About

Student Achievement

The mission of Saint Peter’s University is to prepare students “to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately, and promote justice.” This mission is manifested through a strong liberal arts program, through personal care for its students and each other, in the nurturing of intellectual and spiritual freedom, and in the development of men and women with and for others.

Saint Peter’s University assesses achievement of student learning at the program level, in co-curricular experiences and through participation in high impact practices that enrich student learning. The results of the assessments are utilized to improve teaching and learning.

At the institutional level, Saint Peter’s University regularly tracks retention rates, graduation rates, and employment and post-graduate study rates as measures of student achievement.

Retention and Graduation Rates

Retention and graduation rates track student progress to degree attainment.

FIRST-TO-SECOND YEAR RETENTION RATES: Retention rates measure the percentage of first-time students who are seeking bachelor’s degrees who return to the institution to continue their studies the following fall.

Full-time, First-Time Students Who Began in Fall 2018 and Returned in Fall 2019: 81%
Full-time, First-Time Students Who Began in Fall 2019 and Returned in Fall 2020: 75%
Full-time, First-Time Students Who Began in Fall 2020 and Returned in Fall 2021: 77%
Full-time, First-Time Students Who Began in Fall 2021 and Returned in Fall 2022: 78%
Full-time, First-Time Students Who Began in Fall 2022 and Returned in Fall 2023: 72%

OVERALL GRADUATION RATE: The overall graduation rate is also known as the “Student Right to Know” or IPEDS graduation rate. It tracks the progress of students who began their studies as full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking students to see if they complete a degree or other award such as a certificate within 150% of “normal time” for completing the program in which they are enrolled.

Full-time, First-Time Students Who Graduated Who Began in Fall 2013: 60%
Full-time, First-Time Students Who Graduated Who Began in Fall 2014: 55%
Full-time, First-Time Students Who Graduated Who Began in Fall 2015: 58%
Full-time, First-Time Students Who Graduated Who Began in Fall 2016: 60%
Full-time, First-Time Students Who Graduated Who Began in Fall 2017: 63%

BACHELOR’S DEGREE GRADUATION RATES: Bachelor’s degree graduation rates measure the percentage of entering students beginning their studies full-time and are planning to get a bachelor’s degree and who complete their degree program within a specified amount of time.

Full-time, First-time Students Graduation Who Began in Fall 2013: 4-Yr: 47%; 5-Yr: 58% ; 6-Yr: 60%
Full-time, First-time Students Graduation Who Began in Fall 2014: 4-Yr: 42%; 5-Yr: 52% ; 6-Yr: 55%
Full-time, First-time Students Graduation Who Began in Fall 2015: 4-Yr: 47%; 5-Yr: 57% ; 6-Yr: 58%
Full-time, First-time Students Graduation Who Began in Fall 2016: 4-Yr: 50% 5-Yr: 58% ; 6-Yr: 60%
Full-time, First-time Students Graduation Who Began in Fall 2017: 4-Yr: 51%; 5-Yr: 61% ; 6-Yr: 63%

6-YEAR GRADUATION RATE BY GENDER FOR STUDENTS PURSUING BACHELOR’S DEGREES

Full-time, First-time Students Graduation Who Began in Fall 2013: Male – 53%; Female: 65%
Full-time, First-time Students Graduation Who Began in Fall 2014: Male – 51%; Female: 58%
Full-time, First-time Students Graduation Who Began in Fall 2015: Male – 50%; Female: 64%
Full-time, First-time Students Graduation Who Began in Fall 2016: Male – 55%; Female: 63%
Full-time, First-time Students Graduation Who Began in Fall 2017: Male – 56%; Female: 68%

6-YEAR GRADUATION RATE BY RACE/ETHNICITY FOR STUDENTS PURSUING BACHELOR’S DEGREES

Full-time, First-time Students Graduation Rate Who Began in Fall 2013:
Asian/Pacific Islander: 68%, Black/African American: 47%; Hispanic/Latino; 62%; Two or more races: 64%
Non-resident: 54%
Full-time, First-time Students Graduation Rate Who Began in Fall 2014: Asian/Pacific Islander: 77%, Black/African American: 46%; Hispanic/Latino: 57%
Two or more races: 67%; U.S. Nonresident: 56%
Full-time, First-time Students Graduation Rate Who Began in Fall 2015: Asian/Pacific Islander: 76%, Black/African American: 50%; Hispanic/Latino: 57%; Two or more races: 43%; U.S. Nonresident: 60%
Full-time, First-time Students Graduation Rate Who Began in Fall 2016: Asian/Pacific Islander: 65%, Black/African American: 49%; Hispanic/Latino: 64%; Two or more races: 44%; U.S. Nonresident: 63%
Full-time, First-time Students Graduation Rate Who Began in Fall 2017: Asian/Pacific Islander: 75%; Black/African American: 55%; Hispanic/Latino: 66%; Two or more races: 100%; U.S. Nonresident: 64%

Historical retention and graduation data may be found on the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES) website.

Employment Outcomes

Saint Peter’s University participates in National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) First-Destination Survey project. “The First-Destination Survey captures information regarding how new college graduates fare in their careers within six months of graduation. The annual initiative provides “clear, concise, and consistent data on the outcomes associated with a college education on a national scale.”

For the Class of 2023

  • Saint Peter’s University reported a 100% success rate (graduates employed, volunteering, in military service or enrolled in post-graduate study).
  • According to NACE, the national Success Rate for the Class of 2022 was 86%.
  • The Knowledge Rate for this report was 74.5%, which is 17.8 percentage points higher than NACE’s 2022 suggested Knowledge Rate of 56.7%.

For the Class of 2022

  • Saint Peter’s University reported a 99% success rate (graduates employed, volunteering, in military service or enrolled in post-graduate study).
  • According to NACE, the national Success Rate for the Class of 2021 was 84%.
  • The Knowledge Rate for this report was 66.1%, which is 11.4 percentage points higher than NACE’s 2021 suggested Knowledge Rate of 54.7%.

For the Class of 2021

  • Saint Peter’s University reported a 90% success rate (graduates employed, volunteering, in military service or enrolled in post-graduate study).
  • According to NACE, the national Success Rate for the Class of 2020 was 82%.
  • The Knowledge Rate for this report was 69.9%, which is 11.6 percentage points higher than NACE’s 2020 suggested Knowledge Rate of 58.3%.

Additional information on employment outcomes by program is available in the Center for Career Engagement and Experiential Learning.