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SLU Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

68% 4-Year Graduation Rate
69% 6-Year Graduation Rate
90% Retention Rate

Saint Louis University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How 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.

SLU Retention Rate

90% Freshmen Retention Rate
Good Retention Rate

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%.

SLU Retention  90 out of 100
0%
100%
Missouri Retention  69 out of 100
0%
100%
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Retention Rate
SLU90%
Nationwide70.57%
Missouri69.43%

SLU Graduation Rates

69% 6-Year Graduation Rate
17.85% Transfer Rate
11.61% Dropout Rate

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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  61%
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  69%
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  70%
0%
100%

SLU Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years1,63061%
Six Years1,84169%
Eight Years261%
Did Not Complete80230%
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
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SLU Drop Out Rate

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?

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Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled20.2%
Transferred47859.6%
Dropped Out31138.8%

SLU Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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Race/EthnicityGraduation Rate
American Indian or Alaskan Native100%
Asian85%
Black / African-American55%
Hawaiian100%
Hispanic73%
International72%
Multi-Ethnic69%
Unknown88%
White81%

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 SLU Graduation Rates

67% First-Time, Full-Time
77% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  68 out of 100
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  77 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  78 out of 100
0%
100%

SLU First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsSLUNationwide
Four Years68%37.92%
Six Years77%46.43%
Eight Years78%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time SLU Drop Out Rates

395 first-time / full-time students or 22% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled20.51%
Transferred29273.92%
Dropped Out10025.32%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

0% First-Time, Part-Time
25% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  25 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  25 out of 100
0%
100%

First-Time / Part-Time SLU Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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First-Time / Part-Time CompletionsSLUNationwide
Four Years25%14.37%
Six Years25%21.59%
Eight Years25%23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time SLU Drop Out Rates

3 first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.00%
Transferred133.33%
Dropped Out266.67%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

22% Returning, Full-Time
69% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  69 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  69 out of 100
0%
100%

SLU Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Full-Time CompletionsSLUNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years69%53.83%
Eight Years69%55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time SLU Drop Out Rates

185 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled42.16%
Transferred11361.08%
Dropped Out6836.76%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

11% Returning, Part-Time
20% 6-Year Grad Rate
Average Grad Rate

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  20 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  25 out of 100
0%
100%

SLU Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Part-Time CompletionsSLUNationwide
Four Years0%30.46%
Six Years20%36.03%
Eight Years25%37.80%

Non First-Time / Part-Time SLU Drop Out Rates

219 non first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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Returning / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled62.74%
Transferred7232.88%
Dropped Out14164.38%

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