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Boston U Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

81% 4-Year Graduation Rate
86% 6-Year Graduation Rate
92% Retention Rate

Boston University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How 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.

Boston U Retention Rate

92% Freshmen Retention Rate
Good Retention Rate

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%.

Boston U Retention  92 out of 100
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Massachusetts Retention  73 out of 100
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Retention Rate
Boston U92%
Nationwide70.57%
Massachusetts73.02%

Boston U Graduation Rates

86% 6-Year Graduation Rate
9.22% Transfer Rate
4.34% Dropout Rate

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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  80%
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  86%
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  86%
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100%

Boston U Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years3,62980%
Six Years3,89086%
Eight Years200%
Did Not Complete61914%
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
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Boston U Drop Out Rate

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?

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Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled50.8%
Transferred41967.7%
Dropped Out19731.8%

Boston U Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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Race/EthnicityGraduation Rate
American Indian or Alaskan Native67%
Asian91%
Black / African-American89%
Hawaiian67%
Hispanic86%
International90%
Multi-Ethnic88%
Unknown90%
White88%

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 Boston U Graduation Rates

89% First-Time, Full-Time
87% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  81 out of 100
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Six Year Graduation Rate  87 out of 100
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Eight Year Graduation Rate  88 out of 100
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Boston U First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsBoston UNationwide
Four Years81%37.92%
Six Years87%46.43%
Eight Years88%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time Boston U Drop Out Rates

505 first-time / full-time students or 12% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled50.99%
Transferred36071.29%
Dropped Out14328.32%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

0% First-Time, Part-Time
40% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  40 out of 100
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Eight Year Graduation Rate  40 out of 100
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First-Time / Part-Time Boston U Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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First-Time / Part-Time CompletionsBoston UNationwide
Four Years40%14.37%
Six Years40%21.59%
Eight Years40%23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time Boston U Drop Out Rates

3 first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.00%
Transferred00.00%
Dropped Out3100.00%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

8% Returning, Full-Time
85% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  85 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  86 out of 100
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100%

Boston U Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Full-Time CompletionsBoston UNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years85%53.83%
Eight Years86%55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Boston U Drop Out Rates

49 non first-time / part-time students or 14% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.00%
Transferred3061.22%
Dropped Out1938.78%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

3% Returning, Part-Time
49% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  49 out of 100
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Eight Year Graduation Rate  52 out of 100
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Boston U Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Part-Time CompletionsBoston UNationwide
Four Years0%30.46%
Six Years49%36.03%
Eight Years52%37.80%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Boston U Drop Out Rates

62 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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Returning / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled11.61%
Transferred2946.77%
Dropped Out3251.61%

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