by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding San Jose State 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 86% students making it past their freshmen year, San Jose State 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 | |
|---|---|
| San Jose State | 86% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 4,975 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 10% of the cohort graduated. After six years 66% had completed their degree, and 70% 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 San Jose State graduation rate 66%.
The typical San Jose State student takes 4.98 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,845 | 38% |
| Six Years | 4,975 | 66% |
| Eight Years | 318 | 4% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,242 | 30% |
Approximately 2242 students or 30% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2242 students who did not complete their degree?
27 are still enrolled.
1406 transferred to another institution.
San Jose State lost contact with the remaining 751 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 27 | 1.2% |
| Transferred | 1406 | 62.7% |
| Dropped Out | 751 | 33.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 76% |
| Black / African-American | 56% |
| Hawaiian | 40% |
| Hispanic | 55% |
| International | 69% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 58% |
| Unknown | 68% |
| White | 65% |
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 San Jose State 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 San Jose State University represent 51% of the students in the class of 2015, and 44.02% of San Jose State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 10%, first-time students in the San Jose State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the San Jose State graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 63% 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 | San Jose State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 57% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 47.82% |
1411 first-time / full-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
27 are still enrolled.
1048 transferred to another institution.
San Jose State lost contact with the remaining 295 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 27 | 1.91% |
| Transferred | 1048 | 74.27% |
| Dropped Out | 295 | 20.91% |
First-time / part-time students at San Jose State University represent 1.19% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 33%, first-time, part-time students in the San Jose State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 39%.
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 | San Jose State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 33% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 23.72% |
55 first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
40 transferred to another institution.
San Jose State lost contact with the remaining 11 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 7.27% |
| Transferred | 40 | 72.73% |
| Dropped Out | 11 | 20.00% |
2469 San Jose State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 32.77% 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 82%, 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 83%.
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 | San Jose State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 82% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 83% | 55.07% |
428 non first-time / part-time students or 17% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
172 transferred to another institution.
San Jose State lost contact with the remaining 251 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.17% |
| Transferred | 172 | 40.19% |
| Dropped Out | 251 | 58.64% |
1114 San Jose State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 14.78% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 66%, 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 69%.
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 | San Jose State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 66% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 37.80% |
348 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
146 transferred to another institution.
San Jose State lost contact with the remaining 194 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 2.30% |
| Transferred | 146 | 41.95% |
| Dropped Out | 194 | 55.75% |
