Examination of Time To Degree Completion:
Bachelor’s Degree Recipients 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08
October 22, 2008
Overview
This white paper examines how long it takes students to earn bachelor’s degrees at Central Connecticut
State University (CCSU) from the semester of entry as well as how many credits they have earned in
pursuit of the degree. Overall results indicate that for graduates from the past four years more than four
out of five students earned their bachelor’s degree in six years or less following their first semester at
CCSU. Over half completed between 120 and 130 credits when finishing their degree.
The study grouped graduates into entering and graduating years by fiscal year (Summer, Fall, Spring).
Students were also categorized as full-time or part-time enrollment status in their first term at CCSU. It is
important to recognize, however, that student enrollment patterns are complex, and include changes
between full-time and part-time status, summer enrollments, concurrent enrollments at other universities,
and semesters when they are not enrolled at all. This study does not account for this complex credit-taking
pattern.
Time to Degree
• Among bachelor’s degree recipients from 2004-05 through 2007-08, more than four out of five
(80-84%) earned their degrees in six years or less. About seven out of ten (68-75%) earned their
degrees in five years or less, and four out of ten (38-46%) earned their degrees in four years or
less, although this proportion of students has declined from 46% in 2004-05 to 40% in 2007-08.
• Only 4-8% of students who earned bachelor’s degrees between 2004-05 and 2007-08 took longer
than 10 years to earn their degrees.
• A higher proportion of students who entered the university as full-time students completed their
bachelor’s degrees within six years (85-88%) than did students who entered CCSU as part-time
students (61-71%). About 13-16% of graduates who entered as part-time students took ten years
or more to earn their degrees, while only about 2-5% of those who entered as full-time students
took ten years or more to earn their degrees.
Table 1. Bachelor’s Degree Recipients by Time to Degree
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
Year of Graduation N % N % N % N %
Degree in 4 Years or Less 700 46% 672 43% 597 38% 663 40%
Degree in 5 Years or Less 1045 68% 1165 75% 1093 70% 1126 69%
Degree in 6 Years or Less 1221 80% 1308 84% 1292 82% 1353 82%
Degree in 10 Years or Less 1412 92% 1473 94% 1471 94% 1569 96%
Total Degrees 1530 100% 1563 100% 1572 100% 1641 100%
Credits Earned Upon Graduation
• Over half (52-55%) of the students who earned bachelor’s degrees between 2004-05 and 2007-08
completed their degrees with 120-129 credits (minimum credit requirements since at least 1995
have been 122 for non-teaching degrees and 130 for teaching degrees). Almost another quarter
(22-24%) completed their bachelor’s degree with 130-139 credits. Only about one out of twenty
graduates (3-5%) completed a bachelor’s degree having earned 170 credits or more.
• About 2-8% fewer graduates who entered CCSU as part-time students completed their degrees
having earned fewer than 130 credits. Conversely, about this same proportion of graduates who
entered CCSU as part-time students completed their degrees having earned between130-139, 140-
149 and 150-159 credits.
• No meaningful changes over time in patterns of earned credits emerged over the four-year time
period covered by this study.
Table 2. Bachelor’s Degree Recipients by Credits Earned
Credits Earned at Time of Graduation
Below 130- 140- 150- 160- 170- 180- Total
130 139 149 159 169 179 189 190+ Degrees
(N) 803 334 164 95 62 30 18 24 1530
2004-05
(%) 52% 22% 11% 6% 4% 2% 1% 2% 100%
(N) 852 345 158 88 47 31 19 23 1563
2005-06
(%) 55% 22% 10% 6% 3% 2% 1% 1% 100%
(N) 829 356 183 105 53 17 13 16 1572
2006-07
(%) 53% 23% 12% 7% 3% 1% 1% 1% 100%
(N) 851 374 186 112 55 18 20 25 1641
2007-08
(%) 54% 24% 12% 7% 3% 1% 1% 2% 100%
Detailed data tables by year and by status follow on subsequent pages. This report is scheduled to be
updated annually in September.
