by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at GWU? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 88% students making it past their freshmen year, GWU 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 District of Columbia, the average is 78.47%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| GWU | 88% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| District of Columbia | 78.47% |
How many of the estimated 2,218 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
73% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 80% in six years, and 81% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of GWU is 80%. 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 GWU? The standard length of time for most students is 4.10 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,030 | 73% |
| Six Years | 2,218 | 80% |
| Eight Years | 20 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 539 | 19% |
Approximately 539 students or 19% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 539 students who did not complete their degree?
4 are still enrolled.
382 transferred to another institution.
GWU lost contact with the remaining 149 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 382 | 70.9% |
| Dropped Out | 149 | 27.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 83% |
| Black / African-American | 82% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 80% |
| International | 86% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 85% |
| Unknown | 85% |
| White | 87% |
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 GWU 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 George Washington University represent 80% of the students in the class of 2015, and 81.02% of GWU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 73%, first-time students in the GWU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the GWU graduation rate was 81%, and by the eight year mark, 81% 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 | GWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 73% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 81% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 81% | 47.82% |
414 first-time / full-time students or 19% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
310 transferred to another institution.
GWU lost contact with the remaining 101 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.97% |
| Transferred | 310 | 74.88% |
| Dropped Out | 101 | 24.40% |
First-time / part-time students at George Washington University represent 0.57% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 38%, first-time, part-time students in the GWU 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 | GWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 38% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 23.72% |
10 first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
6 transferred to another institution.
GWU lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 6 | 60.00% |
| Dropped Out | 4 | 40.00% |
444 GWU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.93% 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 84%, 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 84%.
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 | GWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 84% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 84% | 55.07% |
73 non first-time / part-time students or 16% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
47 transferred to another institution.
GWU lost contact with the remaining 25 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.37% |
| Transferred | 47 | 64.38% |
| Dropped Out | 25 | 34.25% |
88 GWU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.16% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 50%, 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 | GWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 50% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 37.80% |
42 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
19 transferred to another institution.
GWU lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 9.52% |
| Transferred | 19 | 45.24% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 45.24% |
