by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to DSU after their first year? Are DSU students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 63% students making it past their freshmen year, DSU 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 North Dakota, the average is 67.00%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| DSU | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Dakota | 67.00% |
There were approximately 261 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
15% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 32% in six years, and 33% 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 DSU graduation rate 32%.
The typical DSU student takes 4.71 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 198 | 25% |
| Six Years | 261 | 32% |
| Eight Years | 8 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 535 | 67% |
Approximately 535 students or 67% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 535 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
268 transferred to another institution.
DSU lost contact with the remaining 262 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.4% |
| Transferred | 268 | 50.1% |
| Dropped Out | 262 | 49.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Black / African-American | 17% |
| Hispanic | 29% |
| International | 43% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 14% |
| Unknown | 33% |
| White | 39% |
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 DSU 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 Dickinson State University represent 36% of the students in the class of 2015, and 35.25% of DSU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 15%, first-time students in the DSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the DSU graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | DSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 32% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
194 first-time / full-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
119 transferred to another institution.
DSU lost contact with the remaining 72 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.03% |
| Transferred | 119 | 61.34% |
| Dropped Out | 72 | 37.11% |
First-time / part-time students at Dickinson State University represent 7.56% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 20%, first-time, part-time students in the DSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 20%.
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 | DSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 20% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
49 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
24 transferred to another institution.
DSU lost contact with the remaining 25 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 24 | 48.98% |
| Dropped Out | 25 | 51.02% |
343 DSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 42.50% 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 34%, 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 35%.
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 | DSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 34% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 55.07% |
224 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
82 transferred to another institution.
DSU lost contact with the remaining 141 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.45% |
| Transferred | 82 | 36.61% |
| Dropped Out | 141 | 62.95% |
109 DSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 13.51% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 37%, 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 38%.
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 | DSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 37% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 37.80% |
68 non first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
43 transferred to another institution.
DSU lost contact with the remaining 24 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.47% |
| Transferred | 43 | 63.24% |
| Dropped Out | 24 | 35.29% |
