by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many RIT first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore RIT retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 86% students making it past their freshmen year, RIT 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 New York, the average is 73.51%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| RIT | 86% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New York | 73.51% |
How many of the estimated 2,450 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
28% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 66% in six years, and 68% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of RIT is 66%. 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.
The average RIT student takes 4.76 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,314 | 35% |
| Six Years | 2,450 | 66% |
| Eight Years | 99 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,178 | 32% |
Approximately 1178 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1178 students who did not complete their degree?
7 are still enrolled.
714 transferred to another institution.
RIT lost contact with the remaining 446 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 714 | 60.6% |
| Dropped Out | 446 | 37.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 43% |
| Asian | 78% |
| Black / African-American | 57% |
| Hispanic | 59% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 79% |
| Unknown | 74% |
| White | 73% |
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 RIT 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 Rochester Institute of Technology represent 72% of the students in the class of 2015, and 74.16% of RIT bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 28%, first-time students in the RIT class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the RIT graduation rate was 68%, and by the eight year mark, 71% 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 | RIT | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 68% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 71% | 47.82% |
763 first-time / full-time students or 29% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
549 transferred to another institution.
RIT lost contact with the remaining 202 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 0.92% |
| Transferred | 549 | 71.95% |
| Dropped Out | 202 | 26.47% |
First-time / part-time students at Rochester Institute of Technology represent 0.80% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 23%, first-time, part-time students in the RIT class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 27%.
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 | RIT | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 23% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 23.72% |
22 first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
17 transferred to another institution.
RIT lost contact with the remaining 5 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 17 | 77.27% |
| Dropped Out | 5 | 22.73% |
801 RIT students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 21.43% 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 71%, 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 72%.
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 | RIT | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 71% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 55.07% |
221 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
125 transferred to another institution.
RIT lost contact with the remaining 93 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.36% |
| Transferred | 125 | 56.56% |
| Dropped Out | 93 | 42.08% |
232 RIT students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.21% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 25%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 26%.
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 | RIT | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 25% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 37.80% |
172 non first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
23 transferred to another institution.
RIT lost contact with the remaining 146 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.74% |
| Transferred | 23 | 13.37% |
| Dropped Out | 146 | 84.88% |
