Persistence and Retention Rates
Source: NSHE Data Warehouse - Completions; Enrollment and Cohort (end-of-term data).
Fall Entering Cohort: includes all students who enter the NSHE institution as undergraduate, first-time, degree-seeking.
Enrollment Load: Full-time: enrolled in 12 credits or more; Part-time: enrolled in less than 12 credits. Status based on the enrollment intensity (end-of-term) in the entering fall semester.
Retention Rate measures the percentage of first-time fall entering student cohort that either return to the same NSHE institution the following fall or earns a credential before the second academic year begins. This reflects the percentage of first-time fall student cohort who are still with the institution one year later.
Persistence Rate measures the percentage of first-time fall entering student cohort that re-enrolls at any NSHE institution the following fall or earns a credential before the second academic year begins. This follows a student's progress even if they transfer to another NSHE institution and reflects a studentn's determination to stay in higher education.