by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UCSB first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore UCSB retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 91% students making it past their freshmen year, UCSB 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%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UCSB | 91% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 4,611 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
68% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 83% in six years, and 85% 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 UCSB graduation rate 83%.
The average length of time it takes an UCSB undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.22 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4,054 | 73% |
| Six Years | 4,611 | 83% |
| Eight Years | 73 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 852 | 15% |
Approximately 852 students or 15% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 852 students who did not complete their degree?
18 are still enrolled.
609 transferred to another institution.
UCSB lost contact with the remaining 233 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 2.1% |
| Transferred | 609 | 71.5% |
| Dropped Out | 233 | 27.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 83% |
| Asian | 85% |
| Black / African-American | 78% |
| Hawaiian | 94% |
| Hispanic | 79% |
| International | 85% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 87% |
| Unknown | 81% |
| White | 87% |
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 UCSB 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 of California - Santa Barbara represent 74% of the students in the class of 2015, and 72.24% of UCSB bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 68%, first-time students in the UCSB class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UCSB graduation rate was 81%, and by the eight year mark, 83% 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 | UCSB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 68% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 81% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 83% | 47.82% |
695 first-time / full-time students or 17% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
18 are still enrolled.
503 transferred to another institution.
UCSB lost contact with the remaining 183 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 2.59% |
| Transferred | 503 | 72.37% |
| Dropped Out | 183 | 26.33% |
First-time / part-time students at University of California - Santa Barbara represent 0.34% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 37%, first-time, part-time students in the UCSB class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 37%.
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 | UCSB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 37% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 23.72% |
12 first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
10 transferred to another institution.
UCSB lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 10 | 83.33% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 16.67% |
1367 UCSB students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 24.69% 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 90%, 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 90%.
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 | UCSB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 90% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 90% | 55.07% |
131 non first-time / part-time students or 10% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
85 transferred to another institution.
UCSB lost contact with the remaining 45 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.76% |
| Transferred | 85 | 64.89% |
| Dropped Out | 45 | 34.35% |
61 UCSB students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 1.10% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 75%, 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 77%.
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 | UCSB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 75% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 77% | 37.80% |
14 non first-time / part-time students or 23% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
11 transferred to another institution.
UCSB lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 11 | 78.57% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 21.43% |
