Student Achievement
Building leaders who will make a positive difference in their families, communities, careers and the world is a hallmark of Regent University. That’s why we place high importance on each student’s intellectual, social, and spiritual development. We invite you to explore the data below as an overview of our success in cultivating successful graduates.
Regent has identified the following goals and outcomes related to student achievement.
Goal 1: Students will efficiently progress through the curriculum of their academic programs.
Outcome 1.1: Students will complete their courses.
Outcome 1.2: Students will retain in their program.
Outcome 1.3: Students will maintain a quality GPA between the first and second year.
Goal 2: Students will effectively complete their programs.
Outcome 2.1: Undergraduate students will graduate within six years.
Outcome 2.2: Graduate students will graduate within the timeline established by Regent faculty or accreditation standards.
Goal 3: Students will demonstrate proficiency after graduation.
Outcome 3.1: Students will pass applicable licensure exams.
Outcome 3.2: Students will obtain a job upon graduation.
Regent University’s leadership uses enrollment data to improve persistence and provide direction on how to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of students’ experiences. The University uses three variables to evaluate enrollment data: course completion rates, retention, and graduation rates. Graduation rates are expressed in the school-specific tabs located on this webpage. Additionally, the University also measures the job placement rates and licensure exam pass rates for graduates.
The University-Wide Course Completion Rates table indicates the percentage of students who completed all online and on-campus courses at the University, regardless of level. Regent tracks course completion rates by the number of students enrolled in a single course multiplied by the number of courses in which each student is enrolled.
The threshold for the University-wide course completion rate is 85%.
University-Wide Course Completion Rates
| Term | Course Completion Rate | Threshold |
| Fall 2017 | 77% | 85% |
| Fall 2018 | 82% | 85% |
| Fall 2019 | 87% | 85% |
Retention rates evaluate students’ progression towards graduation. These data are analyzed from a variety of approaches, to include headcount and credit hour, while analyzing by school and college.
The threshold for first-time, full-time, degree-seeking freshmen is 75%.
Undergraduate Retention Rates
| Terms | Retention Rate | Threshold |
| Fall 2016 to Fall 2017 | 78% | 75% |
| Fall 2017 to Fall 2018 | 77% | 75% |
| Fall 2018 to Fall 2019 | 78% | 75% |
Regent University utilizes the National Association of College and Employers (NACE) to benchmark placement outcomes. The threshold target is 75%. Beginning in 2017, Regent began reporting employment rates for bachelor’s and master’s students separately.
“Employed” is defined as graduates who have obtained full-time or part-time employment.
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |||||||||
| NACE | Regent | NACE | Regent | NACE | Regent | ||||||
| Bachelor’s | Master’s | All Graduates | Bachelor’s | Master’s | Bachelor’s | Master’s | Bachelor’s | Master’s | Bachelor’s | Master’s | |
| Employed + Additional School | 84.9% | 87.3% | 90.6% | 81.2% | 86.4% | 86% | 93% | 82.7% | 86.2% | 92% | 93% |
| Continuing Education | 21.4% | 7.1% | 6.9% | 17.5 | 7.3% | 12% | 5% | 19.2% | 8.9% | 19% | 7% |
| Employed | 63.5% | 80.2% | 83.6% | 63.7% | 79.1% | 74% | 88% | 63.5% | 77.3% | 73% | 86% |
Regent University offers programs in the following disciplines that lead to licensure: law, counseling, psychology, and different genres of teaching. For these disciplines, Regent measures student achievement by comparing the percentages of students who pass these exams to a standard (i.e., state, national, or accreditor). These standards are established by the Regent schools that house the academic programs.
School of Law: Virginia Bar Exam
The Virginia Bar Exam pass rate shows the percentage of first-time, Virginia Bar Exam test takers from the following graduating classes who took the Virginia Bar Exam and passed. The threshold pass rate is the state pass rate for first-time, Virginia Bar Exam test takers.
