by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at La Sierra? 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 freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 79% students making it past their freshmen year, La Sierra 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| La Sierra | 79% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 896 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 26% of the cohort graduated. After six years 41% had completed their degree, and 43% 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 La Sierra graduation rate 41%.
The typical La Sierra student takes 4.59 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 737 | 33% |
| Six Years | 896 | 41% |
| Eight Years | 44 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,269 | 57% |
Approximately 1269 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1269 students who did not complete their degree?
8 are still enrolled.
365 transferred to another institution.
La Sierra lost contact with the remaining 859 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 365 | 28.8% |
| Dropped Out | 859 | 67.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 51% |
| Black / African-American | 32% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 51% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 63% |
| White | 76% |
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 La Sierra 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 La Sierra University represent 21% of the students in the class of 2015, and 21.54% of La Sierra bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 26%, first-time students in the La Sierra class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the La Sierra graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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 | La Sierra | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 42% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 47.82% |
265 first-time / full-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
70 transferred to another institution.
La Sierra lost contact with the remaining 191 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 3.02% |
| Transferred | 70 | 26.42% |
| Dropped Out | 191 | 72.08% |
First-time / part-time students at La Sierra University represent 2.76% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 30%, first-time, part-time students in the La Sierra class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 33%.
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 | La Sierra | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 30% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 23.72% |
41 first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
11 transferred to another institution.
La Sierra lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.44% |
| Transferred | 11 | 26.83% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 70.73% |
1149 La Sierra students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 52.01% 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 47%, 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 48%.
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 | La Sierra | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 47% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 55.07% |
595 non first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
175 transferred to another institution.
La Sierra lost contact with the remaining 390 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 5.04% |
| Transferred | 175 | 29.41% |
| Dropped Out | 390 | 65.55% |
535 La Sierra students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 24.22% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 27%, 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 31%.
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 | La Sierra | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 27% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 37.80% |
368 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
109 transferred to another institution.
La Sierra lost contact with the remaining 249 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 2.72% |
| Transferred | 109 | 29.62% |
| Dropped Out | 249 | 67.66% |
