by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding University at Buffalo 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.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 87% students making it past their freshmen year, University at Buffalo 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 | |
|---|---|
| University at Buffalo | 87% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New York | 73.51% |
Of the 4,150 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 55% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 70% of the students had graduated and after eight years 72% 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 University at Buffalo graduation rate 70%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at University at Buffalo? The standard length of time for most students is 4.26 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3,407 | 58% |
| Six Years | 4,150 | 70% |
| Eight Years | 70 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,667 | 28% |
Approximately 1667 students or 28% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1667 students who did not complete their degree?
20 are still enrolled.
1059 transferred to another institution.
University at Buffalo lost contact with the remaining 602 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 1.2% |
| Transferred | 1059 | 63.5% |
| Dropped Out | 602 | 36.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 88% |
| Asian | 79% |
| Black / African-American | 64% |
| Hawaiian | 67% |
| Hispanic | 64% |
| International | 81% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 59% |
| Unknown | 76% |
| White | 76% |
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 University at Buffalo 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 students at University at Buffalo represent 56% of the students in the class of 2015, and 58.05% of University at Buffalo bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 55%, first-time students in the University at Buffalo class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the University at Buffalo graduation rate was 73%, and by the eight year mark, 74% 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 | University at Buffalo | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 55% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 73% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 47.82% |
859 first-time / full-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
597 transferred to another institution.
University at Buffalo lost contact with the remaining 257 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 2.33% |
| Transferred | 597 | 69.50% |
| Dropped Out | 257 | 29.92% |
First-time / part-time students at University at Buffalo represent 0.49% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 66%, first-time, part-time students in the University at Buffalo class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 69%.
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 | University at Buffalo | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 62% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 66% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 23.72% |
9 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.
4 transferred to another institution.
University at Buffalo 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 | 4 | 44.44% |
| Dropped Out | 5 | 55.56% |
2343 University at Buffalo students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 39.79% 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 69%, 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 70%.
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 | University at Buffalo | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 69% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 55.07% |
703 non first-time / part-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
409 transferred to another institution.
University at Buffalo lost contact with the remaining 294 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 409 | 58.18% |
| Dropped Out | 294 | 41.82% |
203 University at Buffalo students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.45% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 51%, 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 53%.
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 | University at Buffalo | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 51% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 37.80% |
96 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
49 transferred to another institution.
University at Buffalo lost contact with the remaining 46 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.04% |
| Transferred | 49 | 51.04% |
| Dropped Out | 46 | 47.92% |
