The University identified both retention and graduation rates as measures to document student achievement in its 2012-2018 Strategic Plan. The University tracks the success of first-time, full-time undergraduate degree seeking students through federal retention and graduation rates. The University's retention rate is calculated as the percentage of first-time, full-time undergraduate students who re-enroll the following year. The University tracks retention rates from fall to fall. The retention rate for the Fall 2016 cohort was 71 percent.
The 2012-2018 Strategic Plan outlines the threshold for achievement relative to student retention; the University's goal was to increase retention to 80% by Fall 2018. The University implemented a number of initiatives in an attempt to meet the threshold for achievement set for retention rates in the 2012-2018 Strategic Plan. The University developed a comprehensive university-wide retention plan and established a Student Success System to provide an array of centralized student support services.
Retention Rates
| Fall 2012 |
Fall 2013 |
Fall 2014 |
Fall 2015 |
Fall 2016 |
Fall 2017 |
| 71% |
74% |
72% |
77% |
71% |
73% |
Source: Norfolk State University Fact Book 2013-2017