by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Northwestern 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 83% students making it past their freshmen year, Northwestern 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 Minnesota, the average is 67.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Northwestern | 83% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Minnesota | 67.05% |
There were approximately 443 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
46% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 59% in six years, and 61% in 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 Northwestern graduation rate 59%.
The typical Northwestern student takes 4.19 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 348 | 46% |
| Six Years | 443 | 59% |
| Eight Years | 15 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 293 | 39% |
Approximately 293 students or 39% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 293 students who did not complete their degree?
3 are still enrolled.
177 transferred to another institution.
Northwestern lost contact with the remaining 110 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.0% |
| Transferred | 177 | 60.4% |
| Dropped Out | 110 | 37.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 54% |
| Black / African-American | 50% |
| Hispanic | 48% |
| International | 33% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 54% |
| White | 72% |
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 Northwestern 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 University of Northwestern - St Paul represent 62% of the students in the class of 2015, and 64.33% of Northwestern bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 46%, first-time students in the Northwestern class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Northwestern graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 64% 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 | Northwestern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 46% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 62% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 47.82% |
166 first-time / full-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
124 transferred to another institution.
Northwestern lost contact with the remaining 40 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.81% |
| Transferred | 124 | 74.70% |
| Dropped Out | 40 | 24.10% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Northwestern - St Paul represent 2.13% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 38%, first-time, part-time students in the Northwestern class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 38%.
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 | Northwestern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 38% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 23.72% |
10 first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
Northwestern lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 10.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 20.00% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 70.00% |
180 Northwestern students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 23.97% 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 61%, 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 62%.
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 | Northwestern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 61% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 55.07% |
69 non first-time / part-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
35 transferred to another institution.
Northwestern lost contact with the remaining 34 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 35 | 50.72% |
| Dropped Out | 34 | 49.28% |
93 Northwestern students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 12.38% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 46%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 48%.
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 | Northwestern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 46% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 37.80% |
48 non first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
16 transferred to another institution.
Northwestern lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 6.25% |
| Transferred | 16 | 33.33% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 60.42% |
