by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many CSU first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore CSU 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 54% students making it past their freshmen year, CSU 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 Illinois, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| CSU | 54% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
How many of the estimated 400 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 3% of the cohort graduated. After six years 28% had completed their degree, and 32% after 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 CSU graduation rate 28%.
The typical CSU student takes 4.97 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 258 | 18% |
| Six Years | 400 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 52 | 4% |
| Did Not Complete | 981 | 68% |
Approximately 981 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 981 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
593 transferred to another institution.
CSU lost contact with the remaining 356 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 593 | 60.4% |
| Dropped Out | 356 | 36.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Black / African-American | 13% |
| Hispanic | 27% |
| International | 100% |
| Unknown | 9% |
| White | 22% |
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 CSU 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 Chicago State University represent 34% of the students in the class of 2015, and 16.25% of CSU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 3%, first-time students in the CSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the CSU graduation rate was 13%, and by the eight year mark, 17% 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 | CSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 13% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 47.82% |
405 first-time / full-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
249 transferred to another institution.
CSU lost contact with the remaining 141 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 249 | 61.48% |
| Dropped Out | 141 | 34.81% |
First-time / part-time students at Chicago State University represent 5.37% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 3%, first-time, part-time students in the CSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 9%.
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 | CSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 3% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 9% | 23.72% |
70 first-time / part-time students or 91% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
37 transferred to another institution.
CSU lost contact with the remaining 32 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.43% |
| Transferred | 37 | 52.86% |
| Dropped Out | 32 | 45.71% |
634 CSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 44.18% 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 42%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 45%.
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 | CSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 42% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 55.07% |
346 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
222 transferred to another institution.
CSU lost contact with the remaining 116 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 2.31% |
| Transferred | 222 | 64.16% |
| Dropped Out | 116 | 33.53% |
235 CSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.38% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 29%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 32%.
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 | CSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 29% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 37.80% |
160 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
85 transferred to another institution.
CSU lost contact with the remaining 67 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 5.00% |
| Transferred | 85 | 53.13% |
| Dropped Out | 67 | 41.88% |
