The average Bethel student takes 4.47 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 142 | 8% |
| Six Years | 754 | 44% |
| Eight Years | 109 | 6% |
| Did Not Complete | 850 | 50% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 100% |
| Black / African-American | 23% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 67% |
| Unknown | 14% |
| White | 40% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 Bethel are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Bethel University represent 26% of the students in the class of 2015, and 16.31% of Bethel bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 12%, first-time students in the Bethel class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Bethel graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 | Bethel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 28% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 47.82% |
316 first-time / full-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
Bethel lost contact with the remaining 316 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 316 | 100.00% |
First-time / part-time students at Bethel University represent 1.05% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 56%, first-time, part-time students in the Bethel class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 56%.
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 | Bethel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 56% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 23.72% |
8 first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
Bethel lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 12.50% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 87.50% |
1091 Bethel students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 63.69% 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 53%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 62%.
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 | Bethel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 53% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 55.07% |
416 non first-time / part-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
Bethel lost contact with the remaining 414 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.48% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 414 | 99.52% |
162 Bethel students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 9.46% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 28%, 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 32%.
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 | Bethel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 28% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 37.80% |
110 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
Bethel lost contact with the remaining 110 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 110 | 100.00% |
