by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Meredith? 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 86% students making it past their freshmen year, Meredith 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 North Carolina, the average is 66.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Meredith | 86% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
There were approximately 343 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 52% of the cohort graduated. After six years 62% had completed their degree, and 62% 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 Meredith graduation rate 62%.
The typical Meredith student takes 4.14 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 299 | 54% |
| Six Years | 343 | 62% |
| Eight Years | 2 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 211 | 38% |
Approximately 211 students or 38% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 211 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
157 transferred to another institution.
Meredith lost contact with the remaining 53 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 157 | 74.4% |
| Dropped Out | 53 | 25.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 80% |
| Asian | 54% |
| Black / African-American | 59% |
| Hispanic | 64% |
| International | 61% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 45% |
| Unknown | 43% |
| White | 66% |
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 Meredith 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 Meredith College represent 73% of the students in the class of 2015, and 72.89% of Meredith bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 52%, first-time students in the Meredith class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Meredith graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 62% 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 | Meredith | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 52% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 62% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 47.82% |
152 first-time / full-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
135 transferred to another institution.
Meredith lost contact with the remaining 17 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 135 | 88.82% |
| Dropped Out | 17 | 11.18% |
First-time / part-time students at Meredith College represent 0.18% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 100%, first-time, part-time students in the Meredith class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 100%.
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 | Meredith | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 100% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 100% | 23.72% |
121 Meredith students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 21.72% 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 70%, 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 70%.
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 | Meredith | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 70% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 55.07% |
36 non first-time / part-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
20 transferred to another institution.
Meredith lost contact with the remaining 15 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.78% |
| Transferred | 20 | 55.56% |
| Dropped Out | 15 | 41.67% |
30 Meredith students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 5.39% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 23%, 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 23%.
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 | Meredith | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 23% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 37.80% |
23 non first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
Meredith lost contact with the remaining 21 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 8.70% |
| Dropped Out | 21 | 91.30% |
