by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to UC Santa Cruz after their first year? Are UC Santa Cruz students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 85% students making it past their freshmen year, UC Santa Cruz 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 | |
|---|---|
| UC Santa Cruz | 85% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 3,840 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 53% of the cohort graduated. After six years 79% had completed their degree, and 81% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of UC Santa Cruz is 79%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
The typical UC Santa Cruz student takes 4.35 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,911 | 60% |
| Six Years | 3,840 | 79% |
| Eight Years | 74 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 925 | 19% |
Approximately 925 students or 19% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 925 students who did not complete their degree?
5 are still enrolled.
228 transferred to another institution.
UC Santa Cruz lost contact with the remaining 691 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 228 | 24.6% |
| Dropped Out | 691 | 74.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 80% |
| Asian | 83% |
| Black / African-American | 74% |
| Hawaiian | 60% |
| Hispanic | 71% |
| International | 72% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 73% |
| Unknown | 80% |
| 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 UC Santa Cruz 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 Cruz represent 74% of the students in the class of 2015, and 72.71% of UC Santa Cruz bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 53%, first-time students in the UC Santa Cruz class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UC Santa Cruz graduation rate was 78%, and by the eight year mark, 80% 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 | UC Santa Cruz | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 53% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 78% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 80% | 47.82% |
735 first-time / full-time students or 20% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
195 transferred to another institution.
UC Santa Cruz lost contact with the remaining 535 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.68% |
| Transferred | 195 | 26.53% |
| Dropped Out | 535 | 72.79% |
First-time / part-time students at University of California - Santa Cruz represent 0.16% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 75%, first-time, part-time students in the UC Santa Cruz class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 75%.
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 | UC Santa Cruz | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 75% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 75% | 23.72% |
2 first-time / part-time students or 25% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
UC Santa Cruz 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 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 100.00% |
1195 UC Santa Cruz students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 24.64% 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 85%, 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 86%.
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 | UC Santa Cruz | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 85% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 86% | 55.07% |
168 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.
33 transferred to another institution.
UC Santa Cruz lost contact with the remaining 134 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.60% |
| Transferred | 33 | 19.64% |
| Dropped Out | 134 | 79.76% |
46 UC Santa Cruz students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 0.95% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 57%, 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 57%.
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 | UC Santa Cruz | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 57% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 37.80% |
20 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
UC Santa Cruz lost contact with the remaining 20 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 20 | 100.00% |
