UC Berkeley Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

University of California - Berkeley 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How long does it take to earn a degree at UC Berkeley? 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.

• UC Berkeley Retention Rate
• UC Berkeley Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• UC Berkeley Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

UC Berkeley Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 96% students making it past their freshmen year, UC Berkeley 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 California, the average is 73.07%.

UC Berkeley Graduation Rates

There were approximately 7,398 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?

77% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 92% in six years, and 93% 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 UC Berkeley graduation rate 92%.

The average length of time it takes an UC Berkeley undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.21 years.

UC Berkeley Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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UC Berkeley Drop Out Rate

Approximately 574 students or 7% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 574 students who did not complete their degree?

• 16 are still enrolled.

• 332 transferred to another institution.

• UC Berkeley lost contact with the remaining 220 who we assumed dropped out.

UC Berkeley Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at University of California - Berkeley represent 67% of the students in the class of 2015, and 66.72% of UC Berkeley bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 77%, first-time students in the UC Berkeley class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the UC Berkeley graduation rate was 91%, and by the eight year mark, 93% 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.

UC Berkeley First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

First-Time / Full-Time UC Berkeley Drop Out Rates

403 first-time / full-time students or 7% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 16 are still enrolled.

• 239 transferred to another institution.

• UC Berkeley lost contact with the remaining 150 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at University of California - Berkeley represent 0.46% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 68%, first-time, part-time students in the UC Berkeley class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 73%.

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 UC Berkeley Graduation Rates vs. National Average

First-Time / Part-Time UC Berkeley Drop Out Rates

10 first-time / part-time students or 27% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 4 transferred to another institution.

• UC Berkeley lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

2547 UC Berkeley students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 31.58% 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 93%, 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 94%.

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.

UC Berkeley Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Full-Time UC Berkeley Drop Out Rates

151 non first-time / part-time students or 6% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 7 are still enrolled.

• 81 transferred to another institution.

• UC Berkeley lost contact with the remaining 63 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

69 UC Berkeley students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 0.86% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 84%, 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 86%.

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.

UC Berkeley Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Part-Time UC Berkeley Drop Out Rates

10 non first-time / part-time students or 14% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 1 are still enrolled.

• 8 transferred to another institution.

• UC Berkeley lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics

• Image Credit: By LAgirl5252 under License