by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Syracuse retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 89% students making it past their freshmen year, Syracuse 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 New York, the average is 73.51%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Syracuse | 89% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New York | 73.51% |
Of the 3,271 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
69% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 81% in six years, and 82% 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 Syracuse graduation rate 81%.
The average Syracuse student takes 4.14 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,792 | 69% |
| Six Years | 3,271 | 81% |
| Eight Years | 43 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 715 | 18% |
Approximately 715 students or 18% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 715 students who did not complete their degree?
6 are still enrolled.
533 transferred to another institution.
Syracuse lost contact with the remaining 171 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 533 | 74.5% |
| Dropped Out | 171 | 23.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 58% |
| Asian | 82% |
| Black / African-American | 79% |
| Hawaiian | 71% |
| Hispanic | 83% |
| International | 81% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 78% |
| Unknown | 90% |
| White | 85% |
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 Syracuse 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 Syracuse University represent 86% of the students in the class of 2015, and 87.13% of Syracuse bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 69%, first-time students in the Syracuse class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Syracuse graduation rate was 82%, and by the eight year mark, 83% 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 | Syracuse | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 69% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 82% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 83% | 47.82% |
571 first-time / full-time students or 17% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
444 transferred to another institution.
Syracuse lost contact with the remaining 120 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.05% |
| Transferred | 444 | 77.76% |
| Dropped Out | 120 | 21.02% |
First-time / part-time students at Syracuse University represent 0.52% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 10%, first-time, part-time students in the Syracuse class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 14%.
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 | Syracuse | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 10% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
18 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
Syracuse lost contact with the remaining 9 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 9 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 9 | 50.00% |
472 Syracuse students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.69% 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 81%, 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 82%.
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 | Syracuse | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 81% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 82% | 55.07% |
87 non first-time / part-time students or 18% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
61 transferred to another institution.
Syracuse lost contact with the remaining 26 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 61 | 70.11% |
| Dropped Out | 26 | 29.89% |
79 Syracuse students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 1.96% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 47%, 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 51%.
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 | Syracuse | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 47% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 37.80% |
39 non first-time / part-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
19 transferred to another institution.
Syracuse lost contact with the remaining 16 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 10.26% |
| Transferred | 19 | 48.72% |
| Dropped Out | 16 | 41.03% |
