by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Drexel 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.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 88% students making it past their freshmen year, Drexel 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Drexel | 88% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
How many of the estimated 3,484 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
27% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 65% in six years, and 66% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of Drexel is 65%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
The average length of time it takes an Drexel undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.68 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,971 | 37% |
| Six Years | 3,484 | 65% |
| Eight Years | 86 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,823 | 34% |
Approximately 1823 students or 34% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1823 students who did not complete their degree?
3 are still enrolled.
1231 transferred to another institution.
Drexel lost contact with the remaining 585 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.2% |
| Transferred | 1231 | 67.5% |
| Dropped Out | 585 | 32.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 78% |
| Black / African-American | 61% |
| Hawaiian | 80% |
| Hispanic | 53% |
| International | 76% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 68% |
| Unknown | 73% |
| White | 71% |
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 Drexel 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 Drexel University represent 56% of the students in the class of 2015, and 61.88% of Drexel bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 27%, first-time students in the Drexel class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Drexel graduation rate was 71%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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 | Drexel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 71% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 47.82% |
838 first-time / full-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
635 transferred to another institution.
Drexel lost contact with the remaining 201 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.36% |
| Transferred | 635 | 75.78% |
| Dropped Out | 201 | 23.99% |
First-time / part-time students at Drexel University represent 1.90% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 40%, first-time, part-time students in the Drexel class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 42%.
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 | Drexel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 40% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 23.72% |
60 first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
48 transferred to another institution.
Drexel lost contact with the remaining 12 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 48 | 80.00% |
| Dropped Out | 12 | 20.00% |
1194 Drexel students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 22.07% 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 77%, 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 77%.
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 | Drexel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 77% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 77% | 55.07% |
269 non first-time / part-time students or 23% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
193 transferred to another institution.
Drexel lost contact with the remaining 75 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.37% |
| Transferred | 193 | 71.75% |
| Dropped Out | 75 | 27.88% |
1063 Drexel students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 19.65% 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 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 | Drexel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 35% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 37.80% |
656 non first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
355 transferred to another institution.
Drexel lost contact with the remaining 297 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.61% |
| Transferred | 355 | 54.12% |
| Dropped Out | 297 | 45.27% |
