Asbury University’s latest graduation data reflects a sustained commitment to helping students flourish academically, spiritually, and professionally while graduating at rates well above national benchmarks.
Asbury University continues to set a high standard for student success, achieving its highest four-year graduation rate since the University’s transition to the semester system in 1991. According to the latest institutional data, 66.1% of Asbury’s 2021 first-time, full-time freshman cohort completed their bachelor’s degree within four years: 17 percentage points higher than the most recent National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) national average of 49.1% for four-year institutions.
The milestone represents the highest four-year graduation rate Asbury has recorded since adopting the semester calendar more than three decades ago. It reflects Asbury University’s ongoing commitment to cultivating an educational experience where students are known personally, challenged academically, and prepared to live lives of purpose and service.
Creating space for students to form into the best version of themselves and launch into what God has next is at the heart of the Asbury mission.”
Asbury’s success extends beyond four-year completion. The University’s most recent six-year graduation rate stands at 65.6%, nearly 10 percentage points higher than the latest U.S. Department of Education NCES national average of 55.7%, demonstrating that Asbury’s commitment to student success continues well beyond a single graduating class.
These graduation outcomes tell a larger story: Students are choosing Asbury, staying at Asbury, and graduating prepared to make a meaningful impact in the world.
The graduation data builds on several recent institutional milestones. Earlier this year, Asbury announced an 86.1% first-to-second-year retention rate (16 points higher than national average), reflecting the University’s continued investment in helping students thrive from their first semester through graduation.
Asbury graduates also benefit from exceptional career preparation, with 99% of the Class of 2024 reporting employment or graduate school placement within six months of graduation. Additionally, 100% of traditional undergraduate students receive institutional financial aid, reinforcing Asbury’s commitment to making a Christ-centered education both accessible and transformational.
Rather than measuring success solely by the number of degrees awarded, these outcomes reflect the daily work of faculty and staff who invest deeply in AU students’ academic achievement, spiritual formation, and personal growth. Together, these results demonstrate the strength of a Christ-centered college community committed to helping every student discover their calling and faithfully pursue it.
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