by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Bowie State University first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Bowie State University retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 77% students making it past their freshmen year, Bowie State University 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 Maryland, the average is 71.84%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Bowie State University | 77% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Maryland | 71.84% |
Of the 613 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 16% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 49% of the students had graduated and after eight years 50% 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 Bowie State University graduation rate 49%.
The typical Bowie State University student takes 4.76 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 408 | 32% |
| Six Years | 613 | 49% |
| Eight Years | 18 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 630 | 50% |
Approximately 630 students or 50% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 630 students who did not complete their degree?
6 are still enrolled.
420 transferred to another institution.
Bowie State University lost contact with the remaining 191 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.0% |
| Transferred | 420 | 66.7% |
| Dropped Out | 191 | 30.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 33% |
| Black / African-American | 44% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 43% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 36% |
| Unknown | 23% |
| White | 50% |
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 Bowie State University 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 Bowie State University represent 48% of the students in the class of 2015, and 38.66% of Bowie State University bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time students in the Bowie State University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Bowie State University graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 41% 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 | Bowie State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 40% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 47.82% |
353 first-time / full-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
223 transferred to another institution.
Bowie State University lost contact with the remaining 116 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.70% |
| Transferred | 223 | 63.17% |
| Dropped Out | 116 | 32.86% |
First-time / part-time students at Bowie State University represent 1.03% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 15%, first-time, part-time students in the Bowie State University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 15%.
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 | Bowie State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 15% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
11 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
6 transferred to another institution.
Bowie State University lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 18.18% |
| Transferred | 6 | 54.55% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 27.27% |
497 Bowie State University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 39.41% 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 61%, 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 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 | Bowie State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 61% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 55.07% |
189 non first-time / part-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
134 transferred to another institution.
Bowie State University lost contact with the remaining 52 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.59% |
| Transferred | 134 | 70.90% |
| Dropped Out | 52 | 27.51% |
151 Bowie State University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.97% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 48%, 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 49%.
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 | Bowie State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 48% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 37.80% |
77 non first-time / part-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
57 transferred to another institution.
Bowie State University lost contact with the remaining 20 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 57 | 74.03% |
| Dropped Out | 20 | 25.97% |
