by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at NSU? 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 76% students making it past their freshmen year, NSU 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 South Dakota, the average is 75.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| NSU | 76% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Dakota | 75.05% |
There were approximately 281 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 22% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 42% of the students had graduated and after eight years 43% of this class completed their degree.
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 NSU graduation rate 42%.
The average length of time it takes an NSU undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.46 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 176 | 26% |
| Six Years | 281 | 42% |
| Eight Years | 11 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 383 | 57% |
Approximately 383 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 383 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
216 transferred to another institution.
NSU lost contact with the remaining 163 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 216 | 56.4% |
| Dropped Out | 163 | 42.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 17% |
| Asian | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 23% |
| Hispanic | 20% |
| International | 65% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 21% |
| White | 49% |
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 NSU 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 Northern State University represent 60% of the students in the class of 2015, and 62.28% of NSU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time students in the NSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the NSU graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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 | NSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 43% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 47.82% |
225 first-time / full-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
130 transferred to another institution.
NSU lost contact with the remaining 95 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 130 | 57.78% |
| Dropped Out | 95 | 42.22% |
First-time / part-time students at Northern State University represent 3.85% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 4%, first-time, part-time students in the NSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 4%.
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 | NSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 4% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 4% | 23.72% |
25 first-time / part-time students or 96% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
8 transferred to another institution.
NSU lost contact with the remaining 17 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 8 | 32.00% |
| Dropped Out | 17 | 68.00% |
187 NSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 27.66% 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 51%, 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 52%.
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 | NSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 51% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 55.07% |
90 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
56 transferred to another institution.
NSU lost contact with the remaining 31 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 3.33% |
| Transferred | 56 | 62.22% |
| Dropped Out | 31 | 34.44% |
55 NSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 8.14% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 18%, 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 22%.
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 | NSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 18% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 37.80% |
43 non first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
22 transferred to another institution.
NSU lost contact with the remaining 20 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.33% |
| Transferred | 22 | 51.16% |
| Dropped Out | 20 | 46.51% |
