Brown Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

Brown University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

Are students coming back to Brown after their first year? Are Brown students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.

• Brown Retention Rate
• Brown Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• Brown Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

Brown Retention Rate

The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.

With 92% students making it past their freshmen year, Brown 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 Rhode Island, the average is 78.84%.

Brown Graduation Rates

There were approximately 1,561 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?

After four years 86% of the cohort graduated. After six years 95% had completed their degree, and 96% after eight years.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official Brown graduation rate 95%.

The typical Brown student takes 4.15 years to complete their bachelor's degree.

Brown Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Brown Drop Out Rate

Approximately 61 students or 4% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 61 students who did not complete their degree?

• 1 are still enrolled.

• 29 transferred to another institution.

• Brown lost contact with the remaining 31 who we assumed dropped out.

Brown Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.

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 Brown are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.

Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.

First-Time / Full-Time Brown Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at Brown University represent 92% of the students in the class of 2015, and 91.61% of Brown bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 86%, first-time students in the Brown class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the Brown graduation rate was 95%, and by the eight year mark, 96% 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.

Brown First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

First-Time / Full-Time Brown Drop Out Rates

56 first-time / full-time students or 4% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 1 are still enrolled.

• 28 transferred to another institution.

• Brown lost contact with the remaining 27 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data on Brown first-time, part-time students.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

138 Brown students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 8.39% 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 95%, 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 96%.

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.

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

Non First-Time / Full-Time Brown Drop Out Rates

5 non first-time / part-time students or 4% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 1 transferred to another institution.

• Brown lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data on Brown returning, part-time students.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics

• Image Credit: By Ad Meskens under License