Student Achievement

Eight-Year Graduation Rate (Student Achievement Measure-1):

Graduation rates are commonly measured at 150% of normal time (six years for a four-year baccalaureate degree), although it is increasingly common to measure graduation rates at 200% of normal time as well (eight years for a four-year baccalaureate degree). Graduation rates, while not a perfect measure, are important because they provide an insight into how many students are finishing their degrees in a timely manner once they enroll. Both rates for Baptist University of Florida are reported below.

The 8-year graduation rate reported below is the IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) Outcome Measures 8-year Award Rate. This number represents a large cross-section of students who began their studies in a particular cohort year. This graduation rate tracks the progress of first-time, non-first-time, full-time, and part-time degree-seeking students who began their studies in a particular cohort year.

This rate is Baptist University of Florida's selected SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) Key Student Completion Indicator or “KSCI.”

Institutional Goal

Baptist University of Florida has set a goal of maintaining a minimum 34% graduation rate as measured by the IPEDS Outcome Measures Eight Year Award Rate for undergraduate students. The 34% minimum goal for the eight-year graduation rate is based on the average of the 2016-2020 IPEDS Outcome Measures graduation rates for Baptist University of Florida (46%). That average was then reduced by 25% to arrive at a figure that would account for fluctuating rates of student achievement, unpredicted economic factors impacting student perseverance, family and health complications, and any other mitigating factors to student success that might impact students in a smaller, open-admission institution of higher learning such as Baptist University of Florida.

Conversely, Baptist University of Florida has set an aspirational goal of reaching a 58% graduation rate as measured by the IPEDS Outcome Measures Eight Year Award Rate for undergraduate students. The 58% aspirational goal for the eight-year graduation rate is based on that same average of the 2016-2020 Outcome Measures graduation rates for Baptist University of Florida, but was then increased by 25% to arrive at a figure that would demonstrate significant achievement for a smaller, open-admission institution of higher learning such as Baptist University of Florida.

Eight-Year Graduation Rate for the 2022-2023 Academic Year:

(*Key Student Completion Indicator) The most current 8-year graduation rate (200% of normal time, based on the 2014 Freshman cohort) is 51%.

Six-Year Graduation Rate (Student Achievement Measure-2):

Baptist University of Florida also tracks traditional six-year graduation rates reported through the IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System). This graduation rate tracks the progress of first-time, full-time, degree seeking students who began their studies in a particular cohort year.

Institutional Goal

Baptist University of Florida has set a goal of maintaining a minimum 39% graduation rate as measured by the IPEDS Traditional Six-Year Graduation Rate for undergraduate students. The 39% minimum goal for the eight-year graduation rate is based on the average of the 2016-2020 IPEDS Graduation Rates for Baptist University of Florida (52%). That average was then reduced by 25% to arrive at a figure that would account for fluctuating rates of student achievement, unpredicted economic factors impacting student perseverance, family and health complications, and any other mitigating factors to student success that might impact students in a smaller, open-admission institution of higher learning such as Baptist University of Florida.

Conversely, Baptist University of Florida has set an aspirational goal of reaching a 65% graduation rate as measured by the IPEDS Traditional Six-Year Graduation Rate for undergraduate students. The 65% aspirational goal for the six-year graduation rate is based on that same average of the 2016-2020 IPEDS Graduation Rates for Baptist University of Florida, but was then increased by 25% to arrive at a figure that would demonstrate significant achievement for a smaller, open-admission institution of higher learning such as Baptist University of Florida.

Six-Year Graduation Rate for the 2022-2023 Academic Year:

The most current 6-year graduation rate (150% of normal time, based on the 2016 Freshman cohort) is 63%.

Freshman-to-Sophomore Retention Rates (Student Achievement Measure-3):

Another helpful measure of student success is the number of first-time, full-time freshmen students who returned for their second year of college. This measure is often called the "Fall-to-Fall" or "Freshman-to-Sophomore" retention rate. As with graduation rates, retention rates are not a perfect measure but do provide insight into how well students are identifying with their college environment and with the mission of the institution. Retention rates, of course, cannot reflect the reasons a student might not return for their sophomore year that are beyond the college's control.

Institutional Goal

Baptist University of Florida has set a goal of maintaining a minimum 57% Freshman-Sophomore retention rate as measured by the Registrar’s Office of Baptist University of Florida. The 57% minimum goal is based on the average of the 2016-2020 Retention Rates for Baptist University of Florida (76%). That average was then reduced by 25% to arrive at a figure that would account for fluctuating rates of student achievement, unpredicted economic factors impacting student perseverance, family and health complications, and any other mitigating factors to student success that might impact students in a smaller, open-admission institution of higher learning such as Baptist University of Florida.

Conversely, Baptist University of Florida has set an aspirational goal of reaching a 95% Sophomore retention rate as measured by the Registrar’s Office of Baptist University of Florida. The 95% aspirational goal for the Sophomore retention rate is based on that same average of the 2016-2020 Retention Rates for Baptist University of Florida, but was then increased by 25% to arrive at a figure that would demonstrate significant achievement for a smaller, open-admission institution of higher learning such as Baptist University of Florida.

Freshman-to-Sophomore Retention Rates for the 2022-2023 Academic Year:

The overall rate of Freshman to Sophomore retention (first-time Freshmen students who started in Fall 2021 and returned for their Sophomore year in Fall 2022) was 71%.

Senior Exit Interview Program Feedback Rates (Student Achievement Measure-4):

All graduating seniors at Baptist University of Florida are interviewed before graduation and asked if they feel they have achieved the specific Program Student Learning Outcomes of their major degree. Program Student Learning Outcomes describe what a graduate of a particular academic program should be able to understand, know, or do once they graduate from an academic program.

