*   IR Series
  Office of Institutional Research - Box 5161 - 372-6144
  Tennessee Technological University

Vol. 05-06, No. 28   March 1, 2006

Retention Rates for First-Time Freshmen by Gender
This report contains current information about Fall-to-Spring and Fall-to-Fall retention rates for first-time freshmen at Tennessee Tech, by gender.  Each freshman cohort consists of all first-time, full-time freshmen who entered the University in the Fall semester or the immediately preceding Summer.

Below is a summary of retention rates by gender and unit.  These rates were calculated as weighted averages for the entering freshman classes of Fall 2000, Fall 2001, Fall 2002, Fall 2003, Fall 2004, and Fall 2005.  In subsequent sections, Tables 1 and 9 provide detailed information for the overall cohorts, and Tables 2 through 8 and Tables 10 through 16 provide corresponding information for each gender, the units, and for those students classified in General Curriculum.  Tables 2 through 8 and Tables 10 through 16 are mutually exclusive, and students are grouped according to their college and major in their first Fall term.  Retention information is about retention at the University and not necessarily retention within the original unit.  Some freshmen migrate from the original unit (e.g., Engineering) to another unit (e.g., Arts and Sciences).


Fall-to-Spring Retention Rate for First-Time Freshmen
What percentage of first-time freshmen in Fall semester return for
their Spring semester at Tennessee Tech?
Female Male
University 90.1% 87.7%
Agriculture and Human Ecology 86.8% 85.0%
Arts and Sciences 89.0% 87.0%
Business Administration 93.2% 86.8%
Education 90.4% 87.6%
Engineering 94.4% 91.9%
Nursing 94.2% 90.0%
General Curriculum 88.6% 83.0%
One-Year Retention Rate for First-Time Freshmen
What percentage of first-time freshmen return for their second year
at Tennessee Tech?
Female Male
University 74.4% 69.3%
Agriculture and Human Ecology 71.1% 67.2%
Arts and Sciences 73.5% 68.1%
Business Administration 81.8% 66.7%
Education 79.5% 70.6%
Engineering 84.5% 78.0%
Nursing 78.4% 83.3%
General Curriculum 66.8% 60.6%

Notes:
  1. Throughout this report, weighted averages were calculated with the available data, to a maximum of six cohorts. For example, the average one-semester retention rate (from first Fall term to first Spring term) was calculated as a weighted average from six cohorts: the entering freshmen of Fall 2000, Fall 2001, Fall 2002, Fall 2003, Fall 2004, and Fall 2005. The average one-year retention rate (from first Fall term to second Fall term) was calculated from five cohorts: the entering freshmen of Fall 2000, Fall 2001, Fall 2002, Fall 2003, and Fall 2004.  The average retention rate at the "Third Fall Term" and "Third Spring Term" used the four available cohorts.
  2. Information about retention by department and gender for the Fall 2005 cohort is included in Appendices A and B.
  3. In this report, "Independent Programs" is not included as a single unit.  Instead, freshmen classified with a major of "General Curriculum" are included, but "Pre-Law" and "General Health Studies" freshmen are excluded.  However, Pre-Law and General Health Studies are included in Appendices A and B.
  4. This is the first iteration of this report.


