Hard Work U Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

College of the Ozarks 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

Make an informed decision about your education by understanding Hard Work U retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.

• Hard Work U Retention Rate
• Hard Work U Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• Hard Work U Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

Hard Work U Retention Rate

The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.

With 80% students making it past their freshmen year, Hard Work U 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 Missouri, the average is 69.43%.

Hard Work U Graduation Rates

How many of the estimated 325 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?

46% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 68% in six years, and 68% 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 Hard Work U graduation rate 68%.

How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at Hard Work U? The standard length of time for most students is 4.20 years.

Hard Work U Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Hard Work U Drop Out Rate

Approximately 153 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 153 students who did not complete their degree?

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 116 transferred to another institution.

• Hard Work U lost contact with the remaining 37 who we assumed dropped out.

Hard Work U Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 Hard Work U 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 Hard Work U Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at College of the Ozarks represent 79% of the students in the class of 2015, and 76.62% of Hard Work U bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 46%, first-time students in the Hard Work U class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the Hard Work U graduation rate was 66%, and by the eight year mark, 66% 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.

Hard Work U First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

First-Time / Full-Time Hard Work U Drop Out Rates

128 first-time / full-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 97 transferred to another institution.

• Hard Work U lost contact with the remaining 31 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at College of the Ozarks represent 0.21% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 100%, first-time, part-time students in the Hard Work U class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 100%.

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 Hard Work U Graduation Rates vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

99 Hard Work U students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 20.67% 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 75%, 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 76%.

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.

Hard Work U Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Full-Time Hard Work U Drop Out Rates

24 non first-time / part-time students or 24% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 18 transferred to another institution.

• Hard Work U lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

2 Hard Work U students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 0.42% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 50%, 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 50%.

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.

Hard Work U Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Part-Time Hard Work U Drop Out Rates

1 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 1 transferred to another institution.

• Hard Work U lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics

• Image Credit: By Brandonrush under License