by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at WWU? 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 freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 79% students making it past their freshmen year, WWU 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 Washington, the average is 73.95%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| WWU | 79% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Washington | 73.95% |
There were approximately 3,041 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 38% of the cohort graduated. After six years 72% had completed their degree, and 74% 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 WWU graduation rate 72%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at WWU? The standard length of time for most students is 4.54 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,095 | 50% |
| Six Years | 3,041 | 72% |
| Eight Years | 81 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,077 | 26% |
Approximately 1077 students or 26% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1077 students who did not complete their degree?
15 are still enrolled.
622 transferred to another institution.
WWU lost contact with the remaining 440 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.4% |
| Transferred | 622 | 57.8% |
| Dropped Out | 440 | 40.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 63% |
| Asian | 65% |
| Black / African-American | 57% |
| Hawaiian | 40% |
| Hispanic | 60% |
| International | 57% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 68% |
| Unknown | 57% |
| White | 69% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
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 WWU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Western Washington University represent 64% of the students in the class of 2015, and 61.30% of WWU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 38%, first-time students in the WWU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the WWU graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 71% 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 | WWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 69% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 71% | 47.82% |
774 first-time / full-time students or 29% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
477 transferred to another institution.
WWU lost contact with the remaining 285 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.94% |
| Transferred | 477 | 61.63% |
| Dropped Out | 285 | 36.82% |
First-time / part-time students at Western Washington University represent 0.67% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 57%, first-time, part-time students in the WWU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 61%.
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 | WWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 57% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 23.72% |
11 first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
4 transferred to another institution.
WWU 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 | 4 | 36.36% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 63.64% |
1294 WWU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 30.82% 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 81%, 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 82%.
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 | WWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 81% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 82% | 55.07% |
235 non first-time / part-time students or 18% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
113 transferred to another institution.
WWU lost contact with the remaining 120 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.85% |
| Transferred | 113 | 48.09% |
| Dropped Out | 120 | 51.06% |
175 WWU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 4.17% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 67%, 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 67%.
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 | WWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 67% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 37.80% |
57 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
28 transferred to another institution.
WWU lost contact with the remaining 28 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.75% |
| Transferred | 28 | 49.12% |
| Dropped Out | 28 | 49.12% |
