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Student Achievement

Within the institution’s core value, The Individual, the University states, “Anderson University is a people-focused community where individuals are valued and where all participants seek to honor one another through words, behavior, and a commitment to each person’s success.

To this end, the University supports and monitors the progress of its students through several means including attainment of Dean’s List, freshman to sophomore retention rate, career preparation experience, 4- and 6-year graduation rates, the number of degrees awarded, and first destination data.  Some programs make use of discipline-based nationally normed examinations.  Individual colleges or schools maintain the data from these assessments.

 

TABLE A
Freshman to Sophomore Retention Rate

Academic Year 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
Fall-to-Fall Freshman to Sophomore Retention 81% 85% 84% 79% 75% 76% 74% 77% 73% 72% 72%
Size of Freshman Class 774 695 638 640 675 665 660 642 501 533 513

 

TABLE B
Population of Internship Completers

Year Enrolled Grade C or > % Success
2010-2011 222 218 98%
2011-2012 252 232 92%
2012-2013 299 293 97%
2013-2014 334 315 94%
2014-2015 314 301 96%
2015-2016 450 447 99%
2016-2017 450 448 99%
2017-2018 532 528 99%
2018-2019 645 640 99%
2019-2020 654 643 98%
2020-2021 611 607 99%

 

Research in student engagement and success indicates that internships, clinical experiences, or practicum experiences are recognized as high impact practices (HIP) for students. HIP opportunities provide upper-level students with experience in a real-world setting, a strong component of success after graduation. The data in Table C shows the number of students participating in these experiences over the last four years. Longstanding required internship or clinical courses are mainstays in a variety of academic programs including art-graphic design, business— all concentrations, all undergraduate education degrees, interior design, psychology, communications, Christian ministry, and nursing has recently joined this group with the launch of its program.  Several other programs offer but do not require credit for internships including history, biology, kinesiology, theatre, musical theatre, criminal justice, music, art, and Spanish.

 

TABLE C
Data on Graduation Rate

First-Time Freshman Cohort 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
4-year Graduation Rate 41% 43% 36% 45% 43% 47% 52% 55% 63% 51% 51% 51%
6-year Graduation Rate 47% 48% 41% 51% 48% 53% 57% 57% 65% 57% 64% 60%

 

Using federal definitions, graduation rates are computed for students who entered the University as new full-time freshmen. Students who transferred in and completed a degree at Anderson are excluded from the data on graduation rates. The University’s current goal is achieving a minimum six-year graduate rate of 55%. For disaggregated graduation rates including diversity of graduates, visit www.andersonuniversity.edu/colleges-schools/student-diversity-and-outcomes.

 

TABLE D
First Destination Survey Data (undergraduate)

Graduating Class* # Students Surveyed Responses Response Rate Employed Service/Military Continuing Education Percent at work/school
2021 1372 396 29% 125 1 74 51 %
2020 665 247 37% 131 4 40 68%
2019 761 271 36% 110 0 54 61%
2018 446 161 36% 99 0 17 72%

 

*First-year out data for combined August, December, and May graduates per academic year Data for 2017-2018 is not considered complete at this time.

Through the combined efforts of the colleges and schools, the Career Center, and the Alumni Office, the University tracks employment and graduate school placement for students at the end of the first year following graduation. The University captures placement data at the point of graduation, and relies upon updates from alumni, which tend to trend upwards in the months following graduation. The current institutional goal is for alumni to achieve employment and graduate school placement rates at or above the level of above 60% within 24 months of graduation, and that target has already been achieved for the 2014-2015 academic year.