by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding UA 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 87% students making it past their freshmen year, UA 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 Alabama, the average is 66.79%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UA | 87% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Alabama | 66.79% |
How many of the estimated 5,150 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
44% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 64% in six years, and 66% in eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official UA graduation rate 64%.
The typical UA student takes 4.34 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3,603 | 45% |
| Six Years | 5,150 | 64% |
| Eight Years | 150 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,734 | 34% |
Approximately 2734 students or 34% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2734 students who did not complete their degree?
44 are still enrolled.
2032 transferred to another institution.
UA lost contact with the remaining 659 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 44 | 1.6% |
| Transferred | 2032 | 74.3% |
| Dropped Out | 659 | 24.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 52% |
| Asian | 72% |
| Black / African-American | 62% |
| Hawaiian | 75% |
| Hispanic | 67% |
| International | 70% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 64% |
| Unknown | 90% |
| White | 74% |
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 UA 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 The University of Alabama represent 72% of the students in the class of 2015, and 75.71% of UA bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 44%, first-time students in the UA class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UA graduation rate was 68%, and by the eight year mark, 70% 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 | UA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 44% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 68% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 47.82% |
1757 first-time / full-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
44 are still enrolled.
1370 transferred to another institution.
UA lost contact with the remaining 360 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 44 | 2.50% |
| Transferred | 1370 | 77.97% |
| Dropped Out | 360 | 20.49% |
First-time / part-time students at The University of Alabama represent 0.53% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 24%, first-time, part-time students in the UA class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 29%.
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 | UA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 24% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 23.72% |
30 first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
14 transferred to another institution.
UA lost contact with the remaining 15 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 3.33% |
| Transferred | 14 | 46.67% |
| Dropped Out | 15 | 50.00% |
1595 UA students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 19.75% 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 63%, 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 64%.
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 | UA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 63% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 55.07% |
574 non first-time / part-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
428 transferred to another institution.
UA lost contact with the remaining 140 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.05% |
| Transferred | 428 | 74.56% |
| Dropped Out | 140 | 24.39% |
624 UA students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 7.73% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 38%, 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 40%.
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 | UA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 38% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 37.80% |
373 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
220 transferred to another institution.
UA lost contact with the remaining 144 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 2.41% |
| Transferred | 220 | 58.98% |
| Dropped Out | 144 | 38.61% |
