by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Illinois State 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 84% students making it past their freshmen year, Illinois State 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 | |
|---|---|
| Illinois State | 84% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
How many of the estimated 4,086 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 47% of the cohort graduated. After six years 72% had completed their degree, and 72% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of Illinois State is 72%. 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 typical Illinois State student takes 4.32 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3,266 | 57% |
| Six Years | 4,086 | 72% |
| Eight Years | 33 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,577 | 28% |
Approximately 1577 students or 28% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1577 students who did not complete their degree?
8 are still enrolled.
1253 transferred to another institution.
Illinois State lost contact with the remaining 323 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 1253 | 79.5% |
| Dropped Out | 323 | 20.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 63% |
| Black / African-American | 45% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 58% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 60% |
| Unknown | 50% |
| White | 73% |
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 Illinois State 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 Illinois State University represent 58% of the students in the class of 2015, and 55.78% of Illinois State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 47%, first-time students in the Illinois State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Illinois State graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 69% 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 | Illinois State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 47% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 69% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 47.82% |
1012 first-time / full-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
852 transferred to another institution.
Illinois State lost contact with the remaining 160 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 0.79% |
| Transferred | 852 | 84.19% |
| Dropped Out | 160 | 15.81% |
First-time / part-time students at Illinois State University represent 0.18% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 50%, first-time, part-time students in the Illinois State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 50%.
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 | Illinois State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 50% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 23.72% |
5 first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
4 transferred to another institution.
Illinois State lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 4 | 80.00% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 20.00% |
2218 Illinois State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 38.90% 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 | Illinois State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 77% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 77% | 55.07% |
504 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.
366 transferred to another institution.
Illinois State lost contact with the remaining 137 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.20% |
| Transferred | 366 | 72.62% |
| Dropped Out | 137 | 27.18% |
153 Illinois State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 2.68% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 62%, 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 63%.
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 | Illinois State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 62% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 37.80% |
56 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
31 transferred to another institution.
Illinois State lost contact with the remaining 25 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 31 | 55.36% |
| Dropped Out | 25 | 44.64% |
