by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at WSU? 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 66% students making it past their freshmen year, WSU 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 Utah, the average is 75.47%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| WSU | 66% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Utah | 75.47% |
How many of the estimated 1,565 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 27% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 39% of the students had graduated and after eight years 42% of this class completed their degree.
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 WSU graduation rate 39%.
The average length of time it takes an WSU undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.93 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,157 | 29% |
| Six Years | 1,565 | 39% |
| Eight Years | 135 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,341 | 58% |
Approximately 2341 students or 58% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2341 students who did not complete their degree?
54 are still enrolled.
1032 transferred to another institution.
WSU lost contact with the remaining 1279 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 54 | 2.3% |
| Transferred | 1032 | 44.1% |
| Dropped Out | 1,279 | 54.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 18% |
| Asian | 40% |
| Black / African-American | 22% |
| Hispanic | 23% |
| International | 66% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 22% |
| Unknown | 43% |
| White | 39% |
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 WSU 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 Weber State University represent 51% of the students in the class of 2015, and 51.95% of WSU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 27%, first-time students in the WSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the WSU graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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 | WSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 40% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 47.82% |
1160 first-time / full-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
54 are still enrolled.
490 transferred to another institution.
WSU lost contact with the remaining 654 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 54 | 4.66% |
| Transferred | 490 | 42.24% |
| Dropped Out | 654 | 56.38% |
First-time / part-time students at Weber State University represent 17.99% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 18%, first-time, part-time students in the WSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 22%.
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 | WSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 18% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 23.72% |
538 first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
216 transferred to another institution.
WSU lost contact with the remaining 313 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.67% |
| Transferred | 216 | 40.15% |
| Dropped Out | 313 | 58.18% |
682 WSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.89% 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 56%, 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 58%.
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 | WSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 56% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 55.07% |
281 non first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
130 transferred to another institution.
WSU lost contact with the remaining 147 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.42% |
| Transferred | 130 | 46.26% |
| Dropped Out | 147 | 52.31% |
637 WSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 14.84% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 40%, 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 | WSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 40% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
362 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
196 transferred to another institution.
WSU lost contact with the remaining 165 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.28% |
| Transferred | 196 | 54.14% |
| Dropped Out | 165 | 45.58% |
