Retention and Graduation Rates

 

In accordance with Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act, approved by the United States Congress on November 9, 1990, the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico reports its annual retention and graduation rates. The legislation requires that all of higher education institutions eligible to receive Title IV funds publish the retention and graduation rates of their full-time students aspire to a college degree. These data are reported to the Federal Department of Education through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

To calculate the persistence rate, the follow-up cohort must first be established. According to the IPEDS glossary, a cohort is a specific group of students selected for follow-up purposes.
The students that make up the cohort must meet the following criteria:

  • Be new students in August (includes students admitted in the July session, August intensive, August – semester and August – quarter).
  • Not having previous university experience (regular students).
  • Be classified as a student at the baccalaureate level.
  • Applicants to a university degree (regular students)
  • Be enrolled as full-time (12 credits) in the August session (semester or quarter)

Barranquitas Campus Retention and Persistence Rate from 1st to 2nd year of studies – Baccalaureate level

Cohort

Base

Retained

% Retained

2013 283 234 83%
2014 315 248 79%
2015 275 202 73%
2016 270 200 74%
2017 225 156 69%
2018 204 145 71%
2019 228 166 73%
2020 185 137 74%

Source: Report Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Registration Questionnaire 2014-15 (Cohort 2013), 2015-16 (Cohort 2014), 2016-17 (Cohort 2015) 2017- 18 (Cohort 2016), 2018-19 (Cohort 2017), 2019-20 (Cohort 2018), 2020-21 (Cohort 2019) and 2021-22 (Cohort 2020). Cohort Data 2016 to 2020 – Report Rate of Retention and Graduation-VPAAEPS- Office of Research, Assessment and Planning.


The students that make up the cohort meet the following criteria:

  • They are new students in August (includes students admitted in the July session, August intensive, August-semester and August- quarter).
  • They have no previous university experience.
  • They are classified as baccalaureate level students.
  • They are aspire to a university degree (regular students).
  • They register full-time (12 credits) in the August session (semester or quarter).

Barranquitas Campus Accumulated Graduation Rate to the 4th, 5th and 6th year of studies – Baccalaureate level

Cohort

Base

Graduates in 4 years or less

Graduates in 5 years or less

>Graduates in 6 years or less

2007 267 61 88 117
100% 23% 33% 44%
2008 173 38 62 67
100% 22% 36% 39%
2009 363 78 135 159
100% 21% 37% 44%
2010 377 75 140 161
100% 20% 37% 43%
2011 382* 68 129 173
100% 18% 34% 45%*
2012 287* 62 112 138
100% 22% 39% 48%*
2013 283 85 132 157
100% 30% 47% 55%
2014 309 62 123 142
100% 20% 40% 46%
2015 275 62 101 120
100% 23% 37% 44%

* Note: Includes students admitted in June (2011 and 2012 cohorts).

These students are not included in the data reported in IPEDS. The staff of the Office of Research, Evaluation and Planning of Inter American University of Puerto Rico informed the Barranquitas Campus that, contrary to usual practice, in the 2011 and 2012 cohorts they did not inform the new students who entered in June because they understood that these students did not belong to that cohort. When they reviewed the definitions of IPEDS, they concluded that they were part of that cohort. This explains the difference in the graduation data that appear in IPEDS and the data that the Central Office sent to the Barranquitas Campus in this table.

Source: Report Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Graduation Questionnaire 2013-14 (Cohort 2007), 2014-15 (Cohort 2008), 2015-16 (Cohort 2009), 2016-17 (Cohort 2010), 2017 -18 (Cohort 2011), 2018-19 (Cohort 2012), 2019-20 (Cohort 2013), 2020-21 (Cohort 2014) and 2021-22 (Cohort 2015). Cohort Data 2011 to 2015 – Retention and Graduation Rate Report-VPAAEPS- Office of Research, Assessment and Planning.

 


The follow-up cohort, for students at the master’s level, was defined as follows:

  • New students at master’s level programs.
  • Regular admission type
  • They enrolled full time (Full Time) in their first FALL term.

Barranquitas Campus Retention Rate from 1st to 2nd year of studies – Master’s level

Cohort

Base

Retained

Retention %

2014 3 3 100%
2015 15 14 93%
2016 15 12 80%
2017 34 24 71%
2018 17 9 53%

Source: Retention Rate Report-Graduated Level 07-16-2021 VPAAEPS- Office of Research, Assessment and Planning


The follow-up cohort for students at the master’s level is defined as follows:

  • New students entering master’s level programs.
  • Regular admission type
  • Full time, in first fall term.

Once the cohorts were selected for each year of admission, the following four academic years were followed up to determine how many students are graduated from the Institution. Then, the number of students who are graduated from the base of the cohort was divided and multiplied by a hundred to calculate the cumulative graduation rate. The cumulative four-year graduation rate shows the percentage of students in the cohort who graduated in four years or less.

Barranquitas Campus Accumulated Graduation Rate to the 4th year of studies – Master’s level

Cohort

Base

Graduates

% Graduation

2011 9 6 67%
2012 16 10 63%
2013 12 4 33%
2014 3 3 100%
2015 15 10 67%
2016 15 7 47%

Source: Graduation Rate Report-Graduated Level 07-14-2021 VPAAE- Office of Research, Assessment and Planning