by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at FGCU? 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 81% students making it past their freshmen year, FGCU 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 Florida, the average is 70.38%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| FGCU | 81% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Florida | 70.38% |
Of the 2,361 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 29% of the cohort graduated. After six years 55% had completed their degree, and 58% 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 FGCU graduation rate 55%.
The typical FGCU student takes 4.66 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,601 | 38% |
| Six Years | 2,361 | 55% |
| Eight Years | 118 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,780 | 42% |
Approximately 1780 students or 42% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1780 students who did not complete their degree?
62 are still enrolled.
622 transferred to another institution.
FGCU lost contact with the remaining 1120 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 62 | 3.5% |
| Transferred | 622 | 34.9% |
| Dropped Out | 1,120 | 62.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 25% |
| Asian | 63% |
| Black / African-American | 67% |
| Hawaiian | 75% |
| Hispanic | 46% |
| International | 73% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 38% |
| Unknown | 43% |
| White | 54% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 FGCU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Florida Gulf Coast University represent 61% of the students in the class of 2015, and 58.96% of FGCU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 29%, first-time students in the FGCU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the FGCU graduation rate was 54%, 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 | FGCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 54% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 47.82% |
1111 first-time / full-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
62 are still enrolled.
457 transferred to another institution.
FGCU lost contact with the remaining 628 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 62 | 5.58% |
| Transferred | 457 | 41.13% |
| Dropped Out | 628 | 56.53% |
First-time / part-time students at Florida Gulf Coast University represent 1.26% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 20%, first-time, part-time students in the FGCU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 28%.
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 | FGCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 20% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 23.72% |
39 first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
FGCU lost contact with the remaining 36 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 7.69% |
| Dropped Out | 36 | 92.31% |
1107 FGCU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 25.77% 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 63%, 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 65%.
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 | FGCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 63% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 65% | 55.07% |
391 non first-time / part-time students or 35% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
112 transferred to another institution.
FGCU lost contact with the remaining 273 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.53% |
| Transferred | 112 | 28.64% |
| Dropped Out | 273 | 69.82% |
514 FGCU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.97% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 50%, 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 | FGCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 50% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 37.80% |
239 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
50 transferred to another institution.
FGCU lost contact with the remaining 183 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.51% |
| Transferred | 50 | 20.92% |
| Dropped Out | 183 | 76.57% |