Examination of Time To Degree Completion (2008) Page 2
Table 3. 2004-05 Bachelor's Degree Recipients by Year of Entry to CCSU and Total
Credits Earned, All Recipients
Credits Earned
Below 130- 140- 150- 160- 170- 180-
130 139 149 159 169 179 189 190+ Total
Entry Year N N N N N N N N N %
1994-95 and prior years 43 35 17 9 6 2 2 4 118 8%
1995-96 9 3 5 0 3 1 0 0 21 1%
1996-97 18 8 7 2 1 1 0 0 37 2%
1997-98 19 7 7 5 2 1 1 0 42 3%
1998-99 43 19 8 9 6 3 2 1 91 6%
1999-00 81 33 25 13 11 7 2 4 176 12%
2000-01 197 84 24 23 11 2 2 2 345 23%
2001-02 243 67 29 16 13 7 2 4 381 25%
2002-03 116 65 33 15 8 5 5 7 254 17%
2003-04 34 13 9 3 1 1 2 2 65 4%
Total (N) 803 334 164 95 62 30 18 24 1530 100%
Total (%) 52% 22% 11% 6% 4% 2% 1% 2% 100% --
Degree in 4 Years or Less 393 145 71 34 22 13 9 13 700 46%
Degree in 5 Years or Less 590 229 95 57 33 15 11 15 1045 68%
Degree in 6 Years or Less 671 262 120 70 44 22 13 19 1221 80%
Degree in 10 Years or Less 760 299 147 86 56 28 16 20 1412 92%
Data Sources: Gradfile05 and Sbgstdn+Shrlgpa
Table 4. 2004-05 Bachelor's Degree Recipients by Year of Entry to CCSU and Total
Credits Earned, Full-Time Status at Entry
Credits Earned
Below 130- 140- 150- 160- 170- 180-
130 139 149 159 169 179 189 190+ Total
Entry Year N N N N N N N N N %
1994-95 and prior years 27 17 3 4 5 1 1 2 60 5%
1995-96 7 2 4 0 1 1 0 0 15 1%
1996-97 9 4 6 2 0 0 0 0 21 2%
1997-98 14 4 4 2 1 1 1 0 27 2%
1998-99 26 9 6 3 4 2 2 0 52 5%
1999-00 65 24 21 11 6 4 2 4 137 12%
2000-01 156 77 21 16 7 1 1 0 279 24%
2001-02 215 51 24 12 9 6 2 2 321 28%
2002-03 93 47 22 9 5 5 4 2 187 16%
2003-04 26 10 6 2 0 1 1 2 48 4%
Total (N) 638 245 117 61 38 22 14 12 1147 100%
Total (%) 56% 21% 10% 5% 3% 2% 1% 1% 100% --
Degree in 4 Years or Less 334 108 52 23 14 12 7 6 556 48%
Degree in 5 Years or Less 490 185 73 39 21 13 8 6 835 73%
Degree in 6 Years or Less 555 209 94 50 27 17 10 10 972 85%
Degree in 10 Years or Less 611 228 114 57 33 21 13 10 1087 95%
Data Sources: Gradfile05 and Sbgstdn+Shrlgpa
Examination of Time To Degree Completion (2008) Page 3
Table 5. 2004-05 Bachelor's Degree Recipients by Year of Entry to CCSU and Total
Credits Earned, Part-Time Status at Entry
Credits Earned
Below 130- 140- 150- 160- 170- 180-
130 139 149 159 169 179 189 190+ Total
Entry Year N N N N N N N N N %
1994-95 and prior years 16 18 14 5 1 1 1 2 58 15%
1995-96 2 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 6 2%
1996-97 9 4 1 0 1 1 0 0 16 4%
1997-98 5 3 3 3 1 0 0 0 15 4%
1998-99 17 10 2 6 2 1 0 1 39 10%
1999-00 16 9 4 2 5 3 0 0 39 10%
2000-01 41 7 3 7 4 1 1 2 66 17%
2001-02 28 16 5 4 4 1 0 2 60 16%
2002-03 23 18 11 6 3 0 1 5 67 17%
2003-04 8 3 3 1 1 0 1 0 17 4%
Total (N) 165 89 47 34 24 8 4 12 383 100%
Total (%) 43% 23% 12% 9% 6% 2% 1% 3% 100% --
Degree in 4 Years or Less 59 37 19 11 8 1 2 7 144 38%
Degree in 5 Years or Less 100 44 22 18 12 2 3 9 210 55%
Degree in 6 Years or Less 116 53 26 20 17 5 3 9 249 65%
Degree in 10 Years or Less 149 71 33 29 23 7 3 10 325 85%
Data Sources: Gradfile05 and Sbgstdn+Shrlgpa
