by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding VSU 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 73% students making it past their freshmen year, VSU 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 Georgia, the average is 65.40%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| VSU | 73% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Georgia | 65.40% |
Of the 1,460 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 16% of the cohort graduated. After six years 41% had completed their degree, and 43% 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 VSU graduation rate 41%.
The average length of time it takes an VSU undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.67 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 857 | 24% |
| Six Years | 1,460 | 41% |
| Eight Years | 83 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,058 | 57% |
Approximately 2058 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2058 students who did not complete their degree?
22 are still enrolled.
1542 transferred to another institution.
VSU lost contact with the remaining 483 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 1.1% |
| Transferred | 1542 | 74.9% |
| Dropped Out | 483 | 23.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 43% |
| Black / African-American | 39% |
| Hawaiian | 67% |
| Hispanic | 44% |
| International | 38% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 42% |
| Unknown | 62% |
| White | 40% |
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 VSU 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 Valdosta State University represent 65% of the students in the class of 2015, and 58.97% of VSU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time students in the VSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the VSU graduation rate was 37%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 | VSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 37% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 47.82% |
1418 first-time / full-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
22 are still enrolled.
1111 transferred to another institution.
VSU lost contact with the remaining 288 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 1.55% |
| Transferred | 1111 | 78.35% |
| Dropped Out | 288 | 20.31% |
First-time / part-time students at Valdosta State University represent 1.64% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 10%, first-time, part-time students in the VSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 10%.
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 | VSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 10% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 10% | 23.72% |
53 first-time / part-time students or 90% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
36 transferred to another institution.
VSU lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 7.55% |
| Transferred | 36 | 67.92% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 24.53% |
976 VSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 27.10% 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 52%, 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 54%.
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 | VSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 52% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 55.07% |
452 non first-time / part-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
299 transferred to another institution.
VSU lost contact with the remaining 143 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 2.21% |
| Transferred | 299 | 66.15% |
| Dropped Out | 143 | 31.64% |
232 VSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.44% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 38%, 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 42%.
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 | VSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 38% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
135 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
96 transferred to another institution.
VSU lost contact with the remaining 39 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 96 | 71.11% |
| Dropped Out | 39 | 28.89% |