Graduates who take the Virginia Bar Exam for the first time in a year other than the year they graduate are included with their graduating class. Accordingly, the bar pass rate for a graduating class can change as more students from that graduating class take the Virginia Bar Exam for the first time. The state average figure in the table below only includes students who took and passed the Virginia Bar Exam for the first time in the identified year. It does not include first-time test takers who complete the Virginia Bar Exam in subsequent years.
| Regent University | State of Virginia* | |
| 2017 | 94.1% | 76% |
| 2018 | 77.4% | 76% |
| 2019 | 83.8% | pending |
*Data for the state-wide pass rate is from The Bar Examiner webpage.
Graduate Licensure Exams
| 2016–2017 | 2017–2018 | 2018–2019 | Threshold | |
| Clinical Psychology Licensure Requirements (EPPP national exam and other state requirements)¹ | 81% | — | 89% | 75% |
| Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination | 97% | 97% | 96% | 80% |
| National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification | 91% | 100% | 100% | 80% |
| School Leaders Licensure Assessment2 | 85% | 85% | 93.7% | 80% |
| Reading for Virginia Educators | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Reading for Virginia Educators, Reading Specialist | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment | 100% | 99.4% | 100% | 100% |
- The APA requires the School of Psychology and Counseling (SPC) to track the number of graduates between two and 10 years ago who became licensed psychologists. APA does not require updated licensure rates after the tenth year. Therefore, SPC stops tracking EPPP licensure after the tenth year.
- Pass rates apply to all students who took the SLLA assessment in these academic years, not just graduates.
Clinical Psychology Licensure Requirements (EPPP national exam and other state requirements)1 2
| Outcome | 2009–2019 |
| The total number of program graduates (doctoral degrees conferred on transcript) between 2 and 10 years ago | 149 |
| The number of these graduates (between 2 and 10 years ago) who became licensed psychologists in the past 10 years | 132 |
| Licensure percentage | 89% |
1The APA requires the School of Psychology and Counseling (SPC) to track the number of graduates between two and 10 years ago who became licensed psychologists. APA does not require updated licensure rates after the tenth year. Therefore, SPC stops tracking EPPP licensure after the tenth year.
2Additional information about student admissions, outcomes, and other data for the Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology is available on the School of Psychology & Counseling webpage.
Freshman in Good Standings
Students in good academic standing maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better.
| Year | Percentage of Freshman in Good Standing | Threshold |
| Fall 2016 | 84% | 85% |
| Fall 2017 | 82% | 85% |
| Fall 2018 | 83% | 85% |
Percentage of Graduate Students with at least 3.0 GPA or higher
| Year | Graduate Students with Cumulative GPA 3.0 or Above | Threshold |
| Fall 2017 | 88% | 85% |
| Fall 2018 | 87% | 85% |
| Fall 2019 | 87% | 85% |
Percentage of J.D./LL.M. Students with at least 2.0 GPA or higher
| Year | J.D./LL.M. Students with Cumulative GPA 2.0 or Above | Threshold |
| Fall 2017 | 96% | 85% |
| Fall 2018 | 95% | 85% |
| Fall 2019 | 97% | 85% |
College of Arts & Sciences: Undergraduate Six-Year Graduation Rates
Regent University annually reports undergraduate graduation rates to external audiences based on the Common Data Set (CDS) definition, consisting of the cohort of full-time, first-time, bachelor’s degree-seeking students. This number includes students who enrolled during the summer term preceding the fall term.
| Graduation Rate | Threshold | |
| Fall 2011 Cohort | 61% | 55% |
| Fall 2012 Cohort | 58% | 55% |
| Fall 2013 Cohort | 58% | 55% |
Graduate Schools
Regent reports a limited number of graduate-level graduation rates to external entities such as U.S. News & World Report. These graduation rates are based on a specific cohort of online, degree-seeking students enrolled in the M.A. in Organizational Leadership, MBA, or M.Ed. programs.
In addition, the University monitors the graduation trends of all graduate programs. A cohort approach is used to evaluate graduation trends because most graduate programs specify that students must complete their programs between five and 10 years. Each program has its own graduation threshold based on historical and recent metrics that are reviewed by the school or college dean, and by the Office of Academic Affairs.
