by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at EIU? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 74% students making it past their freshmen year, EIU 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 | |
|---|---|
| EIU | 74% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
Of the 1,762 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 32% of the cohort graduated. After six years 61% had completed their degree, and 62% after eight years.
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 EIU graduation rate 61%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at EIU? The standard length of time for most students is 4.35 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,327 | 46% |
| Six Years | 1,762 | 61% |
| Eight Years | 34 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,106 | 38% |
Approximately 1106 students or 38% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1106 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
781 transferred to another institution.
EIU lost contact with the remaining 315 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.1% |
| Transferred | 781 | 70.6% |
| Dropped Out | 315 | 28.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 57% |
| Black / African-American | 34% |
| Hispanic | 43% |
| International | 23% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 42% |
| Unknown | 17% |
| White | 60% |
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 EIU 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 Eastern Illinois University represent 48% of the students in the class of 2015, and 43.42% of EIU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 32%, first-time students in the EIU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the EIU graduation rate was 55%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | EIU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 55% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 47.82% |
599 first-time / full-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
459 transferred to another institution.
EIU lost contact with the remaining 138 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.17% |
| Transferred | 459 | 76.63% |
| Dropped Out | 138 | 23.04% |
First-time / part-time students at Eastern Illinois University represent 2.55% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 39%, first-time, part-time students in the EIU 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 | EIU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 39% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 23.72% |
43 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.
35 transferred to another institution.
EIU lost contact with the remaining 8 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 35 | 81.40% |
| Dropped Out | 8 | 18.60% |
1115 EIU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 38.42% 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 72%, 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 72%.
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 | EIU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 72% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 55.07% |
311 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
220 transferred to another institution.
EIU lost contact with the remaining 87 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.29% |
| Transferred | 220 | 70.74% |
| Dropped Out | 87 | 27.97% |
328 EIU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.30% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 51%, 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 53%.
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 | EIU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 51% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 37.80% |
153 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
67 transferred to another institution.
EIU lost contact with the remaining 82 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.61% |
| Transferred | 67 | 43.79% |
| Dropped Out | 82 | 53.59% |
