by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at SCSU? 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 77% students making it past their freshmen year, SCSU 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 Connecticut, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SCSU | 77% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Connecticut | 72.64% |
How many of the estimated 1,386 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
22% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 50% in six years, and 52% in 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 SCSU graduation rate 50%.
The typical SCSU student takes 4.52 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 852 | 31% |
| Six Years | 1,386 | 50% |
| Eight Years | 46 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,315 | 48% |
Approximately 1315 students or 48% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1315 students who did not complete their degree?
8 are still enrolled.
865 transferred to another institution.
SCSU lost contact with the remaining 412 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 865 | 65.8% |
| Dropped Out | 412 | 31.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Asian | 55% |
| Black / African-American | 39% |
| Hispanic | 37% |
| International | 50% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 53% |
| Unknown | 52% |
| White | 57% |
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 SCSU 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 Southern Connecticut State University represent 50% of the students in the class of 2015, and 48.77% of SCSU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time students in the SCSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SCSU graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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 | SCSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 49% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 47.82% |
672 first-time / full-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
470 transferred to another institution.
SCSU lost contact with the remaining 181 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.19% |
| Transferred | 470 | 69.94% |
| Dropped Out | 181 | 26.93% |
First-time / part-time students at Southern Connecticut State University represent 0.62% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 18%, first-time, part-time students in the SCSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 18%.
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 | SCSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 18% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
14 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
8 transferred to another institution.
SCSU lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 14.29% |
| Transferred | 8 | 57.14% |
| Dropped Out | 4 | 28.57% |
1158 SCSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 42.09% 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 54%, 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 56%.
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 | SCSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 54% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 55.07% |
513 non first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
317 transferred to another institution.
SCSU lost contact with the remaining 187 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.75% |
| Transferred | 317 | 61.79% |
| Dropped Out | 187 | 36.45% |
206 SCSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 7.49% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 39%, 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 44%.
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 | SCSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 39% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 37.80% |
116 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
70 transferred to another institution.
SCSU lost contact with the remaining 40 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 5.17% |
| Transferred | 70 | 60.34% |
| Dropped Out | 40 | 34.48% |
