This study examines students’ paths following their enrollment in the Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) at Penn State University Park. The study highlights two cohorts of students. The first cohort—called the Originators—includes students admitted as first–year students in fall 2008 to the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park. The second cohort—the Incomers—is composed of students who changed during fall 2008 into the division at University Park from another Penn State enrollment unit. The data show that both Originators and Incomers to the division successfully graduated within five years and persisted in the academic college chosen immediately after their enrollment in the division.
Originators
- The 2008 Originators continued to graduate from all colleges, including Arts and Architecture and Nursing. The colleges from which most Originators graduated were the Smeal College of Business (258) and the colleges of Health and Human Development (149), the Liberal Arts (144), and Communications (77).
- The five–year graduation rate for students beginning in the division is consistent with that of students across University Park.
- Only 2% (n=20) of the Originators were dropped to Nondegree Conditional (NDEGC) status for poor scholarship; one of these students successfully graduated as of summer 2013.
Incomers
- Thirty–seven incomers entered the division with greater than or equal to a 2.0 cumulative grade–point average (CGPA). Of this population, 86% graduated by summer 2013. One was still enrolled in the fall 2013 semester. Four did not continue at the University.
- Since students are eligible to enter the division with CGPA below a 2.0, the division plays an important enrollment role.
- Of the 20 Incomers entering the division with less than a 2.0 (CGPA), 14 students entered from STEM fields. Half of these students graduated by summer 2013; two were still enrolled as of fall 2013. Five were dropped to NDEGC status.
Fall 2008 Cohort Description
Fall 2008 Cohort Description
| Originators | Incomers | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total number of students | 983 | 58 | 1041 |
| Number of graduates (as of SU13) | 818 | 42 | 860 |
| Number of conferred degrees1 | 903 (83 double, 2 triple) | 45 (3 double) | 948 |
1some students earned more than one degree
Retention, Graduation, and Attrition Rates for Fall 2008 Cohort *
Retention, Graduation and Attrition Rates for fall 2008 Cohort
| Originators | Incomers | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduated (as of SU13) | 818 (83.2%) | 42 (72.4%) | 860 |
| Left Penn State with CGPA ≥ 2.0 | 95 (9.7%) | 5 (8.6%) | 100 |
| Left Penn State with CGPA < 2.0 | 35 (3.6%) | 8 (13.8%) | 43 |
| Still attending Penn State (as of FA13) | 31 (3.2%) | 3 (5.2%) | 34 |
| Dropped for poor scholarship | 16 (1.6%) | 5 (8.6%) | 21 |
*some data may overlap, e.g., a student may have been dropped for poor scholarship and may also have left Penn State with CGPA < 2.0
Retention, Graduation, and Attrition Rates for Fall 2008 Incomers *
| Total Number | CGPA at Entry ≥ 2.0 | CGPA at Entry < 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduated (as of SU13) | 42 | 32 (76.1%) | 10 (23.8%) |
| Left Penn State with CGPA ≥ 2.0 | 5 | 3 (60%) | 2 (40%) |
| Left Penn State with CGPA < 2.0 | 8 | 1 (12.5%) | 7 (87.5%) |
| Still attending Penn State (as of FA13) | 3 | 1 (33.3%) | 2 (66.7%) |
| Dropped for poor scholarship | 5 | 0 (0%) | 5 (100%) |
*some data may overlap, e.g., a student may have been dropped for poor scholarship and may also have left Penn State with CGPA < 2.0
5–Year Graduation Rates
College of Graduation of Fall 2008 Originators
College of Origin & Graduation of Fall 2008 Incomers
Persistence of College Choice Following Enrollment in the Division of Undergraduate Studies
Three–Year Comparison (2006, 2007, 2008)
The following charts depict graduation rates, colleges of graduation for Originators, and colleges of origin and graduation for Incomers for the 2006, 2007, and 2008 cohorts. The Originator cohort size continued to decrease in 2008, while the Incomer cohort substantially decreased in 2008. Despite the continued decrease in cohort size, the graduate rates for Originators remains consistent with all other University Park students.
The number of students in the 2008 Originator cohort graduating from the Colleges of Arts & Architecture and the Eberly College of Science increased while the number of students graduating from all other colleges decreased. The Smeal College of Business, Health and Human Development, and Liberal Arts consistently graduate the most students in the Originator cohort.
The Colleges of Engineering and the Eberly College of Science remain the top two colleges of origin for Incomers to DUS in fall 2008. The Smeal College of Business and Liberal Arts are the top two college of graduation for Incomers in 2008.
Three–year comparison of Originators and Incomers
| Originators | Incomers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cohort year | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Total number of students | 1320 | 1167 | 983 | 96 | 101 | 58 |
| Number graduated | 1117 | 957 | 818 | 80 | 76 | 42 |
| Number of degrees conferred | 1190 | 1048 | 903 | 85 | 80 | 45 |
| Number of double majors | 66 | 74 | 83 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
Three–year comparison of 5–Year Graduation Rates
Three–year comparison of Originators' college of graduation
Three–year comparison of Incomers' college of origin
Three–year comparison of Incomers' college of graduation
