by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at SLU? 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 90% students making it past their freshmen year, SLU 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 Missouri, the average is 69.43%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SLU | 90% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Missouri | 69.43% |
There were approximately 1,841 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 68% of the cohort graduated. After six years 69% had completed their degree, and 70% 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 SLU graduation rate 69%.
The average SLU student takes 4.12 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,630 | 61% |
| Six Years | 1,841 | 69% |
| Eight Years | 26 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 802 | 30% |
Approximately 802 students or 30% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 802 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
478 transferred to another institution.
SLU lost contact with the remaining 311 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.2% |
| Transferred | 478 | 59.6% |
| Dropped Out | 311 | 38.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 85% |
| Black / African-American | 55% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 73% |
| International | 72% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 69% |
| Unknown | 88% |
| White | 81% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 SLU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Saint Louis University represent 67% of the students in the class of 2015, and 74.52% of SLU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 68%, first-time students in the SLU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SLU graduation rate was 77%, and by the eight year mark, 78% 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 | SLU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 68% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 77% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 78% | 47.82% |
395 first-time / full-time students or 22% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
292 transferred to another institution.
SLU lost contact with the remaining 100 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.51% |
| Transferred | 292 | 73.92% |
| Dropped Out | 100 | 25.32% |
First-time / part-time students at Saint Louis University represent 0.15% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time, part-time students in the SLU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 25%.
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 | SLU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 23.72% |
3 first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
SLU lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 33.33% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 66.67% |
598 SLU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 22.33% 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 69%, 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 69%.
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 | SLU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 69% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 55.07% |
185 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
113 transferred to another institution.
SLU lost contact with the remaining 68 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.16% |
| Transferred | 113 | 61.08% |
| Dropped Out | 68 | 36.76% |
293 SLU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 10.94% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 20%, 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 25%.
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 | SLU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 20% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 37.80% |
219 non first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
72 transferred to another institution.
SLU lost contact with the remaining 141 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.74% |
| Transferred | 72 | 32.88% |
| Dropped Out | 141 | 64.38% |