Table 6. 2005-06 Bachelor's Degree Recipients by Year of Entry to CCSU and Total
Credits Earned, All Recipients
Credits Earned
Below 130- 140- 150- 160- 170- 180-
130 139 149 159 169 179 189 190+ Total
Entry Year N N N N N N N N N %
1995-96 and prior years 38 25 11 7 4 1 1 3 90 6%
1996-97 11 3 0 1 1 1 2 0 19 1%
1997-98 12 11 4 1 3 1 0 0 32 2%
1998-99 14 13 7 4 0 2 3 2 45 3%
1999-00 32 14 10 6 2 2 2 1 69 4%
2000-01 66 32 19 7 10 5 2 2 143 9%
2001-02 278 116 45 29 14 6 2 3 493 32%
2002-03 236 67 34 18 5 5 4 7 376 24%
2003-04 135 50 23 11 6 6 2 4 237 15%
2004-05 30 14 5 4 2 2 1 1 59 4%
Total (N) 852 345 158 88 47 31 19 23 1563 100%
Total (%) 55% 22% 10% 6% 3% 2% 1% 1% 100% --
Degree in 4 Years or Less 401 131 62 33 13 13 7 12 672 43%
Degree in 5 Years or Less 679 247 107 62 27 19 9 15 1165 75%
Degree in 6 Years or Less 745 279 126 69 37 24 11 17 1308 84%
Degree in 10 Years or Less 814 320 147 81 43 30 18 20 1473 94%
Data Sources: Gradfile06 and Sbgstdn+Shrlgpa
Examination of Time To Degree Completion (2008) Page 4
Table 7. 2005-06 Bachelor's Degree Recipients by Year of Entry to CCSU and Total
Credits Earned, Full-Time Status at Entry
Credits Earned
Below 130- 140- 150- 160- 170- 180-
130 139 149 159 169 179 189 190+ Total
Entry Year N N N N N N N N N %
1995-96 and prior years 18 10 2 1 0 1 0 1 33 6%
1996-97 7 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 12 1%
1997-98 8 3 2 0 1 1 0 0 15 2%
1998-99 12 8 3 3 0 2 2 2 32 3%
1999-00 25 11 6 4 2 2 2 1 53 4%
2000-01 47 23 14 4 8 5 1 1 103 9%
2001-02 250 105 41 23 12 5 2 2 440 32%
2002-03 183 53 26 12 4 3 3 5 289 24%
2003-04 92 32 18 8 6 4 1 3 164 15%
2004-05 26 10 4 3 2 2 0 1 48 4%
Total (N) 668 257 116 59 36 25 12 16 1189 100%
Total (%) 56% 22% 10% 5% 3% 2% 1% 1% 100% --
Degree in 4 Years or Less 301 95 48 23 12 9 4 9 501 42%
Degree in 5 Years or Less 551 200 89 46 24 14 6 11 941 79%
Degree in 6 Years or Less 598 223 103 50 32 19 7 12 1044 88%
Degree in 10 Years or Less 650 247 114 58 36 24 12 15 1156 97%
Data Sources: Gradfile06 and Sbgstdn+Shrlgpa
Table 8. 2005-06 Bachelor's Degree Recipients by Year of Entry to CCSU and Total
Credits Earned, Part-Time Status at Entry
Credits Earned
Below 130- 140- 150- 160- 170- 180- 190
130 139 149 159 169 179 189 + Total
Entry Year N N N N N N N N N %
1995-96 and prior years 20 15 9 6 4 0 1 2 57 3%
1996-97 4 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 7 1%
1997-98 4 8 2 1 2 0 0 0 17 1%
1998-99 2 5 4 1 0 0 1 0 13 3%
1999-00 7 3 4 2 0 0 0 0 16 4%
2000-01 19 9 5 3 2 0 1 1 40 9%
2001-02 28 11 4 6 2 1 0 1 53 37%
2002-03 53 14 8 6 1 2 1 2 87 24%
2003-04 43 18 5 3 0 2 1 1 73 14%
2004-05 4 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 11 4%
Total (N) 184 88 42 29 11 6 7 7 374 100%
Total (%) 49% 24% 11% 8% 3% 2% 2% 2% 100% --
Degree in 4 Years or Less 100 36 14 10 1 4 3 3 171 46%
Degree in 5 Years or Less 128 47 18 16 3 5 3 4 224 60%
Degree in 6 Years or Less 147 56 23 19 5 5 4 5 264 71%
Degree in 10 Years or Less 164 73 33 23 7 6 6 5 317 85%
Data Sources: Gradfile06 and Sbgstdn+Shrlgpa
