by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at UCA? 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 79% students making it past their freshmen year, UCA 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 Arkansas, the average is 66.23%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UCA | 79% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Arkansas | 66.23% |
Of the 1,233 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 22% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 42% of the students had graduated and after eight years 44% 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 UCA graduation rate 42%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at UCA? The standard length of time for most students is 4.44 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 787 | 27% |
| Six Years | 1,233 | 42% |
| Eight Years | 64 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,635 | 56% |
Approximately 1635 students or 56% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1635 students who did not complete their degree?
17 are still enrolled.
1040 transferred to another institution.
UCA lost contact with the remaining 568 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 1.0% |
| Transferred | 1040 | 63.6% |
| Dropped Out | 568 | 34.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 29% |
| Asian | 64% |
| Black / African-American | 26% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 42% |
| International | 71% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 46% |
| Unknown | 60% |
| White | 51% |
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 UCA 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 Central Arkansas represent 69% of the students in the class of 2015, and 66.91% of UCA bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time students in the UCA class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UCA graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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 | UCA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 41% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 47.82% |
1147 first-time / full-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
727 transferred to another institution.
UCA lost contact with the remaining 400 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 1.48% |
| Transferred | 727 | 63.38% |
| Dropped Out | 400 | 34.87% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Central Arkansas represent 0.99% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 21%, first-time, part-time students in the UCA class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 24%.
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 | UCA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 23.72% |
22 first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
16 transferred to another institution.
UCA lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 16 | 72.73% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 27.27% |
720 UCA students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 24.56% 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 47%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 48%.
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 | UCA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 47% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 55.07% |
372 non first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
241 transferred to another institution.
UCA lost contact with the remaining 125 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.61% |
| Transferred | 241 | 64.78% |
| Dropped Out | 125 | 33.60% |
159 UCA students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 5.42% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 39%, 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 41%.
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 | UCA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 39% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 37.80% |
94 non first-time / part-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
56 transferred to another institution.
UCA lost contact with the remaining 37 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.06% |
| Transferred | 56 | 59.57% |
| Dropped Out | 37 | 39.36% |
