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Seton Hall University

Seton Hall's Four-Year Graduation Rate 24 Points Higher than Last Reported National Average  

Seton Hall Pirate logo banner with orange leaves in the backgroundSeton Hall's graduation rates have risen dramatically over the last six years, reflecting the University's strong commitment to student success as well as enhancing the outcomes and opportunities for its graduates. 

The Class of 2019, which entered Seton Hall in the fall of 2015, graduated in four years at a rate of 66 percent – representing an improvement of more than 11 points over the class that entered back in the fall of 2010 (Class of 2014) and 24 percentage points higher than the last reported national average across all 4-year institutions, which was 42 percent for the Class of 2015.

Three Year Graduation Rate at Seton Hall Tripled, Three and a Half Year Rate Doubled
In addition to the impressive gains in the four year graduation rate, the numbers for the three-year graduation rate for the Seton Hall class which entered in Fall 2016 is 3.5 percent – nearly triple the rate for those who entered in the Fall of 2014, and two to three times the rates achieved by any of the prior eight cohorts.

The numbers for the three-and-a-half year graduation rate for the class that entered Seton Hall in Fall 2016 and Fall 2015 are also impressive. The class that entered in 2015 graduated in 3.5 years at a rate of 6.7 percent. The three-and-a-half-year graduation rate for the class that entered in Fall 2016 is an astounding 7.8 percent, more than double the rate for those who entered in the fall of 2014. Prior to 2014, the rate ranged from 2.6 to 4.6 percent. 

More than 11 Percent Graduate in Less than Four Years
A relative rarity on the national level, the national averages for the three-year and three-and-a-half year graduates rates are not reported to or computed by IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), which is a system of interrelated surveys conducted annually by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics. At Seton Hall, however, the number of graduates that complete their studies and earn degrees in less than four years amounts to a significant portion of the student body, totaling more than 11 percent for the class that entered in 2016. 

"These graduation rate numbers are more data-driven examples of Seton Hall rising," said Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management Alyssa McCloud. "Whether you look at graduation rate, employment rate, rate of salary or almost any other meaningful rate or ranking that you can think of – Seton Hall is either at the top or moving quickly in that direction."

Seton Hall Rising: Employment Outcomes, Salary, Rankings
A recent ranking derived from data on the U.S. Department of Education's "College Scorecard," showed Seton Hall to be first among all private colleges in New Jersey for jobs – placing higher and with better employment outcomes for its graduates than Princeton, Rutgers (New Brunswick, Newark and Camden), Monmouth University, Stevens Institute of Technology and Drew University. 

Top 12 Mid-Career Salary
 The jobs ranking came on the heels of Seton Hall being named among the top 12 percent of colleges in America for the mid-career salary of its alumni with average earnings of $103,800.

Compiled by PayScale Inc., "the world's leading provider of on-demand compensation data and software," the ranking was derived from the data of more than 3.5 million full-time, degree-holding employees from 1,736 schools.

Seton Hall, Ranked a Top College in America
The PayScale ranking is one of many that places Seton Hall among the best colleges in the nation. This academic year, Seton Hall was again recognized as one of the "Top Colleges in America" by the Princeton Review; a "Best College for your Money" by Money magazine; and a Forbes "Top College in America."

In the Forbes ranking for 2019, which looked at alumni salary and four additional criteria—student satisfaction, debt, on-time graduation rate and academic success—Seton Hall ranked higher than the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Over the last three years the number of applicants to Seton Hall has risen approximately 40%, breaking the record for applicants each year for five years running. The class of 2023, the largest class in Seton Hall's history, has continued the trend of rising academic achievement and had the highest average SAT and ACT scores in Seton Hall history.

"Our reputation for academic excellence and the objective data that shows graduation rate, employment rate, and salary outcomes for our students speaks for itself," said McCloud. "And the best and the brightest high school students are listening — and coming to Seton Hall in record numbers." 

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