by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Purdue 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 93% students making it past their freshmen year, Purdue 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 Indiana, the average is 70.89%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Purdue | 93% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Indiana | 70.89% |
How many of the estimated 6,436 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 51% of the cohort graduated. After six years 72% had completed their degree, and 74% 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 Purdue graduation rate 72%.
The average Purdue student takes 4.34 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4,383 | 49% |
| Six Years | 6,436 | 72% |
| Eight Years | 152 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,350 | 26% |
Approximately 2350 students or 26% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2350 students who did not complete their degree?
17 are still enrolled.
1377 transferred to another institution.
Purdue lost contact with the remaining 927 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 1377 | 58.6% |
| Dropped Out | 927 | 39.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 78% |
| Asian | 85% |
| Black / African-American | 72% |
| Hispanic | 75% |
| International | 85% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 80% |
| Unknown | 81% |
| White | 83% |
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 Purdue 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 Purdue University - Main Campus represent 77% of the students in the class of 2015, and 83.76% of Purdue bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 51%, first-time students in the Purdue class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Purdue graduation rate was 78%, and by the eight year mark, 80% 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 | Purdue | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 51% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 78% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 80% | 47.82% |
1386 first-time / full-time students or 20% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
898 transferred to another institution.
Purdue lost contact with the remaining 462 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 1.23% |
| Transferred | 898 | 64.79% |
| Dropped Out | 462 | 33.33% |
First-time / part-time students at Purdue University - Main Campus represent 0.70% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 29%, first-time, part-time students in the Purdue class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 35%.
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 | Purdue | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 29% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 23.72% |
41 first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
19 transferred to another institution.
Purdue lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 7.32% |
| Transferred | 19 | 46.34% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 46.34% |
1515 Purdue students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.94% 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 62%, 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 63%.
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 | Purdue | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 62% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 55.07% |
559 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
266 transferred to another institution.
Purdue lost contact with the remaining 290 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.54% |
| Transferred | 266 | 47.58% |
| Dropped Out | 290 | 51.88% |
461 Purdue students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 5.15% 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 21%.
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 | Purdue | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 18% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 37.80% |
364 non first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
194 transferred to another institution.
Purdue lost contact with the remaining 156 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 3.85% |
| Transferred | 194 | 53.30% |
| Dropped Out | 156 | 42.86% |