Graduation Rates by Program in the SBL
| M.A. in Organizational Leadership | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 57 | 45 | 78.9% | 65% |
| 2009–2010 | 54 | 39 | 72.2% | 65% |
| 2010–2011 | 73 | 49 | 67.1% | 65% |
| M.B.A. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 23 | 16 | 69.6% | 65% |
| 2009–2010 | 39 | 34 | 87.2% | 65% |
| 2010–2011 | 57 | 48 | 84.2% | 65% |
| D.S.L. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 47 | 40 | 85.1% | 65% |
| 2009–2010 | 55 | 44 | 80.0% | 65% |
| 2010–2011 | 50 | 38 | 76.0% | 65% |
| Ph.D. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 43 | 26 | 60.5% | 60% |
| 2009–2010 | 56 | 42 | 75.0% | |
| 2010–2011 | 71 | 37 | 52.1% | 60% |
School of Communication & the Arts
| M.A. in Communication | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 46 | 35 | 76.1% | 75% |
| 2009–2010 | 40 | 31 | 77.5% | 75% |
| 2010–2011 | 34 | 29 | 85.3% | 75% |
| M.A. in Journalism | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 16 | 14 | 87.5% | 70% |
| 2009–2010 | 12 | 9 | 75.0% | 70% |
| 2010–2011 | 15 | 11 | 73.3% | 70% |
| M.A. in Theatre | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 17 | 11 | 64.7% | 65% |
| 2009–2010 | 10 | 7 | 70.0% | 65% |
| 2010–2011 | 11 | 8 | 72.7% | 65% |
| MFA in Film-Television | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 22 | 18 | 81.8% | 85% |
| 2009–2010 | 21 | 15 | 71.4% | 85% |
| 2010–2011 | 11 | 10 | 90.9% | 85% |
| MFA in Acting | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 10 | 8 | 80.0% | 85% |
| 2009–2010 | 11 | 11 | 100.0% | 85% |
| 2010–2011 | 11 | 11 | 100.0% | 85% |
| Ph.D. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 11 | 9 | 81.8% | 60% |
| 2009–2010 | 14 | 11 | 78.6% | 60% |
| 2010–2011 | 21 | 16 | 76.2% | 60% |
School of Divinity
| M.A. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 65 | 48 | 73.8% | 60% |
| 2009–2010 | 75 | 62 | 82.7% | 60% |
| 2010–2011 | 74 | 47 | 63.5% | 60% |
| M.Div. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 90 | 44 | 48.9% | 50% |
| 2009–2010 | 103 | 60 | 58.3% | 50% |
| 2010–2011 | 114 | 67 | 58.8% | 50% |
| D.Min. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 14 | 9 | 64.3% | 50% |
| 2009–2010 | 18 | 7 | 38.9% | 50% |
| 2010–2011 | 19 | 12 | 63.2% | 50% |
| Ph.D. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | No New Students Enrolled | 50% | ||
| 2009–2010 | 6 | 6 | 100.0% | 50% |
| 2010–2011 | 9 | 3 | 33.3% | 50% |
School of Education
| M.Ed. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 242 | 163 | 67.4% | 65% |
| 2009–2010 | 267 | 185 | 69.3% | 65% |
| 2010–2011 | 306 | 227 | 74.2% | 65% |
| Ed.S. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 9 | 7 | 77.8% | 80% |
| 2009–2010 | 10 | 9 | 90.0% | 80% |
| 2010–2011 | 22 | 17 | 77.3% | 80% |
| Ed.D. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 39 | 18 | 46.2% | 50% |
| 2009–2010 | 37 | 23 | 62.2% | 50% |
| 2010–2011 | 38 | 22 | 57.9% | 50% |
| Ph.D. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | No New Students Enrolled | 50% | ||
| 2009–2010 | 1 | 1 | 100.0% | 50% |
| 2010–2011 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 50% |
Robertson School of Government
| M.A. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 69 | 54 | 78.3% | 70% |
