FSU’s record first-year student retention rate places among Top 15 nationally
Florida State University is retaining first-year students at a record rate, according to the most recent data reported to the Florida Board of Governors.
Ninety-five percent of FSU’s first-time-in-college students who enrolled in Summer/Fall 2019 stayed for their sophomore year — a record for the university. Notably, last year’s freshman class of about 7,100 students was the largest and most diverse in university history.
“This is a testament to the resilience and tenacity of our students, especially during these uncertain times,” said Sally McRorie, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “It’s rewarding to see them stay on the path to a college degree, despite the tremendous obstacles we’ve all faced because of the pandemic.”
The 95 percent mark ranks in the Top 15 among national public universities and is well above the most recent national average retention rate of 81 percent for 4-year public institutions, reported by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics.
“I applaud our faculty and staff for the incredible support and encouragement they’ve given our students as they continue on their academic journeys,” McRorie said. “This record retention rate reflects the university-wide efforts Florida State puts into student success.”
One of Florida State’s points of pride over the past several years is the virtual elimination of disparities in retention rates among its diverse undergraduate population, which includes nearly a third who are Pell Grant recipients and first-generation college students.
In fact, students enrolled in the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE) program, which provides first-generation and underrepresented students the necessary resources and support network they need to flourish in the collegiate environment, outperformed FSU’s general student population, posting a 96.2 percent freshman retention rate this year.
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