by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Eastern? 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 79% students making it past their freshmen year, Eastern 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 Kentucky, the average is 67.55%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Eastern | 79% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Kentucky | 67.55% |
How many of the estimated 2,129 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 23% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 47% of the students had graduated and after eight years 49% of this class completed their degree.
The official graduation rate of Eastern is 47%. 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 Eastern student takes 4.49 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,491 | 33% |
| Six Years | 2,129 | 47% |
| Eight Years | 88 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,331 | 51% |
Approximately 2331 students or 51% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2331 students who did not complete their degree?
17 are still enrolled.
1210 transferred to another institution.
Eastern lost contact with the remaining 1081 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 1210 | 51.9% |
| Dropped Out | 1,081 | 46.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 14% |
| Asian | 67% |
| Black / African-American | 25% |
| Hawaiian | 60% |
| Hispanic | 39% |
| International | 33% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 26% |
| Unknown | 47% |
| White | 49% |
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 Eastern 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 Eastern Kentucky University represent 56% of the students in the class of 2015, and 51.10% of Eastern bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 23%, first-time students in the Eastern class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Eastern graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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 | Eastern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 43% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 47.82% |
1387 first-time / full-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
748 transferred to another institution.
Eastern lost contact with the remaining 611 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 1.23% |
| Transferred | 748 | 53.93% |
| Dropped Out | 611 | 44.05% |
First-time / part-time students at Eastern Kentucky University represent 1.73% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 10%, first-time, part-time students in the Eastern class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 13%.
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 | Eastern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 10% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
69 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
23 transferred to another institution.
Eastern lost contact with the remaining 44 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.90% |
| Transferred | 23 | 33.33% |
| Dropped Out | 44 | 63.77% |
1388 Eastern students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 30.47% 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 59%, 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 60%.
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 | Eastern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 59% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 55.07% |
554 non first-time / part-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
311 transferred to another institution.
Eastern lost contact with the remaining 238 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.90% |
| Transferred | 311 | 56.14% |
| Dropped Out | 238 | 42.96% |
545 Eastern students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.96% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 39%, 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 41%.
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 | Eastern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 39% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 37.80% |
321 non first-time / part-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
128 transferred to another institution.
Eastern lost contact with the remaining 188 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.56% |
| Transferred | 128 | 39.88% |
| Dropped Out | 188 | 58.57% |
