Student Achievement and Success

Retention and Graduation Rates

Trinity's Retention Committee has established acceptable, preferred, and ideal retention and graduation rates based on these rates at peer institutions. Among first-year students starting in 2018, 92% were retained to the second year.

First-Year Retention

Figure 1: First-Year Retention Rate Targets and Actuals.

Trinity University closely monitors both first-year retention rates. First-year retention averages about 91%. Trinity has established acceptable, preferred, and ideal retention rates. The ideal and acceptable values are the upper and lower limits of a 90% prediction interval for a regression model based on the characteristics of the students in the incoming class and the retention and graduation rates of reference institutions. For the 2016 entering cohort, Trinity’s retention rate from first to second year (89%) was between the acceptable and preferred retention rate. For the 2017 and 2018 entering cohorts, Trinity’s retention rate from first to second year (91% and 92%, respectively) has exceeded the preferred retention rate.

First-Year Graduation

Figure 2: First-Year Graduation Rate Targets and Actuals.

Trinity’s ideal, preferred, and acceptable graduation rates are also defined using a linear regression calculation based on incoming student statistics and those of comparison institutions, just as the retention rates are calculated. For students beginning as first-time full-time degree-seeking students in Falls of 2011, 2012, and 2013, Trinity’s six-year graduation rates are below the acceptable level.  In 2011, the six-year graduation rate was 0.1% under the acceptable range. In 2012, the six-year graduation rate was 1.8% under the acceptable range. In 2013, the six-year graduation rate was 1.3% under the acceptable range.

Among first-year students starting in 2013, 76% graduated in six years or less.

Outcomes

Trinity University regularly surveys graduating seniors six months following May graduation. Outcomes for graduates based on these survey results are shown in the table below.

To attempt to account for all graduates, not just those who reply to the six months out survey, the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness combines the results with information obtained from a survey done at the time of graduation as well as with information from follow-ups conducted by the Office of Career Services. Data from this first destination census are provided below.

First Destinations of May 2020 Graduates

Acceptable, preferred, and ideal targets for the percentage of students still seeking employment six months following graduation are 10%, 6%, and 2% respectively. The true percentage of those seeking employments is likely to lie between the percentage obtained from survey respondents and the percentage estimated from the first destination census. The graph below shows both percentages and the targets.

Medical School Acceptance Rates

Trinity's Health Professions Advisory Committee monitors acceptance rates to medical school. Five percentage points above the national average rate has been designated as preferred while exceeding the national average acceptance rate has been designated as acceptable.

Trinity University's Health Professions Advisory Committee writes a letter of evaluation for every student who applies. Some schools have an internal selection process and will write letters, give practice interviews, etc. for only the highest-achieving students.

Rates reported here may not be comparable to rates reported by other institutions. Latest available figures indicate a 36% medical school acceptance rate among Trinity graduates during the 2017-2018 admissions cycle.

Law School Acceptance Rates

The Prelaw Advisory Committee monitors acceptance rates to law schools and has set an acceptable threshold of 60% of applicants being admitted to at least one ABA-accredited law school. Latest available figures report a 79% law school acceptance rate and 61% matriculation rate for Trinity graduates.