FEMALE FIRST-TIME FRESHMEN

Table 1:     University  --  Female
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 609 545 450 436 406 387
    89.49% 73.89% 71.59% 66.67% 63.55%
2001 529 462 378 356 307 289
    87.33% 71.46% 67.30% 58.03% 54.63%
2002 585 526 429 399 364 342
    89.91% 73.33% 68.21% 62.22% 58.46%
2003 577 519 433 404 368 357
    89.95% 75.04% 70.02% 63.78% 61.87%
2004 612 568 476 442    
    92.81% 77.78% 72.22%    
2005 624 565      
    90.54%        
Weighted        
Average:   90.07% 74.38% 69.95% 62.83% 59.78%
Table 2:     Agriculture and Human Ecology  --  Female
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 34 30 22 22 20 19
    88.24% 64.71% 64.71% 58.82% 55.88%
2001 42 37 30 29 26 24
    88.10% 71.43% 69.05% 61.90% 57.14%
2002 43 38 32 31 30 26
    88.37% 74.42% 72.09% 69.77% 60.47%
2003 37 30 27 25 20 22
    81.08% 72.97% 67.57% 54.05% 59.46%
2004 34 29 24 20    
    85.29% 70.59% 58.82%    
2005 45 40    
    88.89%        
Weighted        
Average:   86.81% 71.05% 66.84% 61.54% 58.33%
Table 3:     Arts and Sciences  --  Female
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 154 139 116 112 106 105
    90.26% 75.32% 72.73% 68.83% 68.18%
2001 123 107 89 83 71 72
    86.99% 72.36% 67.48% 57.72% 58.54%
2002 131 116 99 96 90 85
    88.55% 75.57% 73.28% 68.70% 64.89%
2003 157 139 118 114 107 103
    88.54% 75.16% 72.61% 68.15% 65.61%
2004 148 133 102 95    
    89.86% 68.92% 64.19%    
2005 147 131    
    89.12%        
Weighted        
Average:   88.95% 73.49% 70.13% 66.19% 64.60%
Table 4:     Business Administration  --  Female
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 88 82 72 67 64 61
    93.18% 81.82% 76.14% 72.73% 69.32%
2001 73 65 58 56 51 45
    89.04% 79.45% 76.71% 69.86% 61.64%
2002 68 66 57 54 50 45
    97.06% 83.82% 79.41% 73.53% 66.18%
2003 74 69 60 52 48 47
    93.24% 81.08% 70.27% 64.86% 63.51%
2004 87 84 72 69    
    96.55% 82.76% 79.31%    
2005 65 58    
    89.23%        
Weighted        
Average:   93.19% 81.79% 76.41% 70.30% 65.35%
Table 5:     Education  --  Female
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 107 92 83 79 79 75
    85.98% 77.57% 73.83% 73.83% 70.09%
2001 103 89 79 74 68 60
    86.41% 76.70% 71.84% 66.02% 58.25%
2002 105 98 78 75 71 70
    93.33% 74.29% 71.43% 67.62% 66.67%
2003 110 101 87 83 77 75
    91.82% 79.09% 75.45% 70.00% 68.18%
2004 111 106 99 91    
    95.50% 89.19% 81.98%    
2005 140 125    
    89.29%        
Weighted        
Average:   90.38% 79.48% 75.00% 69.41% 65.88%
Table 6:     Engineering  --  Female
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 52 50 47 47 43 42
    96.15% 90.38% 90.38% 82.69% 80.77%
2001 30 28 24 24 23 23
    93.33% 80.00% 80.00% 76.67% 76.67%
2002 27 25 22 22 18 18
    92.59% 81.48% 81.48% 66.67% 66.67%
2003 26 24 21 21 20 21
    92.31% 80.77% 80.77% 76.92% 80.77%
2004 33 32 28 28    
    96.97% 84.85% 84.85%    
2005 27 25      
    92.59%        
Weighted        
Average:   94.36% 84.52% 84.52% 77.04% 77.04%
Table 7:     Nursing  --  Female
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 41 38 32 31 27 24
    92.68% 78.05% 75.61% 65.85% 58.54%
2001 37 33 26 23 16 16
    89.19% 70.27% 62.16% 43.24% 43.24%
2002 81 74 63 58 50 47
    91.36% 77.78% 71.60% 61.73% 58.02%
2003 68 67 57 50 43 38
    98.53% 83.82% 73.53% 63.24% 55.88%
2004 116 109 91 84    
    93.97% 78.45% 72.41%    
2005 71 69      
    97.18%        
Weighted        
Average:   94.20% 78.43% 71.72% 59.91% 55.07%
Table 8:   General Curriculum (Major = 'GECU')  --  Female
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 94 82 63 61 57 54
    87.23% 67.02% 64.89% 60.64% 57.45%
2001 87 79 58 55 45 46
    90.80% 66.67% 63.22% 51.72% 52.87%
2002 92 82 60 49 41 38
    89.13% 65.22% 53.26% 44.57% 41.30%
2003 83 71 52 49 42 41
    85.54% 62.65% 59.04% 50.60% 49.40%
2004 78 71 57 52    
    91.03% 73.08% 66.67%    
2005 76 67      
    88.16%        
Weighted        
Average:   88.63% 66.82% 61.29% 51.97% 50.28%



