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.

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 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.

  • Degrees Conferred Accept Threshold Target Goal FY24 FY23 FY22 FY21 FY20 Five Year Average
    Annual Performance 20 52 82 52 33 38 54 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.

    Last Updated 02/05/2025