For example, a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts in Ministry Studies degree program should be able to: 1) demonstrate a knowledge of the Bible and be able to provide contemporary application of that content for a preaching and teaching ministry, 2) demonstrate an understanding of Christian doctrine and be able to support that understanding through effective communication, and 3) apply the knowledge of biblical content and Christian doctrine in practical and pastoral ministry functions.

Institutional Goal

Baptist University of Florida has set a goal of maintaining a minimum 68% student satisfaction rate for educational program Student Learning Outcomes as measured by the Registrar’s Office of Baptist University of Florida. The 68% minimum goal is based on the average of the 2019-2021 Senior Exit Interview SLO Satisfaction Rates for Baptist University of Florida (91%). That average was then reduced by 25% to arrive at a figure that would account for fluctuating rates of student achievement, unpredicted economic factors impacting student perseverance, family and health complications, and any other mitigating factors to student success that might impact students in a smaller, open-admission institution of higher learning such as Baptist University of Florida.

Conversely, Baptist University of Florida has set an aspirational goal of reaching a 100% student satisfaction rate for educational program Student Learning Outcomes as measured by the Registrar’s Office of Baptist University of Florida. The 100% aspirational goal for SLO Satisfaction Rates is based on that same average of the 2019-2021 Senior Exit Interview SLO Student Satisfaction Rates for Baptist University of Florida, but was then increased by 25% to arrive at a figure that would demonstrate significant achievement for a smaller, open-admission institution of higher learning such as Baptist University of Florida.

Senior Exit Interview Program Feedback Rates for the 2022-2023 Academic Year:

Eleven of BUF's nineteen academic degree programs were represented by the graduates of the 2022-2023 Academic Year. Ninety-five percent (95%) of responding students stated that their program of instruction at Baptist University of Florida had fulfilled their academic program's stated Program Student Learning Outcomes.

Senior Exit Interview Job and Graduate School Readiness Feedback Rates (Student Achievement Measures-5 and 6):

All graduating seniors at Baptist University of Florida are interviewed before graduation and asked if they believe they are ready for either the job market or further education.

Institutional Goal

Baptist University of Florida has set a goal of maintaining a minimum 61% Job Readiness Rate and a 53% Graduate School Readiness Rate as measured by the Senior Exit Interviews administered by the Registrar’s Office of Baptist University of Florida. These two rates are based on the average of the 2019-2021 Job and Graduate School Readiness Rates (82% and 71%, respectively). Those averages were then reduced by 25% to arrive at a figure that would account for fluctuating rates of student achievement, unpredicted economic factors impacting student perseverance, family and health complications, and any other mitigating factors to student success that might impact students in a smaller, open-admission institution of higher learning such as Baptist University of Florida.

Conversely, Baptist University of Florida has set an aspirational goal of reaching a 100% Job Readiness Rate and an 89% Graduate School Readiness Rate as measured by the Senior Exit Interviews administered by the Registrar’s Office of Baptist University of Florida. The respective 100% and 89% aspirational goals for Job and Graduate School Readiness are based on those same averages of the 2019-2021 Senior Exit Interview Job and Graduate School Readiness Rates for Baptist University of Florida, but were then increased by 25% to arrive at a figure that would demonstrate significant achievement for a smaller, open-admission institution of higher learning such as Baptist University of Florida.

Senior Exit Interview Job and Graduate School Readiness Feedback Rates for the 2022-2023 Academic Year:

Of the undergraduate students who completed their studies in the 2022-2023 Academic Year, 100% reported being ready to enter the job market in their field, and 100% also reported readiness to continue their education in graduate school (this number includes a small number of students from associate-level programs who desired to continue their education in a baccalaureate degree program).

Elementary Education Employer Survey Results (Student Achievement Measure-7):

Each year, instructors in the Teacher Education Division contact the principals of schools that employ BUF graduates who have earned the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education in the previous academic year and who are now working as public and private school teachers. Principals are asked to rate these first-year teachers in terms of the Elementary Education Program Student Learning Outcomes (which mirror the State of Florida’s FEAPS—Florida Educator Accomplished Practices). These questions ask about the graduate’s performance in various categories such as: communicating effectively, providing opportunities for students to learn higher-order thinking skills, creating a safe, equitable, and stimulating classroom environment, being knowledgeable of the subject matter, producing learning plans that are developmentally appropriate and engaging, and using appropriate technologies to deliver instruction.

Institutional Goal

Baptist University of Florida has set a goal of maintaining a minimum 73% positive response rate for first-year evaluation of the graduates of its Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education Program. The 73% minimum goal is based on the average of the most recent rates of evaluation for these graduates (98%). That average was then reduced by 25% to arrive at a figure that would account for fluctuating rates of student achievement, unpredicted economic factors impacting student perseverance, family and health complications, and any other mitigating factors to student success that might impact students in a smaller, open-admission institution of higher learning such as Baptist University of Florida.

Conversely, Baptist University of Florida has set an aspirational goal of reaching a 100% positive response rate for first-year evaluations of the graduates of its Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education Program. The 100% aspirational goal for first-year evaluations is based on that same average of recent rates of evaluation for these graduates, but was then increased by 25% to arrive at a figure that would demonstrate significant achievement for a smaller, open-admission institution of higher learning such as Baptist University of Florida.

Elementary Education Employer Satisfaction Survey Results for the 2022-2023 Academic Year:

For the September 2023 Employer Satisfaction Survey, no results were available (there were no graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education program in the previous year). The Teacher Education Division is currently redesigning this survey to gather wider data.