by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Cal State Fullerton? 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 89% students making it past their freshmen year, Cal State Fullerton 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 | |
|---|---|
| Cal State Fullerton | 89% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 6,624 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
22% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 74% in six years, and 77% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of Cal State Fullerton is 74%. 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 Cal State Fullerton student takes 4.85 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4,367 | 49% |
| Six Years | 6,624 | 74% |
| Eight Years | 336 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,044 | 23% |
Approximately 2044 students or 23% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2044 students who did not complete their degree?
54 are still enrolled.
1094 transferred to another institution.
Cal State Fullerton lost contact with the remaining 858 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 54 | 2.6% |
| Transferred | 1094 | 53.5% |
| Dropped Out | 858 | 42.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 75% |
| Black / African-American | 71% |
| Hawaiian | 63% |
| Hispanic | 67% |
| International | 53% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 72% |
| Unknown | 77% |
| White | 68% |
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 Cal State Fullerton 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 - Fullerton represent 46% of the students in the class of 2015, and 41.05% of Cal State Fullerton bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time students in the Cal State Fullerton class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Cal State Fullerton graduation rate was 66%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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 | Cal State Fullerton | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 66% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 47.82% |
1144 first-time / full-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
54 are still enrolled.
691 transferred to another institution.
Cal State Fullerton lost contact with the remaining 389 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 54 | 4.72% |
| Transferred | 691 | 60.40% |
| Dropped Out | 389 | 34.00% |
First-time / part-time students at California State University - Fullerton represent 1.16% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 37%, first-time, part-time students in the Cal State Fullerton class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 44%.
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 | Cal State Fullerton | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 37% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 23.72% |
58 first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
36 transferred to another institution.
Cal State Fullerton lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 5.17% |
| Transferred | 36 | 62.07% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 32.76% |
3211 Cal State Fullerton students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 35.66% 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 86%, 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 87%.
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 | Cal State Fullerton | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 86% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 87% | 55.07% |
413 non first-time / part-time students or 13% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
171 transferred to another institution.
Cal State Fullerton lost contact with the remaining 234 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.94% |
| Transferred | 171 | 41.40% |
| Dropped Out | 234 | 56.66% |
1581 Cal State Fullerton students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 17.56% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 70%, 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 73%.
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 | Cal State Fullerton | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 70% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 73% | 37.80% |
429 non first-time / part-time students or 27% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
196 transferred to another institution.
Cal State Fullerton lost contact with the remaining 216 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 3.96% |
| Transferred | 196 | 45.69% |
| Dropped Out | 216 | 50.35% |
