by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding TSU 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 51% students making it past their freshmen year, TSU 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 Texas, the average is 68.17%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| TSU | 51% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
There were approximately 625 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 8% of the cohort graduated. After six years 27% had completed their degree, and 31% after 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 TSU graduation rate 27%.
The typical TSU student takes 4.70 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 328 | 14% |
| Six Years | 625 | 27% |
| Eight Years | 71 | 4% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,577 | 69% |
Approximately 1577 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1577 students who did not complete their degree?
10 are still enrolled.
898 transferred to another institution.
TSU lost contact with the remaining 655 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 898 | 56.9% |
| Dropped Out | 655 | 41.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 23% |
| Asian | 14% |
| Black / African-American | 17% |
| Hispanic | 22% |
| International | 45% |
| Unknown | 33% |
| White | 29% |
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 TSU 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 Texas Southern University represent 52% of the students in the class of 2015, and 42.24% of TSU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 8%, first-time students in the TSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the TSU graduation rate was 22%, and by the eight year mark, 26% 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 | TSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 22% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 47.82% |
871 first-time / full-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
491 transferred to another institution.
TSU lost contact with the remaining 370 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.15% |
| Transferred | 491 | 56.37% |
| Dropped Out | 370 | 42.48% |
First-time / part-time students at Texas Southern University represent 7.22% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 9%, first-time, part-time students in the TSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 11%.
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 | TSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 9% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 11% | 23.72% |
146 first-time / part-time students or 89% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
80 transferred to another institution.
TSU lost contact with the remaining 65 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.68% |
| Transferred | 80 | 54.79% |
| Dropped Out | 65 | 44.52% |
703 TSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 30.93% 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 41%, 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 44%.
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 | TSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 41% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 55.07% |
396 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
214 transferred to another institution.
TSU lost contact with the remaining 171 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 2.78% |
| Transferred | 214 | 54.04% |
| Dropped Out | 171 | 43.18% |
230 TSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 10.12% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 26%, 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 29%.
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 | TSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 26% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 37.80% |
164 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
113 transferred to another institution.
TSU lost contact with the remaining 49 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.22% |
| Transferred | 113 | 68.90% |
| Dropped Out | 49 | 29.88% |
