by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Boston U first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Boston U retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 92% students making it past their freshmen year, Boston U has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Massachusetts, the average is 73.02%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Boston U | 92% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Massachusetts | 73.02% |
How many of the estimated 3,890 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 81% of the cohort graduated. After six years 86% had completed their degree, and 86% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of Boston U is 86%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at Boston U? The standard length of time for most students is 4.06 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3,629 | 80% |
| Six Years | 3,890 | 86% |
| Eight Years | 20 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 619 | 14% |
Approximately 619 students or 14% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 619 students who did not complete their degree?
5 are still enrolled.
419 transferred to another institution.
Boston U lost contact with the remaining 197 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 419 | 67.7% |
| Dropped Out | 197 | 31.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Asian | 91% |
| Black / African-American | 89% |
| Hawaiian | 67% |
| Hispanic | 86% |
| International | 90% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 88% |
| Unknown | 90% |
| White | 88% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
The majority of students at Boston U are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Boston University represent 89% of the students in the class of 2015, and 90.64% of Boston U bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 81%, first-time students in the Boston U class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Boston U graduation rate was 87%, and by the eight year mark, 88% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | Boston U | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 81% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 87% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 88% | 47.82% |
505 first-time / full-time students or 12% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
360 transferred to another institution.
Boston U lost contact with the remaining 143 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.99% |
| Transferred | 360 | 71.29% |
| Dropped Out | 143 | 28.32% |
First-time / part-time students at Boston University represent 0.11% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 40%, first-time, part-time students in the Boston U class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 40%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | Boston U | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 40% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 40% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 23.72% |
3 first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
Boston U lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 100.00% |
349 Boston U students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 7.68% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 85%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 86%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | Boston U | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 85% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 86% | 55.07% |
49 non first-time / part-time students or 14% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
30 transferred to another institution.
Boston U lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 30 | 61.22% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 38.78% |
130 Boston U students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 2.86% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 49%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 52%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | Boston U | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 49% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 37.80% |
62 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
29 transferred to another institution.
Boston U lost contact with the remaining 32 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.61% |
| Transferred | 29 | 46.77% |
| Dropped Out | 32 | 51.61% |
