by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to K -State after their first year? Are K -State students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 87% students making it past their freshmen year, K -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 Kansas, the average is 65.77%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| K -State | 87% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Kansas | 65.77% |
How many of the estimated 3,427 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 32% of the cohort graduated. After six years 58% had completed their degree, and 61% 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 K -State graduation rate 58%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at K -State? The standard length of time for most students is 4.50 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,090 | 36% |
| Six Years | 3,427 | 58% |
| Eight Years | 139 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,301 | 39% |
Approximately 2301 students or 39% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2301 students who did not complete their degree?
20 are still enrolled.
1853 transferred to another institution.
K -State lost contact with the remaining 410 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 0.9% |
| Transferred | 1853 | 80.5% |
| Dropped Out | 410 | 17.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 58% |
| Asian | 52% |
| Black / African-American | 41% |
| Hawaiian | 60% |
| Hispanic | 59% |
| International | 42% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 58% |
| Unknown | 65% |
| White | 71% |
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 K -State 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 Kansas State University represent 63% of the students in the class of 2015, and 66.68% of K -State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 32%, first-time students in the K -State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the K -State graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 65% 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 | K -State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 62% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 65% | 47.82% |
1286 first-time / full-time students or 35% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
1049 transferred to another institution.
K -State lost contact with the remaining 214 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 1.56% |
| Transferred | 1049 | 81.57% |
| Dropped Out | 214 | 16.64% |
First-time / part-time students at Kansas State University represent 2.10% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 23%, first-time, part-time students in the K -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 26%.
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 | K -State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 23% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 23.72% |
91 first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
70 transferred to another institution.
K -State lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.20% |
| Transferred | 70 | 76.92% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 20.88% |
1688 K -State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 28.77% 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 58%, 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 59%.
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 | K -State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 58% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 55.07% |
684 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
541 transferred to another institution.
K -State lost contact with the remaining 137 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.88% |
| Transferred | 541 | 79.09% |
| Dropped Out | 137 | 20.03% |
378 K -State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.44% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 35%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate similar to the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 37%.
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 | K -State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 35% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 37.80% |
240 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
193 transferred to another institution.
K -State lost contact with the remaining 40 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.92% |
| Transferred | 193 | 80.42% |
| Dropped Out | 40 | 16.67% |
