Student Achievement at KSU

KSU’s mission statement prioritizes student success and identifies key measures to evaluate the achievement of undergraduate and graduate students, including the first and second-year retention rates, the six-year graduation rate, the number of graduate degrees conferred, and number of doctoral degrees conferred on a three year average.  

Criterion for Student Achievement

Note: The Retention and Graduation rates provided above use the official NCES IPEDS methodology and is based on the First-time, Full-time degree seeking student cohorts captured each fall term (including prior summer enrollees).

First-Year Undergraduate Retention Rate

  • Cohort Year
    KSU Retention Rate 

    Acceptable Threshold

    Target Goal
  • FA22 - FA23
    77%
    76%
    80%
  • FA21 - FA22
    79%
    76%
    80%
  • FA20 - FA21
    75%
    76%
    80%
  • FA19 - FA20
    74%
    76%
    80%
  • FA18 - FA19
    80%
    76%
    80%
  • Baseline FA17 - FA18
    80%
    NA
    NA

Source: KSU Office of Institutional Research Retention and Graduation Dashboard

Note: Acceptable Threshold and Target Goal are based on the five-year average IPEDS first-year retention rate of SACSCOC peer comparators. 

Second-Year Retention Rate

  • Cohort Year
    KSU Retention Rate
    Acceptable Threshold
    Target Goal
  • FA22 - FA23
    Not Yet Available
    61%
    70%
  • FA21 - FA22
    66%

     61%

    70%
  • FA20 - FA21
    61%

    61%

    70%
  • FA19 - FA20
    61%

    61%

    70%
  • FA18 - FA19
    65%

    61%

    70%
  • Baseline FA17 - FA18
    68%

    NA

    NA

Source: KSU Office of Institutional Research Retention and Graduation Dashboard

Note: Acceptable Threshold and Target Goal are based on the five-year average of the USG comprehensive peer comparators. 

Six-Year Baccalaureate Graduation Rate

SACSCOC Key Student Completion Indicator - First-time, full-time undergraduate students completing within six-years.

  • Cohort Year (Graduation Year)
    KSU 6-Yr Grad Rate
    Acceptable
    Threshold
    Target Goal
  • 2017 (2023)
    48%
    48%
    60%
  • 2016 (2022)
    46%
    48%
    60%
  • 2015 (2021) Post-Consolidation
    49%
    48%
    60%
  • 2018 Baseline from SACSCOC
    42%
    48%
    60%

Source: KSU Office of Institutional Research Retention and Graduation Dashboard

Note: Acceptable Threshold is based on the five-year average IPEDS six-year graduation rate of SACSCOC peer comparators. The Target Goal is based on the five-year average national graduation rate.

Note: The Retention and Graduation rates provided above use the official NCES IPEDS methodology and is based on the First-time, Full-time degree seeking student cohorts captured each fall term (including prior summer enrollees).

Percentage Increase of Graduate Degrees Conferred

  • Graduate Degree Level
    Acceptable Threshold
    Target Goal
    FY2024
    FY2023
    FY2022
  • Master's
    2%
    5%
    5%
    16%
    16%
  • Education Specialist
    2%
    5%
    -7%
    9%
    13%

  • Doctoral

    2%
    5%
    58%
    58%
    -13%
  • All Levels
    2%
    5%
    19%
    13%
    15%

Note: Acceptable Threshold is based what KSU identified as a sustainable and responsible level of enrollment and completion growth.

Percentage Increase of Graduate Degrees Conferred

  • Degrees Conferred
    Acceptable Threshold
    Target Goal
    FY24
    FY23
    FY22
  • Annual Performance
    NA
    NA
    82
    52
    33
  • Three Year Average
    20
    41
    56
    41
    42

Note: Acceptable Threshold and Target Goal are based what KSU identified as a sustainable level of growth to maintain Carnegie R2 - Doctoral University High Research status.

Last Updated 02/05/2025

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