by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Tulane? 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 92% students making it past their freshmen year, Tulane 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 Louisiana, the average is 67.86%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Tulane | 92% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Louisiana | 67.86% |
Of the 1,657 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
72% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 64% in six years, and 65% 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 Tulane graduation rate 64%.
The typical Tulane student takes 4.12 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,426 | 55% |
| Six Years | 1,657 | 64% |
| Eight Years | 25 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 900 | 35% |
Approximately 900 students or 35% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 900 students who did not complete their degree?
4 are still enrolled.
498 transferred to another institution.
Tulane lost contact with the remaining 396 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.4% |
| Transferred | 498 | 55.3% |
| Dropped Out | 396 | 44.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 81% |
| Black / African-American | 71% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 83% |
| International | 91% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 77% |
| Unknown | 79% |
| White | 87% |
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 Tulane 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 Tulane University of Louisiana represent 64% of the students in the class of 2015, and 82.68% of Tulane bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 72%, first-time students in the Tulane class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Tulane graduation rate was 83%, and by the eight year mark, 84% 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 | Tulane | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 72% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 83% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 84% | 47.82% |
268 first-time / full-time students or 16% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
224 transferred to another institution.
Tulane lost contact with the remaining 42 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.49% |
| Transferred | 224 | 83.58% |
| Dropped Out | 42 | 15.67% |
First-time / part-time students at Tulane University of Louisiana represent 8.70% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 23%, first-time, part-time students in the Tulane class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 24%.
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 | Tulane | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 23% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 23.72% |
170 first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
71 transferred to another institution.
Tulane lost contact with the remaining 98 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.59% |
| Transferred | 71 | 41.76% |
| Dropped Out | 98 | 57.65% |
151 Tulane students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 5.84% 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 80%, 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 81%.
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 | Tulane | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 80% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 81% | 55.07% |
28 non first-time / part-time students or 19% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
21 transferred to another institution.
Tulane lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 21 | 75.00% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 25.00% |
562 Tulane students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 21.74% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 20%, 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 23%.
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 | Tulane | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 20% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 37.80% |
434 non first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
182 transferred to another institution.
Tulane lost contact with the remaining 249 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.69% |
| Transferred | 182 | 41.94% |
| Dropped Out | 249 | 57.37% |
