LCU Student Success Indicators
LCU is committed to engaging students for success and regularly evaluates progress toward institutional goals for average first-year retention rate, six-year graduation rate, and first destination outcomes for graduates. Student success goals are relevant to the LCU mission of Christ-centered transformative education and strategically support the broad institutional goals identified in the LCU 2027 Platinum Plan.
LCU Student Success Indicators:
- First-year retention rates for first-year, beginning college students
- Six-year graduation rates (as reported to IPEDS)
- First Destination Outcomes within six months of graduation (knowledge and placement rates for graduates)
Indicators are evaluated regularly to assess progress toward institutional goals and identify areas for improvement.
First year (Fall to Fall) retention rates for first-time in college (FTIC) students
• Retention Goal: Year over year improvement in average first-year retention rates for all FTIC students to achieve an overall average retention rate of 75% by Fall 2025.
• Comparison Threshold: First-year retention rate for first-time freshmen should remain above the 2018-2022 five-year average rate of 69.8%.
First-Year Retention Outcomes
Group | Threshold (2018-2022 average) | 2023 Retention | 2024 Retention | 2025 Retention |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average First-Year Retention Rate (all students) | 69.8% | 73.8% | 70.1% | 68.9% |
Analysis:
- Fall 2025 First-year retention average fell below goal rate and threshold rate.
Strategies to Improve First-Year Retention:
- Improve inter-departmental collaboration and processes to connect students who may be struggling with resources to help them succeed
- Implement retention-focused software to track concerns and response measures, implemented in the fall 2025 term.
- Improve faculty access to reporting options for students of concern and improve visibility and collaboration to better support students facing retention risks.
- Continue to identify early risk indicators through peer mentoring summer prior to fall start, early attendance concerns, midterm grade feedback, and advance registration concerns.
Six-year graduation rates
• Goal: Year over year improvement in average six-year graduation rates for all FTIC students.
• Comparison Threshold: Six-year graduation rates for first-time freshman should remain above the 2018-2022 five-year average rate.
Six-Year Graduation Outcomes:
Group | Threshold (2018-2022 averages) | Fall 2023 6-year Grad (2017 cohort) | Fall 2024 6-year Grad (2018 cohort) | Fall 2025 6-year Grad (2018 cohort) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All FTIC students (Goal A) | 47% | 47% | 51% | 49% |
Analysis:
- Fall 2025 average 6-year graduation outcomes exceeded the comparison threshold but did not improve over prior year.
Action Planning:
- Actions taken and planned to improve student retention are also focused on improving student graduation rates.
First Destination Outcomes (FDO) within 6 months of Graduation (knowledge and placement rates for graduates)
- Goal A (for overall First Destination Outcomes): LCU will achieve an overall Knowledge and Placement rate of 90% or higher
- Goal B (for disaggregated FDO by Academic Department): Each academic department will achieve FDO knowledge and placement rates of 90% or higher.
- Comparison Threshold: LCU knowledge and placement rates will exceed the rates for NACE Private Non-Profit and Carnegie Masters Small cohorts (for the most recent comparison year)
First Destination Outcomes (for May 2025 graduates)
Department | Knowledge Rate | Placement Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral Sciences | 62% | 100% |
| Biblical Studies | 100% | 91% |
| Business Administration | 92% | 88% |
| Chemistry & Biochemistry | 100% | 100% |
| Education | 100% | 100% |
| Exercise & Sport Science | 100% | 96% |
| Humanities | 100% | 86% |
| Integrated Business | 92% | 91% |
| Mathematics | 100% | 100% |
| Natural Sciences | 100% | 87% |
| Nursing Undergraduate | 100% | 100% |
| Social Work and Criminal Justice | 79% | 100% |
| Grand Total | 93% | 94% |
Analysis:
- Goal A: LCU achieved an overall Knowledge Rate of 93.1% and Placement Rate of 93.9% for the May 2025 graduates within 6 months of graduation, exceeding the goal of 90% for each.
- Goal B: 85% of academic departments (11 of 13) achieved knowledge rates of at least 90% for their May 2025 graduates. 10 of 13 departments reported Placement Rates higher than 90%.
- LCU First Destination Outcomes, including Knowledge and Placement rates as well as the percentage of graduates in employed full-time exceeded averages for Private Non-Profit and Carnegie Masters Small institution for the 2023 NACE data.
Knowledge | Placement | FT Emp. | Continuing ED | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCU May 2025 Graduates | 93% | 94% | 88% | 22% |
| NACE 2024 Private Non-Profit | 72% | 92% | 55% | 24% |
| NACE 2024 Carnegie Masters Small | 66% | 80% | 51% | 19% |
Action Planning:
- Develop an interactive dashboard to increase visibility of FDO trend data.