by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to Shaw University after their first year? Are Shaw University students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 67% students making it past their freshmen year, Shaw University has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in North Carolina, the average is 66.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Shaw University | 67% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
There were approximately 178 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 9% of the cohort graduated. After six years 22% had completed their degree, and 23% 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 Shaw University graduation rate 22%.
The average Shaw University student takes 4.56 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 112 | 14% |
| Six Years | 178 | 22% |
| Eight Years | 12 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 630 | 77% |
Approximately 630 students or 77% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 630 students who did not complete their degree?
3 are still enrolled.
382 transferred to another institution.
Shaw University lost contact with the remaining 244 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 382 | 60.6% |
| Dropped Out | 244 | 38.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Black / African-American | 18% |
| International | 33% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 20% |
| Unknown | 20% |
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 Shaw University 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 Shaw University represent 75% of the students in the class of 2015, and 64.04% of Shaw University bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 9%, first-time students in the Shaw University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Shaw University graduation rate was 19%, and by the eight year mark, 20% 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 | Shaw University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 19% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 47.82% |
492 first-time / full-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
306 transferred to another institution.
Shaw University lost contact with the remaining 185 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.61% |
| Transferred | 306 | 62.20% |
| Dropped Out | 185 | 37.60% |
First-time / part-time students at Shaw University represent 3.17% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 8%, first-time, part-time students in the Shaw University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 15%.
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 | Shaw University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 8% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
22 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
Shaw University lost contact with the remaining 12 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 4.55% |
| Transferred | 9 | 40.91% |
| Dropped Out | 12 | 54.55% |
153 Shaw University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 18.66% 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 35%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 37%.
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 | Shaw University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 35% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 55.07% |
97 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
55 transferred to another institution.
Shaw University lost contact with the remaining 40 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.06% |
| Transferred | 55 | 56.70% |
| Dropped Out | 40 | 41.24% |
27 Shaw University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.29% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 30%, 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 30%.
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 | Shaw University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 30% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 37.80% |
19 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
Shaw University lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 12 | 63.16% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 36.84% |
