by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to SIUC after their first year? Are SIUC 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, SIUC 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 Illinois, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SIUC | 81% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
Of the 2,872 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
23% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 50% in six years, and 52% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of SIUC is 50%. 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 SIUC student takes 4.40 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,296 | 40% |
| Six Years | 2,872 | 50% |
| Eight Years | 95 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,729 | 48% |
Approximately 2729 students or 48% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2729 students who did not complete their degree?
13 are still enrolled.
340 transferred to another institution.
SIUC lost contact with the remaining 2362 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 340 | 12.5% |
| Dropped Out | 2,362 | 86.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 59% |
| Black / African-American | 27% |
| Hispanic | 36% |
| International | 53% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 40% |
| White | 62% |
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 SIUC 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 Illinois University Carbondale represent 44% of the students in the class of 2015, and 34.47% of SIUC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 23%, first-time students in the SIUC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SIUC graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 41% 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 | SIUC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 39% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 47.82% |
1496 first-time / full-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
191 transferred to another institution.
SIUC lost contact with the remaining 1294 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 0.87% |
| Transferred | 191 | 12.77% |
| Dropped Out | 1,294 | 86.50% |
First-time / part-time students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale represent 1.68% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 28%, first-time, part-time students in the SIUC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 30%.
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 | SIUC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 28% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 23.72% |
67 first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
8 transferred to another institution.
SIUC lost contact with the remaining 57 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.99% |
| Transferred | 8 | 11.94% |
| Dropped Out | 57 | 85.07% |
2650 SIUC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 46.43% 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 63%, 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 65%.
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 | SIUC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 63% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 65% | 55.07% |
926 non first-time / part-time students or 35% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
114 transferred to another institution.
SIUC lost contact with the remaining 800 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 1.30% |
| Transferred | 114 | 12.31% |
| Dropped Out | 800 | 86.39% |
441 SIUC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 7.73% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 43%, 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 45%.
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 | SIUC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 43% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 37.80% |
240 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
27 transferred to another institution.
SIUC lost contact with the remaining 211 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.83% |
| Transferred | 27 | 11.25% |
| Dropped Out | 211 | 87.92% |
