by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at SCU? 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.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 54% students making it past their freshmen year, SCU 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 Oklahoma, the average is 65.20%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SCU | 54% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Oklahoma | 65.20% |
How many of the estimated 125 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 21% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 28% of the students had graduated and after eight years 29% of this class completed their degree.
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 SCU graduation rate 28%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at SCU? The standard length of time for most students is 4.54 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 96 | 21% |
| Six Years | 125 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 5 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 319 | 71% |
Approximately 319 students or 71% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 319 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
168 transferred to another institution.
SCU lost contact with the remaining 148 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 168 | 52.7% |
| Dropped Out | 148 | 46.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 20% |
| Black / African-American | 30% |
| Hispanic | 20% |
| International | 35% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 17% |
| White | 34% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
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 SCU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Southwestern Christian University represent 25% of the students in the class of 2015, and 25.60% of SCU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 21%, first-time students in the SCU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SCU graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 | SCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 29% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 47.82% |
79 first-time / full-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
53 transferred to another institution.
SCU lost contact with the remaining 26 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 53 | 67.09% |
| Dropped Out | 26 | 32.91% |
First-time / part-time students at Southwestern Christian University represent 1.11% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 20%, first-time, part-time students in the SCU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 20%.
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 | SCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 20% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
4 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
SCU lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 25.00% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 75.00% |
171 SCU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 38.08% 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 40%, 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 42%.
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 | SCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 40% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 55.07% |
100 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
50 transferred to another institution.
SCU lost contact with the remaining 48 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.00% |
| Transferred | 50 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 48 | 48.00% |
161 SCU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 35.86% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 15%, 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 16%.
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 | SCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 15% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 37.80% |
136 non first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
64 transferred to another institution.
SCU lost contact with the remaining 71 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.74% |
| Transferred | 64 | 47.06% |
| Dropped Out | 71 | 52.21% |