Examination of Time To Degree Completion (2008) Page 5
Table 9. 2006-07 Bachelor's Degree Recipients by Year of Entry to CCSU and Total
Credits Earned, All Recipients
Credits Earned
Below 130- 140- 150- 160- 170- 180-
130 139 149 159 169 179 189 190+ Total
Entry Year N N N N N N N N N %
1996-97 and prior years 46 14 12 12 6 2 3 6 101 6%
1997-98 6 1 4 2 2 1 1 1 18 1%
1998-99 15 7 3 6 1 2 0 1 35 2%
1999-00 11 6 12 3 3 1 1 0 37 2%
2000-01 43 18 10 7 5 1 3 2 89 6%
2001-02 90 63 22 16 7 0 0 1 199 13%
2002-03 287 115 57 23 9 2 3 0 496 32%
2003-04 187 73 33 23 13 6 1 2 338 22%
2004-05 116 48 24 11 6 1 1 3 210 13%
2005-06 28 11 6 2 1 1 0 0 49 3%
Total (N) 829 356 183 105 53 17 13 16 1572 100%
Total (%) 53% 23% 12% 7% 3% 1% 1% 1% 100% --
Degree in 4 Years or Less 331 132 63 36 20 8 2 5 597 38%
Degree in 5 Years or Less 618 247 120 59 29 10 5 5 1093 70%
Degree in 6 Years or Less 708 310 142 75 36 10 5 6 1292 82%
Degree in 10 Years or Less 783 342 171 93 47 15 10 10 1471 94%
Data Sources: Gradfile07 and Sbgstdn+Shrlgpa
Table 10. 2006-07 Bachelor's Degree Recipients by Year of Entry to CCSU and Total
Credits Earned, Full-Time Status at Entry
Credits Earned
Below 130- 140- 150- 160- 170- 180-
130 139 149 159 169 179 189 190+ Total
Entry Year N N N N N N N N N %
1996-97 and prior years 22 6 4 6 3 0 1 2 44 4%
1997-98 2 0 2 1 1 0 0 1 7 1%
1998-99 11 3 0 5 1 0 0 1 21 2%
1999-00 8 3 7 3 1 1 1 0 24 2%
2000-01 25 11 4 4 1 1 2 2 50 4%
2001-02 77 48 17 14 4 0 0 0 160 13%
2002-03 250 92 47 20 7 1 2 0 419 35%
2003-04 158 58 18 19 11 3 1 2 270 22%
2004-05 94 41 21 8 6 1 1 1 173 14%
2005-06 23 8 5 2 1 1 0 0 40 3%
Total (N) 670 270 125 82 36 8 8 9 1208 100%
Total (%) 55% 22% 10% 7% 3% 1% 1% 1% 100% --
Degree in 4 Years or Less 275 107 44 29 18 5 2 3 483 40%
Degree in 5 Years or Less 525 199 91 49 25 6 4 3 902 75%
Degree in 6 Years or Less 602 247 108 63 29 6 4 3 1062 88%
Degree in 10 Years or Less 648 264 121 76 33 8 7 7 1164 96%
Data Sources: Gradfile07 and Sbgstdn+Shrlgpa
Examination of Time To Degree Completion (2008) Page 6
Table 11. 2006-07 Bachelor's Degree Recipients by Year of Entry to CCSU and Total
Credits Earned, Part-Time Status at Entry
Credits Earned
Below 130- 140- 150- 160- 170- 180-
130 139 149 159 169 179 189 190+ Total
Entry Year N N N N N N N N N %
1996-97 and prior years 24 8 8 6 3 2 2 4 57 16%
1997-98 4 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 11 3%
1998-99 4 4 3 1 0 2 0 0 14 4%
1999-00 3 3 5 0 2 0 0 0 13 4%
2000-01 18 7 6 3 4 0 0 0 38 10%
2001-02 13 15 5 2 3 0 1 1 40 11%
2002-03 37 23 10 3 2 1 0 0 76 21%
2003-04 29 15 15 4 2 3 1 0 69 19%
2004-05 22 7 3 3 0 0 0 2 37 10%
2005-06 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 2%
Total (N) 159 86 58 23 17 9 5 7 364 100%
Total (%) 44% 24% 16% 6% 5% 2% 1% 2% 100% --
Degree in 4 Years or Less 56 25 19 7 2 3 1 2 115 32%
Degree in 5 Years or Less 93 48 29 10 4 4 1 2 191 52%
Degree in 6 Years or Less 106 63 34 12 7 4 2 3 231 63%
Degree in 10 Years or Less 135 78 50 17 14 7 3 3 307 84%
Data Sources: Gradfile07 and Sbgstdn+Shrlgpa
