by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many DePaul first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore DePaul retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 83% students making it past their freshmen year, DePaul 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 Illinois, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| DePaul | 83% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
How many of the estimated 3,378 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 58% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 65% of the students had graduated and after eight years 67% of this class completed their degree.
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 DePaul graduation rate 65%.
The average DePaul student takes 4.21 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,890 | 55% |
| Six Years | 3,378 | 65% |
| Eight Years | 121 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,717 | 33% |
Approximately 1717 students or 33% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1717 students who did not complete their degree?
14 are still enrolled.
982 transferred to another institution.
DePaul lost contact with the remaining 669 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 982 | 57.2% |
| Dropped Out | 669 | 39.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 79% |
| Black / African-American | 62% |
| Hawaiian | 33% |
| Hispanic | 65% |
| International | 66% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 61% |
| Unknown | 67% |
| White | 74% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 DePaul are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at DePaul University represent 47% of the students in the class of 2015, and 51.95% of DePaul bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 58%, first-time students in the DePaul class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the DePaul graduation rate was 71%, and by the eight year mark, 73% 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 | DePaul | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 58% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 71% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 73% | 47.82% |
670 first-time / full-time students or 27% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
475 transferred to another institution.
DePaul lost contact with the remaining 172 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 2.09% |
| Transferred | 475 | 70.90% |
| Dropped Out | 172 | 25.67% |
First-time / part-time students at DePaul University represent 0.17% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 44%, first-time, part-time students in the DePaul class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 44%.
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 | DePaul | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 44% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 23.72% |
5 first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
DePaul lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 20.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 60.00% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 20.00% |
1985 DePaul students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 37.97% 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 69%, 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 70%.
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 | DePaul | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 69% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 55.07% |
592 non first-time / part-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
18 are still enrolled.
327 transferred to another institution.
DePaul lost contact with the remaining 247 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 3.04% |
| Transferred | 327 | 55.24% |
| Dropped Out | 247 | 41.72% |
753 DePaul students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 14.40% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 35%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate similar to the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 40%.
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 | DePaul | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 35% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 37.80% |
450 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
24 are still enrolled.
177 transferred to another institution.
DePaul lost contact with the remaining 249 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 5.33% |
| Transferred | 177 | 39.33% |
| Dropped Out | 249 | 55.33% |
