by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to South Dakota State after their first year? Are South Dakota State 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 81% students making it past their freshmen year, South Dakota 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 South Dakota, the average is 75.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| South Dakota State | 81% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Dakota | 75.05% |
There were approximately 1,617 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
30% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 52% in six years, and 54% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of South Dakota State is 52%. 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.
The average South Dakota State student takes 4.40 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 988 | 32% |
| Six Years | 1,617 | 52% |
| Eight Years | 41 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,438 | 46% |
Approximately 1438 students or 46% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1438 students who did not complete their degree?
10 are still enrolled.
895 transferred to another institution.
South Dakota State lost contact with the remaining 515 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 895 | 62.2% |
| Dropped Out | 515 | 35.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 8% |
| Asian | 33% |
| Black / African-American | 21% |
| Hispanic | 35% |
| International | 60% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 45% |
| Unknown | 50% |
| White | 61% |
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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota State University represent 71% of the students in the class of 2015, and 74.15% of South Dakota State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 30%, first-time students in the South Dakota State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the South Dakota State graduation rate was 55%, and by the eight year mark, 56% 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 | South Dakota State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 55% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 47.82% |
959 first-time / full-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
629 transferred to another institution.
South Dakota State lost contact with the remaining 312 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.04% |
| Transferred | 629 | 65.59% |
| Dropped Out | 312 | 32.53% |
First-time / part-time students at South Dakota State University represent 3.71% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 23%, first-time, part-time students in the South Dakota 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 23%.
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 | South Dakota State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 23% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 23.72% |
88 first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
45 transferred to another institution.
South Dakota State lost contact with the remaining 39 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 4.55% |
| Transferred | 45 | 51.14% |
| Dropped Out | 39 | 44.32% |
554 South Dakota State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 17.87% 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 55%, 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 57%.
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 | South Dakota State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 55% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 55.07% |
240 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
141 transferred to another institution.
South Dakota State lost contact with the remaining 95 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.67% |
| Transferred | 141 | 58.75% |
| Dropped Out | 95 | 39.58% |
240 South Dakota State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 7.74% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 36%, 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 37%.
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 | South Dakota State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 36% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 37.80% |
151 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.
80 transferred to another institution.
South Dakota State lost contact with the remaining 69 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.32% |
| Transferred | 80 | 52.98% |
| Dropped Out | 69 | 45.70% |
