Student Achievement
The purpose of Florida National University (FNU) is to contribute to the education of a population of diverse, presently predominantly Hispanic, cultures. The institution evaluates achievement of its purpose using the criteria of retention rate, 150% graduation rate, and job placement rate, which are commonly used to assess student achievement in higher education. Each criterion is assessed annually as a part of the institutional effectiveness process, allowing the institution to monitor and evaluate student success and achievement within the context of its mission.
Retention Rate
The first-year retention rate is calculated based on the percentage of students who were newly enrolled in the Fall semester of the previous year and were still enrolled in the Fall semester of the following year e.g., the first-year retention rate for 2025 indicates the percentage of students who were newly enrolled in Fall 2024 and were still enrolled in Fall 2025.
| First-Year Retention Rate | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Expected Outcome |
75% |
75% |
75% |
75% |
75% |
|
Actual Outcome |
65% |
58% |
50% |
70% |
70% |
Graduation Rate
The 150% graduation rate is calculated based on the percentage of students who enter and complete their program of study within 150% of their program length (e.g., 6 years for a 4-year bachelor’s, 3 years for a 2-year associate’s). This is a standard U.S. Department of Education metric used to track completion, including students who take extra time or transfer, providing a more complete picture than the 100% (on-time) rates. Â
| Calendar Year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Expected Outcome |
60% |
60% |
60% |
60% |
60% |
|
Actual Outcome |
50% |
46% |
45% |
47% |
46% |
Placement Rate
Placement rate refers to the graduates who are placed in their field of study within the year of their graduation e.g., a student who graduated in 2025 and was also placed in their field of study in 2025.
| Calendar Year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Expected Outcome |
70% |
70% |
70% |
70% |
70% |
|
Actual Outcome |
69% |
71% |
80% |
70% |
78% |