by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Drake first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Drake 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 86% students making it past their freshmen year, Drake 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 Iowa, the average is 68.94%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Drake | 86% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Iowa | 68.94% |
There were approximately 811 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
72% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 78% in six years, and 79% 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 Drake graduation rate 78%.
The average length of time it takes an Drake undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.10 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 751 | 72% |
| Six Years | 811 | 78% |
| Eight Years | 10 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 222 | 21% |
Approximately 222 students or 21% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 222 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
192 transferred to another institution.
Drake lost contact with the remaining 15 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 192 | 86.5% |
| Dropped Out | 15 | 6.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 74% |
| Black / African-American | 77% |
| Hispanic | 62% |
| International | 86% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 78% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 78% |
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 Drake 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 Drake University represent 79% of the students in the class of 2015, and 79.65% of Drake bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 72%, first-time students in the Drake class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Drake graduation rate was 79%, and by the eight year mark, 79% 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 | Drake | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 72% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 79% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 79% | 47.82% |
169 first-time / full-time students or 21% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
152 transferred to another institution.
Drake lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 152 | 89.94% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 3.55% |
First-time / part-time students at Drake University represent 0.29% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 67%, first-time, part-time students in the Drake 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 Completions | Drake | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 67% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 100% | 23.72% |
204 Drake students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 19.52% 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 79%, 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 80%.
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 | Drake | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 79% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 80% | 55.07% |
41 non first-time / part-time students or 20% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
32 transferred to another institution.
Drake lost contact with the remaining 5 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 9.76% |
| Transferred | 32 | 78.05% |
| Dropped Out | 5 | 12.20% |
15 Drake students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 1.44% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 20%, 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 20%.
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 | Drake | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 20% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 37.80% |
12 non 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.
8 transferred to another institution.
Drake lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 8 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 4 | 33.33% |
