by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to CWU after their first year? Are CWU students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 70% students making it past their freshmen year, CWU 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 Washington, the average is 73.95%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| CWU | 70% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Washington | 73.95% |
How many of the estimated 2,405 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
31% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 60% in six years, and 62% in eight years.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical CWU graduation rate 60%.
The typical CWU student takes 4.44 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,935 | 48% |
| Six Years | 2,405 | 60% |
| Eight Years | 88 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,549 | 38% |
Approximately 1549 students or 38% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1549 students who did not complete their degree?
6 are still enrolled.
941 transferred to another institution.
CWU lost contact with the remaining 585 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.4% |
| Transferred | 941 | 60.7% |
| Dropped Out | 585 | 37.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 38% |
| Asian | 53% |
| Black / African-American | 54% |
| Hawaiian | 38% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 42% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 50% |
| Unknown | 47% |
| White | 64% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 CWU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Central Washington University represent 39% of the students in the class of 2015, and 34.47% of CWU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 31%, first-time students in the CWU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the CWU graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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 | CWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 52% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 47.82% |
708 first-time / full-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
469 transferred to another institution.
CWU lost contact with the remaining 227 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.85% |
| Transferred | 469 | 66.24% |
| Dropped Out | 227 | 32.06% |
First-time / part-time students at Central Washington University represent 1.23% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 48%, first-time, part-time students in the CWU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 50%.
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 | CWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 48% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 23.72% |
25 first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
14 transferred to another institution.
CWU lost contact with the remaining 8 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 12.00% |
| Transferred | 14 | 56.00% |
| Dropped Out | 8 | 32.00% |
1812 CWU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 44.71% 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 | CWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 68% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 55.07% |
555 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
316 transferred to another institution.
CWU lost contact with the remaining 234 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.90% |
| Transferred | 316 | 56.94% |
| Dropped Out | 234 | 42.16% |
600 CWU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 14.80% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 54%, 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 56%.
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 | CWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 54% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 37.80% |
261 non first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
142 transferred to another institution.
CWU lost contact with the remaining 116 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.15% |
| Transferred | 142 | 54.41% |
| Dropped Out | 116 | 44.44% |
