by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Wayne State? 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 82% students making it past their freshmen year, Wayne State 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 Michigan, the average is 70.80%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Wayne State | 82% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
How many of the estimated 2,321 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 18% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 43% of the students had graduated and after eight years 47% of this class completed their degree.
The official graduation rate of Wayne State is 43%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
The average Wayne State student takes 4.73 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,381 | 26% |
| Six Years | 2,321 | 43% |
| Eight Years | 202 | 4% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,834 | 53% |
Approximately 2834 students or 53% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2834 students who did not complete their degree?
34 are still enrolled.
1905 transferred to another institution.
Wayne State lost contact with the remaining 821 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 34 | 1.2% |
| Transferred | 1905 | 67.2% |
| Dropped Out | 821 | 29.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 25% |
| Asian | 68% |
| Black / African-American | 25% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 35% |
| International | 53% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 33% |
| Unknown | 64% |
| White | 60% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 Wayne State are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Wayne State University represent 41% of the students in the class of 2015, and 43.39% of Wayne State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 18%, first-time students in the Wayne State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Wayne State graduation rate was 46%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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 | Wayne State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 46% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 47.82% |
1072 first-time / full-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
34 are still enrolled.
750 transferred to another institution.
Wayne State lost contact with the remaining 268 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 34 | 3.17% |
| Transferred | 750 | 69.96% |
| Dropped Out | 268 | 25.00% |
First-time / part-time students at Wayne State University represent 4.08% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 12%, first-time, part-time students in the Wayne State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 18%.
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 | Wayne State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 12% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
180 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
121 transferred to another institution.
Wayne State lost contact with the remaining 49 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 5.56% |
| Transferred | 121 | 67.22% |
| Dropped Out | 49 | 27.22% |
1741 Wayne State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 32.40% 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 50%, 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 52%.
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 | Wayne State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 50% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 55.07% |
832 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
18 are still enrolled.
543 transferred to another institution.
Wayne State lost contact with the remaining 271 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 2.16% |
| Transferred | 543 | 65.26% |
| Dropped Out | 271 | 32.57% |
1201 Wayne State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 22.35% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 35%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate similar to the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 38%.
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 | Wayne State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 35% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 37.80% |
750 non first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
26 are still enrolled.
491 transferred to another institution.
Wayne State lost contact with the remaining 233 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 3.47% |
| Transferred | 491 | 65.47% |
| Dropped Out | 233 | 31.07% |
