by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many CAU first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore CAU 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 63% students making it past their freshmen year, CAU 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 Georgia, the average is 65.40%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| CAU | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Georgia | 65.40% |
There were approximately 426 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 26% of the cohort graduated. After six years 39% had completed their degree, and 40% after eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official CAU graduation rate 39%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at CAU? The standard length of time for most students is 4.41 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 298 | 27% |
| Six Years | 426 | 39% |
| Eight Years | 3 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 656 | 60% |
Approximately 656 students or 60% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 656 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
518 transferred to another institution.
CAU lost contact with the remaining 137 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.2% |
| Transferred | 518 | 79.0% |
| Dropped Out | 137 | 20.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Black / African-American | 42% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 73% |
| Unknown | 37% |
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 CAU 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 Clark Atlanta University represent 80% of the students in the class of 2015, and 79.58% of CAU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 26%, first-time students in the CAU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the CAU graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 | CAU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 39% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 47.82% |
531 first-time / full-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
429 transferred to another institution.
CAU lost contact with the remaining 101 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.19% |
| Transferred | 429 | 80.79% |
| Dropped Out | 101 | 19.02% |
First-time / part-time students at Clark Atlanta University represent 1.38% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 13%, first-time, part-time students in the CAU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 13%.
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 | CAU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
13 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
7 transferred to another institution.
CAU lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 7 | 53.85% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 46.15% |
183 CAU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.87% 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 48%.
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 | CAU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 46% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 55.07% |
96 non first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
72 transferred to another institution.
CAU lost contact with the remaining 24 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 72 | 75.00% |
| Dropped Out | 24 | 25.00% |
16 CAU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 1.47% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 0%, 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 0%.
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.
16 non first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
10 transferred to another institution.
CAU lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 10 | 62.50% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 37.50% |
