by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at CSUB? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 83% students making it past their freshmen year, CSUB 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| CSUB | 83% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 1,323 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
14% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 52% in six years, and 56% in 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 CSUB graduation rate 52%.
The typical CSUB student takes 4.85 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 908 | 36% |
| Six Years | 1,323 | 52% |
| Eight Years | 90 | 4% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,121 | 44% |
Approximately 1121 students or 44% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1121 students who did not complete their degree?
38 are still enrolled.
616 transferred to another institution.
CSUB lost contact with the remaining 458 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 38 | 3.4% |
| Transferred | 616 | 55.0% |
| Dropped Out | 458 | 40.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 60% |
| Asian | 51% |
| Black / African-American | 34% |
| Hispanic | 45% |
| International | 65% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 47% |
| Unknown | 50% |
| White | 49% |
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 CSUB 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 California State University - Bakersfield represent 50% of the students in the class of 2015, and 38.17% of CSUB bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 14%, first-time students in the CSUB class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the CSUB graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 | CSUB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 40% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 47.82% |
683 first-time / full-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
38 are still enrolled.
387 transferred to another institution.
CSUB lost contact with the remaining 265 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 38 | 5.56% |
| Transferred | 387 | 56.66% |
| Dropped Out | 265 | 38.80% |
First-time / part-time students at California State University - Bakersfield represent 1.18% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 27%, first-time, part-time students in the CSUB class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 27%.
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 | CSUB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 27% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 23.72% |
22 first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
13 transferred to another institution.
CSUB lost contact with the remaining 9 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 13 | 59.09% |
| Dropped Out | 9 | 40.91% |
1064 CSUB students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 41.99% 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 68%, 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 69%.
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 | CSUB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 68% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 55.07% |
329 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
171 transferred to another institution.
CSUB lost contact with the remaining 146 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 3.65% |
| Transferred | 171 | 51.98% |
| Dropped Out | 146 | 44.38% |
176 CSUB students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.95% 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 51%.
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 | CSUB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 48% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 37.80% |
87 non first-time / part-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
45 transferred to another institution.
CSUB lost contact with the remaining 38 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 4.60% |
| Transferred | 45 | 51.72% |
| Dropped Out | 38 | 43.68% |
