by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many GWU first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at GWU. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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, 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 | 92% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| District of Columbia | 78.47% |
Of the 2881 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 79% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 84% of the students had graduated and after eight years 85% 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 GWU graduation rate 84%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2711 | 79% |
| Six Years | 2881 | 84% |
| Eight Years | 25 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 514 | 15% |
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.
Approximately 514 students or 15% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 514 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
330 transferred to another institution.
GWU lost contact with the remaining 184 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.2% |
| Transferred | 330 | 64.2% |
| Dropped Out | 184 | 35.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 86% |
| Black / African-American | 82% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 82% |
| International | 85% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 87% |
| Unknown | 85% |
| White | 86% |
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 GWU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at George Washington University represent 73.61% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the GWU graduation rate was 85%, and by the eight year mark, 85% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | GWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 79% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 85% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 85% | 47.82% |
370 first-time / full-time students or 15% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
254 transferred to another institution.
GWU lost contact with the remaining 116 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 254 | 68.65% |
| Dropped Out | 116 | 31.35% |
First-time / part-time students at George Washington University represent 0.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the GWU graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 33% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | GWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 33% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 23.72% |
6 first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
GWU lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 50.00% |
Returning / full-time students at George Washington University represent 18.98% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the GWU graduation rate was 89%, and by the eight year mark, 90% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | GWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 89% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 90% | 55.07% |
66 non first-time / part-time students or 10% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
37 transferred to another institution.
GWU lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 37 | 56.06% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 43.94% |
Returning / part-time students at George Washington University represent 7.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the GWU graduation rate was 66%, and by the eight year mark, 69% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | GWU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 61% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 66% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 37.80% |
72 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
36 transferred to another institution.
GWU lost contact with the remaining 36 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 36 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 36 | 50.00% |
