by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding BYU retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 92% students making it past their freshmen year, BYU 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 Utah, the average is 75.47%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| BYU | 92% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Utah | 75.47% |
Of the 4,452 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
16% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 62% in six years, and 85% in eight years.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical BYU graduation rate 62%.
The typical BYU student takes 5.15 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,803 | 25% |
| Six Years | 4,452 | 62% |
| Eight Years | 1,677 | 23% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,101 | 15% |
Approximately 1101 students or 15% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1101 students who did not complete their degree?
193 are still enrolled.
652 transferred to another institution.
BYU lost contact with the remaining 364 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 193 | 17.5% |
| Transferred | 652 | 59.2% |
| Dropped Out | 364 | 33.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 66% |
| Black / African-American | 75% |
| Hawaiian | 55% |
| Hispanic | 71% |
| International | 68% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 74% |
| Unknown | 67% |
| White | 77% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 BYU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Brigham Young University - Provo represent 75% of the students in the class of 2015, and 68.76% of BYU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time students in the BYU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the BYU graduation rate was 58%, and by the eight year mark, 87% 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 | BYU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 58% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 87% | 47.82% |
663 first-time / full-time students or 13% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
193 are still enrolled.
414 transferred to another institution.
BYU lost contact with the remaining 193 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 193 | 29.11% |
| Transferred | 414 | 62.44% |
| Dropped Out | 193 | 29.11% |
First-time / part-time students at Brigham Young University - Provo represent 1.58% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 31%, first-time, part-time students in the BYU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 64%.
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 | BYU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 31% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 23.72% |
39 first-time / part-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
23 transferred to another institution.
BYU lost contact with the remaining 12 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 10.26% |
| Transferred | 23 | 58.97% |
| Dropped Out | 12 | 30.77% |
1608 BYU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 20.10% 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 77%, 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 81%.
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 | BYU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 77% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 81% | 55.07% |
300 non first-time / part-time students or 19% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
161 transferred to another institution.
BYU lost contact with the remaining 122 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 5.67% |
| Transferred | 161 | 53.67% |
| Dropped Out | 122 | 40.67% |
260 BYU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.25% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 56%, 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 61%.
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 | BYU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 56% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 37.80% |
99 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
54 transferred to another institution.
BYU lost contact with the remaining 37 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 8.08% |
| Transferred | 54 | 54.55% |
| Dropped Out | 37 | 37.37% |
