by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Otterbein? 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 78% students making it past their freshmen year, Otterbein 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 Ohio, the average is 69.84%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Otterbein | 78% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Ohio | 69.84% |
There were approximately 501 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 53% of the cohort graduated. After six years 61% 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 Otterbein graduation rate 61%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at Otterbein? The standard length of time for most students is 4.15 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 424 | 52% |
| Six Years | 501 | 61% |
| Eight Years | 7 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 315 | 38% |
Approximately 315 students or 38% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 315 students who did not complete their degree?
3 are still enrolled.
211 transferred to another institution.
Otterbein lost contact with the remaining 102 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.0% |
| Transferred | 211 | 67.0% |
| Dropped Out | 102 | 32.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Asian | 89% |
| Black / African-American | 40% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 43% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 58% |
| Unknown | 50% |
| White | 68% |
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 Otterbein 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 Otterbein University represent 78% of the students in the class of 2015, and 81.44% of Otterbein bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 53%, first-time students in the Otterbein class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Otterbein graduation rate was 63%, 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 | Otterbein | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 53% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 63% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 47.82% |
231 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.
172 transferred to another institution.
Otterbein lost contact with the remaining 58 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.30% |
| Transferred | 172 | 74.46% |
| Dropped Out | 58 | 25.11% |
First-time / part-time students at Otterbein University represent 1.09% of the students in the class of 2015.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | Otterbein | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 1% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 1% | 23.72% |
9 first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
Otterbein lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 33.33% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 66.67% |
130 Otterbein students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.80% 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 56%, 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 58%.
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 | Otterbein | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 56% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 55.07% |
55 non first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
34 transferred to another institution.
Otterbein lost contact with the remaining 21 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 34 | 61.82% |
| Dropped Out | 21 | 38.18% |
40 Otterbein students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 4.86% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 50%, 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 50%.
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 | Otterbein | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 50% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 37.80% |
20 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
Otterbein lost contact with the remaining 17 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 5.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 10.00% |
| Dropped Out | 17 | 85.00% |
