Placement Rate and Retention Rate

Retention Rate:

The Retention Rate is calculated as the percentage of first-time students who remained both financially and academically active from the previous Fall term to the most recent Fall term.

Students who withdrew due to medical reasons, passed away, returned to their home countries, entered military service, accepted an official church mission assignment, engaged in government-sponsored foreign aid service, or transferred to a higher-level program at another institution are excluded from this calculation.

Graduation (Completion) Rate:

Recognizing that the great majority of FCU’s students are mature adults managing various responsibilities—including family commitments, professional careers, and ministry—and acknowledging that many of them are international students facing additional layers of complexity, such as financial constraints due to currency exchange and international borders, FCU has resolved to adopt a more equitable method for calculating graduation rates.

As of August 1, 2024, graduation rate reflects the percentage of full-time, degree-seeking, first year students who complete their programs within 250% of the normal full-time period of study for their program. This methodological adjustment is designed to offer a more equitable and accurate reflection of FCU's students' achievements, ensuring that FCU's evaluation metrics align with the diverse realities of our student body.

Graduation/Completion rates are defined as:

Number of Actual Completers divided by the Number of Potential Completers × 100

Potential completers = the total cohort who could have completed (e.g., students who entered a program and were expected to finish within a certain period).
Actual completers = the number who actually finished on time (or within the defined window).

Placement Rate:

The Placement Rate is calculated as the number of graduates during the last academic year (August 1^st through July 31^st) who obtained new employment or maintained employment within three months of graduation.