Measuring Student Success

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.

Last Updated 12/18/2025

Criterion for Student Achievement

  • Cohort Year (Fall) KSU Retention Rate  Acceptable Threshold Target Goal
    2017 Baseline 79% 76%  80%
    2018 80% 76% 80%
    2019 80% 76% 80%
    2020 74% 76% 80%
    2021 75% 76% 80%
    2022 79% 76% 80%
    2023 77% 76% 80%

    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.

    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).

  • Cohort Year (Fall) KSU Retention Rate Acceptable Threshold Target Goal
    2017 Baseline 65% 61% 70%

    2018

    		 68% 61% 70%
    2019 65% 61% 70%
    2020 62% 61% 70%
    2021 62% 61% 70%
    2022 66% 61% 70%
    2023 NA 61% 70%

    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. 

    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).

  • 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
    2012 (2018 Baseline SACSCOC) 42% 48% 60%
    2015 (2021) Post-Consolidation 49% 48% 60%
    2016 (2022) 46% 48% 60%
    2017 (2023) 48% 48% 60%
    2018 (2024) 52% 48% 60%
    2019 (2025) NA 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).

  • Graduate Degree Level FY2024 FY2023 FY2022 Acceptable Threshold Target Goal
    Master's 5% 16% 16% 2% 5%
    Education Specialist -7% 9% 13% 2% 5%
    Doctoral 58% 58% -13% 2% 5%
    All Levels 19% 13% 15% 2% 5%

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

  • Fiscal Year   Three Year Average Acceptable Threshold Target Goal
    2020 49 30 52
    2021 49 30 52
    2022 42 30 52
    2023 41 30 52
    2024 56 30 52
    2025 NA 30 52

    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.