by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Union first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Union 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 87% students making it past their freshmen year, Union 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 Tennessee, the average is 71.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Union | 87% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Tennessee | 71.48% |
There were approximately 645 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
62% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 66% in six years, and 67% in 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 Union graduation rate 66%.
The average Union student takes 4.11 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 590 | 60% |
| Six Years | 645 | 66% |
| Eight Years | 6 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 327 | 33% |
Approximately 327 students or 33% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 327 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
206 transferred to another institution.
Union lost contact with the remaining 117 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 206 | 63.0% |
| Dropped Out | 117 | 35.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 86% |
| Black / African-American | 42% |
| Hispanic | 33% |
| International | 25% |
| Unknown | 50% |
| White | 69% |
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 Union 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 Union University represent 48% of the students in the class of 2015, and 50.23% of Union bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 62%, first-time students in the Union class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Union graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 69% 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 | Union | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 62% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 69% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 47.82% |
146 first-time / full-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
123 transferred to another institution.
Union lost contact with the remaining 22 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 123 | 84.25% |
| Dropped Out | 22 | 15.07% |
First-time / part-time students at Union University represent 0.51% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 60%, first-time, part-time students in the Union class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 60%.
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 | Union | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 60% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 60% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 23.72% |
2 first-time / part-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
Union lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 50.00% |
364 Union students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 37.18% 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 | Union | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 71% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 55.07% |
103 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
61 transferred to another institution.
Union lost contact with the remaining 40 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.94% |
| Transferred | 61 | 59.22% |
| Dropped Out | 40 | 38.83% |
138 Union students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 14.10% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 43%, 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 45%.
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 | Union | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 43% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 37.80% |
76 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
21 transferred to another institution.
Union lost contact with the remaining 54 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.32% |
| Transferred | 21 | 27.63% |
| Dropped Out | 54 | 71.05% |
