Undergraduate Student Achievement
Our goal for the 2017–18 academic year is to achieve a retention rate (fall to fall) of 88 percent. Our aspirational goal is to increase Christopher Newport’s retention rate to 90 percent by the end of the 2021–22 academic year. CNU has implemented several programs designed to meet freshman retention-rate goals. Data indicates such efforts have proven successful.
| Cohort (first-time, full-time) | Freshman to Sophomore Retention Rate | Sophomore to Junior Retention Rate | Junior to Senior Retention Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2016 | 88.2% | ||
| Fall 2015 | 86.1% | 77.9% | |
| Fall 2014 | 87.5% | 82.2% | 79.9% |
| Fall 2013 | 87.0% | 80.1% | 77.6% |
| Fall 2012 | 83.9% | 75.9% | 73.5% |
| Fall 2011 | 84.7% | 77.8% | 74.5% |
| Fall 2010 | 84.3% | 78.2% | 75.0% |
| Fall 2009 | 81.5% | 73.7% | 70.8% |
| Fall 2008 | 80.0% | 71.9% | 69.1% |
| Fall 2007 | 80.1% | 70.8% | 67.2% |
| Fall 2006 | 81.9% | 73.7% | 70.3% |
| Fall 2005 | 78.7% | 70.6% | 67.3% |
| Fall 2004 | 75.2% | 66.4% | 62.6% |
| Fall 2003 | 75.7% | 64.7% | 62.0% |
| Fall 2002 | 64.3% | 57.3% | 52.5% |
| Fall 2001 | 81.1% | 61.4% | 57.3% |
| Fall 2000 | 81.3% | 66.3% | 56.1% |
| Fall 1999 | 75.4% | 63.0% | 54.8% |
| Fall 1998 | 72.0% | 57.0% | 51.9% |
| Fall 1997 | 68.4% | 52.5% | 46.8% |
| Fall 1996 | 69.1% | 54.9% | 48.0% |
The graduation rates of CNU’s freshman cohorts have also continued to grow, thanks to various university-initiated strategies. For the purposes of these studies, graduation rates indicate a percentage of the freshman cohort that graduated from Christopher Newport in six years.
CNU’s goal for the 2017–18 academic year is to achieve a 74 percent six-year graduation rate. Our aspirational goal is to reach a six-year graduation rate of 80 percent by the end of the 2021–22 academic year.
| Cohort (first-time, full-time) | 4-Year Grad Rate | 5-Year Grad Rate | 6-Year Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2013 | 68.1% | ||
| Fall 2012 | 62.7% | 71.0% | |
| Fall 2011 | 63.5% | 73.2% | 74.5% |
| Fall 2010 | 62.9% | 73.7% | 74.8% |
| Fall 2009 | 56.8% | 68.6% | 70.0% |
| Fall 2008 | 55.0% | 66.4% | 67.5% |
| Fall 2007 | 49.8% | 63.7% | 65.5% |
| Fall 2006 | 50.7% | 65.0% | 67.4% |
| Fall 2005 | 46.4% | 60.8% | 63.2% |
| Fall 2004 | 42.4% | 57.2% | 60.0% |
| Fall 2003 | 39.4% | 55.1% | 58.1% |
| Fall 2002 | 30.9% | 46.7% | 48.9% |
| Fall 2001 | 30.5% | 47.1% | 51.5% |
| Fall 2000 | 26.2% | 47.3% | 50.6% |
| Fall 1999 | 18.3% | 40.2% | 44.7% |
| Fall 1998 | 17.5% | 37.5% | 42.1% |
| Fall 1997 | 13.3% | 31.0% | 37.3% |
| Fall 1996 | 12.6% | 31.3% | 36.8% |
Beyond retention and graduation data, Christopher Newport tracks the post-graduation outcomes of every senior class. Six months post-graduation, CNU administers the National Association of Career Educators First-Destination Survey which provides an overall profile of students’ plans – from graduate-school acceptance to employment offers (which are often impacted by the national economy).
Christopher Newport’s goal is to increase the percentage of students with full-time employment or graduate school / continuing education and decrease the number of students still seeking employment or graduate admission.
Three Year Outcomes Data Overview of Classes 2013 to 2016
| Class | Response Rate | Full-Time Employment or Grad School / Continuing Education | Still Seeking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 67.0% | 85.0% | 6.0% |
| 2014 | 71.0% | 83.0% | 4.0% |
| 2015 | 74.0% | 85.0% | 4.0% |
| 2016 | 70.1% | 88.0% | 2.4% |