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Northwestern Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

84% 4-Year Graduation Rate
94% 6-Year Graduation Rate
97% Retention Rate

Northwestern University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How many Northwestern first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Northwestern retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.

Northwestern Retention Rate

97% Freshmen Retention Rate
Good Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 97% students making it past their freshmen year, Northwestern 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 Illinois, the average is 72.64%.

Northwestern Retention  97 out of 100
0%
100%
Illinois Retention  73 out of 100
0%
100%
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Retention Rate
Northwestern97%
Nationwide70.57%
Illinois72.64%

Northwestern Graduation Rates

94% 6-Year Graduation Rate
4.08% Transfer Rate
1.10% Dropout Rate

How many of the estimated 2,041 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?

After four years 84% of the cohort graduated. After six years 94% had completed their degree, and 95% after 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 Northwestern graduation rate 94%.

The typical Northwestern student takes 4.13 years to complete their bachelor's degree.

Four Year Graduation Rate  85%
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  94%
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  95%
0%
100%

Northwestern Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years1,83885%
Six Years2,04194%
Eight Years181%
Did Not Complete1155%
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.
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Northwestern Drop Out Rate

Approximately 115 students or 5% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 115 students who did not complete their degree?

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Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled21.7%
Transferred8977.4%
Dropped Out2420.9%

Northwestern Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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Race/EthnicityGraduation Rate
American Indian or Alaskan Native100%
Asian98%
Black / African-American92%
Hispanic92%
International92%
Multi-Ethnic95%
Unknown100%
White95%

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.

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

How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?

First-Time / Full-Time Northwestern Graduation Rates

97% First-Time, Full-Time
94% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / full-time students at Northwestern University represent 97% of the students in the class of 2015, and 96.52% of Northwestern bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 84%, first-time students in the Northwestern class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the Northwestern graduation rate was 94%, and by the eight year mark, 95% 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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  84 out of 100
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  94 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  95 out of 100
0%
100%

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

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First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsNorthwesternNationwide
Four Years84%37.92%
Six Years94%46.43%
Eight Years95%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time Northwestern Drop Out Rates

113 first-time / full-time students or 5% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled21.77%
Transferred8776.99%
Dropped Out2421.24%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

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

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

3% Returning, Full-Time
97% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

73 Northwestern students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.35% 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 97%, 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 97%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  97 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  97 out of 100
0%
100%

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

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Returning / Full-Time CompletionsNorthwesternNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years97%53.83%
Eight Years97%55.07%

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

2 non first-time / part-time students or 3% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.00%
Transferred2100.00%
Dropped Out00.00%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

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

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