by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding FIU 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.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 91% students making it past their freshmen year, FIU 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 Florida, the average is 70.38%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| FIU | 91% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Florida | 70.38% |
How many of the estimated 8,073 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 26% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 62% of the students had graduated and after eight years 65% of this class completed their degree.
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 FIU graduation rate 62%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at FIU? The standard length of time for most students is 4.58 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5,979 | 46% |
| Six Years | 8,073 | 62% |
| Eight Years | 308 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 4,575 | 35% |
Approximately 4575 students or 35% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4575 students who did not complete their degree?
100 are still enrolled.
2604 transferred to another institution.
FIU lost contact with the remaining 1737 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 100 | 2.2% |
| Transferred | 2604 | 56.9% |
| Dropped Out | 1,737 | 38.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 74% |
| Black / African-American | 59% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 69% |
| International | 74% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 57% |
| Unknown | 70% |
| White | 58% |
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 FIU 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 students at Florida International University represent 33% of the students in the class of 2015, and 29.88% of FIU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 26%, first-time students in the FIU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the FIU graduation rate was 56%, and by the eight year mark, 60% 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 | FIU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 56% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 47.82% |
1743 first-time / full-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
100 are still enrolled.
1093 transferred to another institution.
FIU lost contact with the remaining 508 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 100 | 5.74% |
| Transferred | 1093 | 62.71% |
| Dropped Out | 508 | 29.15% |
First-time / part-time students at Florida International University represent 2.65% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 32%, first-time, part-time students in the FIU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 38%.
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 | FIU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 32% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 23.72% |
216 first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
123 transferred to another institution.
FIU lost contact with the remaining 79 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 6.48% |
| Transferred | 123 | 56.94% |
| Dropped Out | 79 | 36.57% |
4795 FIU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 36.35% 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 73%, 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 74%.
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 | FIU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 73% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 55.07% |
1215 non first-time / part-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
32 are still enrolled.
675 transferred to another institution.
FIU lost contact with the remaining 508 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 32 | 2.63% |
| Transferred | 675 | 55.56% |
| Dropped Out | 508 | 41.81% |
3721 FIU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 28.21% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 59%, 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 | FIU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 59% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 37.80% |
1401 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
46 are still enrolled.
713 transferred to another institution.
FIU lost contact with the remaining 642 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 46 | 3.28% |
| Transferred | 713 | 50.89% |
| Dropped Out | 642 | 45.82% |
