by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at UAH? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 82% students making it past their freshmen year, UAH 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 | |
|---|---|
| UAH | 82% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Alabama | 66.79% |
There were approximately 885 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
22% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 50% in six years, and 53% 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 UAH graduation rate 50%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at UAH? The standard length of time for most students is 4.62 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 596 | 34% |
| Six Years | 885 | 50% |
| Eight Years | 50 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 819 | 47% |
Approximately 819 students or 47% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 819 students who did not complete their degree?
14 are still enrolled.
504 transferred to another institution.
UAH lost contact with the remaining 301 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 1.7% |
| Transferred | 504 | 61.5% |
| Dropped Out | 301 | 36.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 75% |
| Asian | 44% |
| Black / African-American | 48% |
| Hispanic | 53% |
| International | 83% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 42% |
| Unknown | 69% |
| White | 58% |
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 UAH 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 University of Alabama in Huntsville represent 39% of the students in the class of 2015, and 39.32% of UAH bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time students in the UAH class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UAH graduation rate was 51%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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 | UAH | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 51% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 47.82% |
305 first-time / full-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
200 transferred to another institution.
UAH lost contact with the remaining 98 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 4.59% |
| Transferred | 200 | 65.57% |
| Dropped Out | 98 | 32.13% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Alabama in Huntsville represent 1.82% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 19%, first-time, part-time students in the UAH class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 28%.
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 | UAH | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 19% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 23.72% |
23 first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
16 transferred to another institution.
UAH lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 16 | 69.57% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 30.43% |
756 UAH students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 43.10% 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 56%, 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 58%.
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 | UAH | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 56% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 55.07% |
315 non first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
193 transferred to another institution.
UAH lost contact with the remaining 120 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.63% |
| Transferred | 193 | 61.27% |
| Dropped Out | 120 | 38.10% |
290 UAH students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.53% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 36%, 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 39%.
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 | UAH | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 36% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 37.80% |
176 non first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
95 transferred to another institution.
UAH lost contact with the remaining 76 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 2.84% |
| Transferred | 95 | 53.98% |
| Dropped Out | 76 | 43.18% |
