by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Northwestern first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Northwestern retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 97% 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 Illinois, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Northwestern | 97% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
How many of the estimated 2,041 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 84% of the cohort graduated. After six years 94% had completed their degree, and 95% 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 Northwestern graduation rate 94%.
The typical Northwestern student takes 4.13 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,838 | 85% |
| Six Years | 2,041 | 94% |
| Eight Years | 18 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 115 | 5% |
Approximately 115 students or 5% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 115 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
89 transferred to another institution.
Northwestern lost contact with the remaining 24 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.7% |
| Transferred | 89 | 77.4% |
| Dropped Out | 24 | 20.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 98% |
| Black / African-American | 92% |
| Hispanic | 92% |
| International | 92% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 95% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 95% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Northwestern University represent 97% of the students in the class of 2015, and 96.52% of Northwestern bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 84%, 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 94%, and by the eight year mark, 95% 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 | 84% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 94% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 95% | 47.82% |
113 first-time / full-time students or 5% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
87 transferred to another institution.
Northwestern lost contact with the remaining 24 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.77% |
| Transferred | 87 | 76.99% |
| Dropped Out | 24 | 21.24% |
Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data on Northwestern first-time, part-time students.
73 Northwestern students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.35% 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 97%, 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 97%.
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 | 97% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 97% | 55.07% |
2 non first-time / part-time students or 3% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
Northwestern lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data on Northwestern returning, part-time students.
