by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to Bluefield State College after their first year? Are Bluefield State College 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 60% students making it past their freshmen year, Bluefield State College 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 West Virginia, the average is 70.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Bluefield State College | 60% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| West Virginia | 70.53% |
How many of the estimated 247 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 16% of the cohort graduated. After six years 35% had completed their degree, and 38% 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 Bluefield State College graduation rate 35%.
The typical Bluefield State College student takes 4.44 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 178 | 25% |
| Six Years | 247 | 35% |
| Eight Years | 21 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 436 | 62% |
Approximately 436 students or 62% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 436 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
107 transferred to another institution.
Bluefield State College lost contact with the remaining 316 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 107 | 24.5% |
| Dropped Out | 316 | 72.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Black / African-American | 23% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 25% |
| White | 34% |
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 Bluefield State College 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 Bluefield State College represent 44% of the students in the class of 2015, and 34.01% of Bluefield State College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time students in the Bluefield State College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Bluefield State College graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | Bluefield State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 27% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
207 first-time / full-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
58 transferred to another institution.
Bluefield State College lost contact with the remaining 139 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 58 | 28.02% |
| Dropped Out | 139 | 67.15% |
First-time / part-time students at Bluefield State College represent 3.39% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time, part-time students in the Bluefield State College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 29%.
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 | Bluefield State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 23.72% |
17 first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
Bluefield State College lost contact with the remaining 15 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 11.76% |
| Dropped Out | 15 | 88.24% |
255 Bluefield State College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 36.07% 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 43%, 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 44%.
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 | Bluefield State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 43% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 55.07% |
143 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
38 transferred to another institution.
Bluefield State College lost contact with the remaining 104 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.70% |
| Transferred | 38 | 26.57% |
| Dropped Out | 104 | 72.73% |
118 Bluefield State College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.69% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 40%, 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 42%.
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 | Bluefield State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 40% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
69 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
Bluefield State College lost contact with the remaining 58 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.90% |
| Transferred | 9 | 13.04% |
| Dropped Out | 58 | 84.06% |
