by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Clarion University? 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 77% students making it past their freshmen year, Clarion University 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Clarion University | 77% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
How many of the estimated 898 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 36% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 48% of the students had graduated and after eight years 49% of this class completed their degree.
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 Clarion University graduation rate 48%.
The typical Clarion University student takes 4.33 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 682 | 37% |
| Six Years | 898 | 48% |
| Eight Years | 11 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 945 | 51% |
Approximately 945 students or 51% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 945 students who did not complete their degree?
6 are still enrolled.
475 transferred to another institution.
Clarion University lost contact with the remaining 462 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 475 | 50.3% |
| Dropped Out | 462 | 48.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 100% |
| Black / African-American | 27% |
| Hispanic | 29% |
| International | 100% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 43% |
| Unknown | 64% |
| White | 58% |
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 Clarion University 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 Clarion University of Pennsylvania represent 67% of the students in the class of 2015, and 71.27% of Clarion University bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 36%, first-time students in the Clarion University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Clarion University graduation rate was 51%, and by the eight year mark, 52% 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 | Clarion University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 51% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 47.82% |
599 first-time / full-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
333 transferred to another institution.
Clarion University lost contact with the remaining 262 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.00% |
| Transferred | 333 | 55.59% |
| Dropped Out | 262 | 43.74% |
First-time / part-time students at Clarion University of Pennsylvania represent 2.64% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 14%, first-time, part-time students in the Clarion University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 14%.
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 | Clarion University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
42 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
13 transferred to another institution.
Clarion University lost contact with the remaining 28 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.38% |
| Transferred | 13 | 30.95% |
| Dropped Out | 28 | 66.67% |
407 Clarion University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 21.94% 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 46%, 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 47%.
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 | Clarion University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 46% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 55.07% |
217 non first-time / part-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
101 transferred to another institution.
Clarion University lost contact with the remaining 115 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.46% |
| Transferred | 101 | 46.54% |
| Dropped Out | 115 | 53.00% |
154 Clarion University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 8.30% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 42%, 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 44%.
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 | Clarion University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 37.80% |
87 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
28 transferred to another institution.
Clarion University lost contact with the remaining 57 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.30% |
| Transferred | 28 | 32.18% |
| Dropped Out | 57 | 65.52% |
