by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding PFW 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 65% students making it past their freshmen year, PFW has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Indiana, the average is 70.89%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| PFW | 65% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Indiana | 70.89% |
There were approximately 1,025 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 12% of the cohort graduated. After six years 28% had completed their degree, and 31% after eight years.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical PFW graduation rate 28%.
The typical PFW student takes 4.66 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 523 | 14% |
| Six Years | 1,025 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 101 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,485 | 69% |
Approximately 2485 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2485 students who did not complete their degree?
21 are still enrolled.
1459 transferred to another institution.
PFW lost contact with the remaining 967 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 1459 | 58.7% |
| Dropped Out | 967 | 38.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 52% |
| Black / African-American | 16% |
| Hispanic | 30% |
| International | 47% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 18% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 42% |
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 PFW 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 Purdue University Fort Wayne represent 56% of the students in the class of 2015, and 59.90% of PFW bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 12%, first-time students in the PFW class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the PFW graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | PFW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 30% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 47.82% |
1350 first-time / full-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
21 are still enrolled.
797 transferred to another institution.
PFW lost contact with the remaining 517 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 1.56% |
| Transferred | 797 | 59.04% |
| Dropped Out | 517 | 38.30% |
First-time / part-time students at Purdue University Fort Wayne represent 6.08% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 5%, first-time, part-time students in the PFW class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 6%.
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 | PFW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 5% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 6% | 23.72% |
205 first-time / part-time students or 94% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
91 transferred to another institution.
PFW lost contact with the remaining 108 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.93% |
| Transferred | 91 | 44.39% |
| Dropped Out | 108 | 52.68% |
879 PFW students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 24.28% 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 38%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 40%.
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 | PFW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 38% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 55.07% |
527 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
310 transferred to another institution.
PFW lost contact with the remaining 205 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 2.28% |
| Transferred | 310 | 58.82% |
| Dropped Out | 205 | 38.90% |
481 PFW students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 13.28% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 14%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 16%.
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 | PFW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 14% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 37.80% |
403 non first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
261 transferred to another institution.
PFW lost contact with the remaining 137 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.24% |
| Transferred | 261 | 64.76% |
| Dropped Out | 137 | 34.00% |