MALE FIRST-TIME FRESHMEN

Table 9:     University  --  Male
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 698 619 483 446 399 379
    88.68% 69.20% 63.90% 57.16% 54.30%
2001 760 657 526 477 448 416
    86.45% 69.21% 62.76% 58.95% 54.74%
2002 793 703 564 509 453 430
    88.65% 71.12% 64.19% 57.12% 54.22%
2003 797 688 542 516 473 473
    86.32% 68.01% 64.74% 59.35% 59.35%
2004 866 764 599 558    
    88.22% 69.17% 64.43%    
2005 786 692      
    88.04%        
Weighted        
Average:   87.72% 69.34% 64.03% 58.17% 55.71%
Table 10:     Agriculture and Human Ecology  --  Male
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 31 29 20 20 16 17
    93.55% 64.52% 64.52% 51.61% 54.84%
2001 25 20 18 19 19 20
    80.00% 72.00% 76.00% 76.00% 80.00%
2002 19 15 14 14 12 13
    78.95% 73.68% 73.68% 63.16% 68.42%
2003 28 23 15 15 12 13
    82.14% 53.57% 53.57% 42.86% 46.43%
2004 31 28 23 19    
    90.32% 74.19% 61.29%    
2005 26 21    
    80.77%        
Weighted        
Average:   85.00% 67.16% 64.93% 57.28% 61.17%
Table 11:     Arts and Sciences  --  Male
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 114 99 75 66 67 61
    86.84% 65.79% 57.89% 58.77% 53.51%
2001 138 121 94 87 83 81
    87.68% 68.12% 63.04% 60.14% 58.70%
2002 144 130 100 86 72 73
    90.28% 69.44% 59.72% 50.00% 50.69%
2003 132 116 100 95 87 84
    87.88% 75.76% 71.97% 65.91% 63.64%
2004 168 146 105 98    
    86.90% 62.50% 58.33%    
2005 142 117    
    82.39%        
Weighted        
Average:   86.99% 68.10% 62.07% 58.52% 56.63%
Table 12:     Business Administration  --  Male
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 92 79 67 60 51 46
    85.87% 72.83% 65.22% 55.43% 50.00%
2001 103 88 68 61 54 47
    85.44% 66.02% 59.22% 52.43% 45.63%
2002 99 91 73 71 63 60
    91.92% 73.74% 71.72% 63.64% 60.61%
2003 98 82 62 61 57 57
    83.67% 63.27% 62.24% 58.16% 58.16%
2004 119 101 71 69    
    84.87% 59.66% 57.98%    
2005 108 96    
    88.89%        
Weighted        
Average:   86.75% 66.73% 63.01% 57.40% 53.57%
Table 13:     Education  --  Male
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 39 32 27 25 21 19
    82.05% 69.23% 64.10% 53.85% 48.72%
2001 45 36 27 22 22 19
    80.00% 60.00% 48.89% 48.89% 42.22%
2002 46 42 36 31 31 29
    91.30% 78.26% 67.39% 67.39% 63.04%
2003 35 27 22 22 21 21
    77.14% 62.86% 62.86% 60.00% 60.00%
2004 53 51 42 40    
    96.23% 79.25% 75.47%    
2005 49 46    
    93.88%        
Weighted        
Average:   87.64% 70.64% 64.22% 57.58% 53.33%
Table 14:     Engineering  --  Male
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 229 213 182 171 159 159
    93.01% 79.48% 74.67% 69.43% 69.43%
2001 265 247 212 198 190 183
    93.21% 80.00% 74.72% 71.70% 69.06%
2002 264 241 204 191 177 170
    91.29% 77.27% 72.35% 67.05% 64.39%
2003 305 280 240 226 218 220
    91.80% 78.69% 74.10% 71.48% 72.13%
2004 308 275 231 218    
    89.29% 75.00% 70.78%    
2005 280 262      
    93.57%        
Weighted        
Average:   91.94% 77.97% 73.23% 69.99% 68.86%
Table 15:     Nursing  --  Male
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 3 3 2 2 1 1
    100.00% 66.67% 66.67% 33.33% 33.33%
2001 1 1 1 1 0 0
    100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2002 8 6 8 4 3 2
    75.00% 100.00% 50.00% 37.50% 25.00%
2003 5 5 4 3 3 2
    100.00% 80.00% 60.00% 60.00% 40.00%
2004 13 11 10 9    
    84.62% 76.92% 69.23%    
2005 10 10      
    100.00%        
Weighted        
Average:   90.00% 83.33% 63.33% 41.18% 29.41%
Table 16:     General Curriculum (Major = 'GECU')  --  Male
Entering First First Second Second Third Third
Fall Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Class Term Term Term Term Term Term
2000 136 118 82 74 63 59
    86.76% 60.29% 54.41% 46.32% 43.38%
2001 124 98 76 70 60 54
    79.03% 61.29% 56.45% 48.39% 43.55%
2002 158 132 97 86 76 67
    83.54% 61.39% 54.43% 48.10% 42.41%
2003 163 130 86 81 67 69
    79.75% 52.76% 49.69% 41.10% 42.33%
2004 166 144 112 99    
    86.75% 67.47% 59.64%    
2005 147 120      
    81.63%        
Weighted        
Average:   83.00% 60.64% 54.89% 45.78% 42.86%