| 2009–2010 | 80 | 64 | 80.0% | 70% |
| 2010–2011 | 77 | 58 | 75.3% | 70% |
School of Law
| LL.M. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 2 | 2 | 100.0% | 75% |
| 2009–2010 | 2 | 2 | 100.0% | 75% |
| 2010–2011 | 2 | 1 | 50.0% | 75% |
| J.D. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 153 | 125 | 81.7% | 75% |
| 2009–2010 | 156 | 136 | 87.2% | 75% |
| 2010–2011 | 166 | 137 | 82.5% | 75% |
School of Psychology & Counseling
| M.A. in Counseling | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 52 | 48 | 92.3% | 85% |
| 2009–2010 | 43 | 39 | 90.7% | 85% |
| 2010–2011 | 49 | 45 | 91.8% | 85% |
| M.A. in Human Services Counseling | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 15 | 12 | 80.0% | 75% |
| 2009–2010 | 23 | 20 | 87.0% | 75% |
| 2010–2011 | 24 | 18 | 75.0% | 75% |
| Ph.D. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 19 | 15 | 78.9% | 85% |
| 2009–2010 | 20 | 19 | 95.0% | 85% |
| 2010–2011 | 18 | 14 | 77.8% | 85% |
| Psy.D. | Started | Finished | Graduation Rate | Threshold |
| 2008–2009 | 22 | 21 | 95.5% | 85% |
| 2009–2010 | 17 | 17 | 100.0% | 85% |
| 2010–2011 | 23 | 19 | 82.6% | 85% |
The graduate student retention rate is calculated based on the number of degree-seeking students who started their degree programs in either the fall, spring, or summer cohorts, and returned or graduated within the next academic year. Each graduate school has established its own retention threshold based on historical and recent institutional metrics. As indicated in the following tables for each graduate school, each retention threshold was met from 2015 to 2019.
School of Business & Leadership Retention Rates
| Cohort | Started | Returned or Graduated | Retention Rate | Threshold |
| 2016–2017 | 570 | 480 | 84% | 65% |
| 2017–2018 | 665 | 535 | 80% | 65% |
| 2018–2019 | 598 | 484 | 81% | 65% |
School of Communication & the Arts Retention Rates
| Cohort | Started | Returned or Graduated | Retention Rate | Threshold |
| 2016–2017 | 216 | 182 | 84% | 75% |
| 2017–2018 | 259 | 220 | 85% | 75% |
| 2018–2019 | 302 | 251 | 83% | 75% |
School of Divinity Retention Rates
| Cohort | Started | Returned or Graduated | Retention Rate | Threshold |
| 2016–2017 | 530 | 447 | 84% | 70% |
| 2017–2018 | 534 | 450 | 84% | 70% |
| 2018–2019 | 520 | 443 | 85% | 70% |
School of Education Retention Rates
| Cohort | Started | Returned or Graduated | Retention Rate | Threshold |
| 2016–2017 | 449 | 399 | 89% | 80% |
| 2017–2018 | 429 | 381 | 89% | 80% |
| 2018–2019 | 419 | 373 | 89% | 80% |
Robertson School of Government Retention Rates
| Cohort | Started | Returned or Graduated | Retention Rate | Threshold |
| 2016–2017 | 125 | 104 | 83% | 70% |
| 2017–2018 | 107 | 92 | 86% | 70% |
| 2018–2019 | 120 | 95 | 79% | 70% |
School of Law Retention Rates
| Cohort | Started | Returned or Graduated | Retention Rate | Threshold |
| 2016–2017 | 320 | 278 | 87% | 85% |
| 2017–2018 | 315 | 289 | 92% | 85% |
| 2018–2019 | 411 | 365 | 89% | 85% |
School of Psychology & Counseling Retention Rates
| Cohort | Started | Returned or Graduated | Retention Rate | Threshold |
| 2016–2017 | 309 | 284 | 92% | 85% |
| 2017–2018 | 370 | 342 | 92% | 85% |
| 2018–2019 | 463 | 415 | 90% | 85% |