Table 12. 2007-08 Bachelor's Degree Recipients by Year of Entry to CCSU and Total
Credits Earned, All Recipients
Credits Earned
Below 130- 140- 150- 160- 170- 180-
130 139 149 159 169 179 189 190+ Total
Entry Year N N N N N N N N N %
1997-98 and prior years 38 9 10 3 3 1 3 5 72 4%
1998-99 20 13 2 4 2 0 0 1 42 3%
1999-00 12 10 3 2 0 0 0 0 27 2%
2000-01 18 13 6 4 4 1 1 0 47 3%
2001-02 45 22 19 7 3 0 1 3 100 6%
2002-03 100 47 29 30 15 5 1 0 227 14%
2003-04 263 110 46 27 9 2 4 2 463 28%
2004-05 235 83 35 18 13 4 4 6 398 24%
2005-06 89 51 22 16 3 4 5 7 197 12%
2006-07 31 16 14 1 3 1 1 1 68 4%
Total (N) 851 374 186 112 55 18 20 25 1641 100%
Total (%) 52% 23% 11% 7% 3% 1% 1% 2% 100% --
Degree in 4 Years or Less 355 150 71 35 19 9 10 14 663 40%
Degree in 5 Years or Less 618 260 117 62 28 11 14 16 1126 69%
Degree in 6 Years or Less 718 307 146 92 43 16 15 16 1353 82%
Degree in 10 Years or Less 813 365 176 109 52 17 17 20 1569 96%
Data Sources: Gradfile08 and Sbgstdn+Shrlgpa
Examination of Time To Degree Completion (2008) Page 7
Table 13. 2007-08 Bachelor's Degree Recipients by Year of Entry to CCSU and Total
Credits Earned, Full-Time Status at Entry
Credits Earned
Below 130- 140- 150- 160- 170- 180-
130 139 149 159 169 179 189 190+ Total
Entry Year N N N N N N N N N %
1997-98 and prior years 14 4 3 1 2 0 0 1 25 2%
1998-99 13 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 20 2%
1999-00 7 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 14 1%
2000-01 8 9 4 2 3 0 1 0 27 2%
2001-02 33 13 12 3 1 0 0 1 63 5%
2002-03 80 39 22 25 12 3 1 0 182 15%
2003-04 232 90 40 22 7 1 4 1 397 33%
2004-05 213 65 24 13 12 4 3 2 336 28%
2005-06 78 41 17 13 3 3 3 5 163 13%
2006-07 26 13 10 1 2 1 1 54 4%
Total (N) 704 282 135 82 43 11 13 11 1281 100%
Total (%) 55% 22% 11% 6% 3% 1% 1% 1% 100% --
Degree in 4 Years or Less 317 119 51 27 17 7 7 8 553 43%
Degree in 5 Years or Less 549 209 91 49 24 8 11 9 950 74%
Degree in 6 Years or Less 629 248 113 74 36 11 12 9 1132 88%
Degree in 10 Years or Less 690 278 132 81 41 11 13 10 1256 98%
Data Sources: Gradfile08 and Sbgstdn+Shrlgpa
Table 14. 2007-08 Bachelor's Degree Recipients by Year of Entry to CCSU and Total
Credits Earned, Part-Time Status at Entry
Credits Earned
Below 130- 140- 150- 160- 170- 180-
130 139 149 159 169 179 189 190+ Total
Entry Year N N N N N N N N N %
1997-98 and prior years 24 5 7 2 1 1 3 4 47 13%
1998-99 7 10 0 3 1 0 0 1 22 6%
1999-00 5 5 2 1 0 0 0 0 13 4%
2000-01 10 4 2 2 1 1 0 0 20 5%
2001-02 12 9 7 4 2 0 1 2 37 10%
2002-03 20 8 7 5 3 2 0 0 45 12%
2003-04 31 20 6 5 2 1 0 1 66 18%
2004-05 22 18 11 5 1 0 1 4 62 17%
2005-06 11 10 5 3 0 1 2 2 34 9%
2006-07 5 3 4 0 1 1 0 0 14 4%
Total (N) 147 192 51 30 12 7 7 14 360 100%
Total (%) 41% 26% 14% 8% 3% 2% 2% 4% 100% --
Degree in 4 Years or Less 38 31 20 8 2 2 3 6 110 31%
Degree in 5 Years or Less 69 51 26 13 4 3 3 7 176 49%
Degree in 6 Years or Less 89 59 33 18 7 5 3 7 221 61%
Degree in 10 Years or Less 123 87 44 28 11 6 4 10 313 87%
Data Sources: Gradfile08 and Sbgstdn+Shrlgpa
Examination of Time To Degree Completion (2008) Page 8