by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to SDSU after their first year? Are SDSU students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 89% students making it past their freshmen year, SDSU 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SDSU | 89% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
Of the 4,826 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
35% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 76% in six years, and 79% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of SDSU is 76%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at SDSU? The standard length of time for most students is 4.55 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3,140 | 50% |
| Six Years | 4,826 | 76% |
| Eight Years | 151 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,334 | 21% |
Approximately 1334 students or 21% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1334 students who did not complete their degree?
26 are still enrolled.
882 transferred to another institution.
SDSU lost contact with the remaining 420 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 1.9% |
| Transferred | 882 | 66.1% |
| Dropped Out | 420 | 31.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 70% |
| Asian | 80% |
| Black / African-American | 75% |
| Hawaiian | 75% |
| Hispanic | 74% |
| International | 54% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 76% |
| Unknown | 74% |
| White | 79% |
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 SDSU 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 San Diego State University represent 58% of the students in the class of 2015, and 56.09% of SDSU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 35%, first-time students in the SDSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SDSU graduation rate was 74%, and by the eight year mark, 77% 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 | SDSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 74% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 77% | 47.82% |
846 first-time / full-time students or 23% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
26 are still enrolled.
610 transferred to another institution.
SDSU lost contact with the remaining 215 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 3.07% |
| Transferred | 610 | 72.10% |
| Dropped Out | 215 | 25.41% |
First-time / part-time students at San Diego State University represent 6.45% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 56%, first-time, part-time students in the SDSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 62%.
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 | SDSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 56% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 23.72% |
153 first-time / part-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
90 transferred to another institution.
SDSU lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 4.58% |
| Transferred | 90 | 58.82% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 36.60% |
1933 SDSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 30.63% 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 87%, 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 87%.
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 | SDSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 87% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 87% | 55.07% |
245 non first-time / part-time students or 13% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
132 transferred to another institution.
SDSU lost contact with the remaining 111 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.82% |
| Transferred | 132 | 53.88% |
| Dropped Out | 111 | 45.31% |
314 SDSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 4.98% of the students in the class of 2015.
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.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 71%.
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 | SDSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 69% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 71% | 37.80% |
90 non first-time / part-time students or 29% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
50 transferred to another institution.
SDSU lost contact with the remaining 38 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.22% |
| Transferred | 50 | 55.56% |
| Dropped Out | 38 | 42.22% |