Appendix A

One-Semester Rates for Female First-Time Freshmen,
By Department

Fall 2005 Cohort 
 FIRST   FIRST
  FALL   SPRING
UNIT    DEPT     TERM    TERM         PERCENT
---------------------------------------------

 AH     AGRI       26      23      .    88.46
        HEC        19      17      .    89.47
---------------------------------------------
 AH                45      40      .    88.89
---------------------------------------------

 AS     BIOL       23      20      .    86.96
        CAS         3       2      .    66.67
        CHEM       42      40      .    95.24
        EASC        1       1      .   100.00
        ENG        17      16      .    94.12
        FL          8       7      .    87.50
        HIST        5       3      .    60.00
        MATH        2       2      .   100.00
        PHYS        1       1      .   100.00
        POLS        3       2      .    66.67
        PSY        31      29      .    93.55
        SOC        11       8      .    72.73
---------------------------------------------
 AS               147     131      .    89.12
---------------------------------------------

 BA     BBUS       64      57      .    89.06
        EFM         1       1      .   100.00
---------------------------------------------
 BA                65      58      .    89.23
---------------------------------------------

 ED      CI       105      95      .    90.48
        HPED        3       2      .    66.67
        MUSA       32      28      .    87.50
---------------------------------------------
 ED               140     125      .    89.29
---------------------------------------------


 FIRST   FIRST
  FALL   SPRING
UNIT    DEPT     TERM    TERM         PERCENT
---------------------------------------------
 EN      BE         5       5      .   100.00
        CEE         5       5      .   100.00
        CHE         9       8      .    88.89
        ECE         6       5      .    83.33
         ME         2       2      .   100.00
---------------------------------------------
 EN                27      25      .    92.59
---------------------------------------------

 IP     GECU       76      67      .    88.16
        GEPL        4       3      .    75.00
        GHS        49      47      .    95.92
---------------------------------------------
 IP               129     117      .    90.70
---------------------------------------------

 NU     NURS       71      69      .    97.18
---------------------------------------------
 NU                71      69      .    97.18
---------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------
 University       624     565      .    90.54
---------------------------------------------


Appendix B

One-Semester Rates for Male First-Time Freshmen,
By Department

Fall 2005 Cohort 
 FIRST   FIRST
  FALL   SPRING
UNIT    DEPT     TERM    TERM         PERCENT
---------------------------------------------

 AH     AGRI       25      20      .    80.00
        HEC         1       1      .   100.00
---------------------------------------------
 AH                26      21      .    80.77
---------------------------------------------

 AS     BIOL       18      12      .    66.67
        CAS         7       7      .   100.00
        CHEM       24      20      .    83.33
        CSC        38      33      .    86.84
        EASC        1       1      .   100.00
        ENG        10       8      .    80.00
        FL          1       1      .   100.00
        HIST       10       9      .    90.00
      IEP         1       .      .      .
        MATH        3       3      .   100.00
        PHYS        4       4      .   100.00
        POLS        6       6      .   100.00
        PSY        13      10      .    76.92
        SOC         6       3      .    50.00
---------------------------------------------
 AS               142     117      .    82.39
---------------------------------------------

 BA     BBUS      107      95      .    88.79
        EFM         1       1      .   100.00
---------------------------------------------
 BA               108      96      .    88.89
---------------------------------------------

 ED      CI        13      13      .   100.00
        HPED        7       6      .    85.71
        MUSA       29      27      .    93.10
---------------------------------------------
 ED                49      46      .    93.88
---------------------------------------------

 FIRST   FIRST
  FALL   SPRING
UNIT    DEPT     TERM    TERM         PERCENT
---------------------------------------------
 EN      BE        70      64      .    91.43
        CEE        39      37      .    94.87
        CHE        20      20      .   100.00
        ECE        54      50      .    92.59
        IME         3       2      .    66.67
         ME        91      86      .    94.51
        MIT         3       3      .   100.00
---------------------------------------------
 EN               280     262      .    93.57
---------------------------------------------
 IP     GECU      147     120      .    81.63
      GEPL        1       .      .      .
        GHS        23      20      .    86.96
---------------------------------------------
 IP               171     140      .    81.87
---------------------------------------------

 NU     NURS       10      10      .   100.00
---------------------------------------------
 NU                10      10      .   100.00
---------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------
 University       786     692      .    88.04
---------------------------------------------



E-Mail to: Office of Institutional Research
  [GJames@tntech.edu]


IR Series
[www.tntech.edu/ir/irseries.html]


IR Home
[www.tntech.edu/ir]