by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Widener first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Widener retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 81% students making it past their freshmen year, Widener 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Widener | 81% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
Of the 623 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
48% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 57% in six years, and 58% 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 Widener graduation rate 57%.
The average length of time it takes an Widener undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.18 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 536 | 49% |
| Six Years | 623 | 57% |
| Eight Years | 6 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 455 | 42% |
Approximately 455 students or 42% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 455 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
296 transferred to another institution.
Widener lost contact with the remaining 155 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 296 | 65.1% |
| Dropped Out | 155 | 34.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 66% |
| Black / African-American | 52% |
| Hispanic | 49% |
| International | 22% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 61% |
| Unknown | 83% |
| White | 69% |
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 Widener 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 Widener University represent 72% of the students in the class of 2015, and 71.27% of Widener bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 48%, first-time students in the Widener class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Widener graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | Widener | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 48% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 57% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 47.82% |
332 first-time / full-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
273 transferred to another institution.
Widener lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 273 | 82.23% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 16.87% |
First-time / part-time students at Widener University represent 2.95% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 47%, first-time, part-time students in the Widener class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 47%.
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 | Widener | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 47% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 23.72% |
17 first-time / part-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
Widener lost contact with the remaining 8 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 9 | 52.94% |
| Dropped Out | 8 | 47.06% |
207 Widener students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 19.08% 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 61%, 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 61%.
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 | Widener | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 61% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 55.07% |
80 non 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.
Widener lost contact with the remaining 76 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 4 | 5.00% |
| Dropped Out | 76 | 95.00% |
65 Widener students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 5.99% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 57%, 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 60%.
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 | Widener | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 57% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 37.80% |
26 non first-time / part-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
10 transferred to another institution.
Widener lost contact with the remaining 15 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 3.85% |
| Transferred | 10 | 38.46% |
| Dropped Out | 15 | 57.69% |
