by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many CSUN first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore CSUN retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 83% students making it past their freshmen year, CSUN 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 | |
|---|---|
| CSUN | 83% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
Of the 7,457 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
12% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 64% in six years, and 68% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of CSUN is 64%. 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 length of time it takes an CSUN undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.94 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5,021 | 43% |
| Six Years | 7,457 | 64% |
| Eight Years | 381 | 4% |
| Did Not Complete | 3,769 | 32% |
Approximately 3769 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3769 students who did not complete their degree?
66 are still enrolled.
2121 transferred to another institution.
CSUN lost contact with the remaining 1501 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 66 | 1.8% |
| Transferred | 2121 | 56.3% |
| Dropped Out | 1,501 | 39.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 75% |
| Asian | 67% |
| Black / African-American | 41% |
| Hawaiian | 33% |
| Hispanic | 52% |
| International | 45% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 54% |
| Unknown | 54% |
| White | 66% |
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 CSUN 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 California State University - Northridge represent 46% of the students in the class of 2015, and 36.42% of CSUN bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 12%, first-time students in the CSUN class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the CSUN graduation rate was 51%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | CSUN | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 51% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 47.82% |
2291 first-time / full-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
66 are still enrolled.
1338 transferred to another institution.
CSUN lost contact with the remaining 835 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 66 | 2.88% |
| Transferred | 1338 | 58.40% |
| Dropped Out | 835 | 36.45% |
First-time / part-time students at California State University - Northridge represent 0.98% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time, part-time students in the CSUN class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 32%.
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 | CSUN | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 22% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 23.72% |
77 first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
46 transferred to another institution.
CSUN lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.60% |
| Transferred | 46 | 59.74% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 37.66% |
4237 CSUN students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 36.50% 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 81%, 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 82%.
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 | CSUN | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 81% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 82% | 55.07% |
777 non first-time / part-time students or 18% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
417 transferred to another institution.
CSUN lost contact with the remaining 345 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.93% |
| Transferred | 417 | 53.67% |
| Dropped Out | 345 | 44.40% |
1942 CSUN students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.73% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 66%, 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 68%.
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 | CSUN | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 66% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 37.80% |
624 non first-time / part-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
320 transferred to another institution.
CSUN lost contact with the remaining 292 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 1.92% |
| Transferred | 320 | 51.28% |
| Dropped Out | 292 | 46.79% |
