by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding DU retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 84% students making it past their freshmen year, DU 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 Colorado, the average is 70.70%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| DU | 84% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Colorado | 70.70% |
There were approximately 1,201 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 65% of the cohort graduated. After six years 74% had completed their degree, and 74% after 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 DU graduation rate 74%.
The average DU student takes 4.14 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,041 | 64% |
| Six Years | 1,201 | 74% |
| Eight Years | 15 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 417 | 26% |
Approximately 417 students or 26% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 417 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
242 transferred to another institution.
DU lost contact with the remaining 165 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.2% |
| Transferred | 242 | 58.0% |
| Dropped Out | 165 | 39.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 75% |
| Asian | 76% |
| Black / African-American | 81% |
| Hawaiian | 33% |
| Hispanic | 72% |
| International | 70% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 75% |
| Unknown | 70% |
| White | 76% |
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 DU 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 Denver represent 77% of the students in the class of 2015, and 78.60% of DU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 65%, first-time students in the DU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the DU graduation rate was 75%, and by the eight year mark, 76% 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 | DU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 65% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 75% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 76% | 47.82% |
300 first-time / full-time students or 24% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
179 transferred to another institution.
DU lost contact with the remaining 116 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.33% |
| Transferred | 179 | 59.67% |
| Dropped Out | 116 | 38.67% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Denver represent 0.67% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 27%, first-time, part-time students in the DU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 27%.
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 | DU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 27% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 23.72% |
8 first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
5 transferred to another institution.
DU lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 12.50% |
| Transferred | 5 | 62.50% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 25.00% |
262 DU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.02% 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 80%, 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 81%.
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 | DU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 80% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 81% | 55.07% |
49 non first-time / part-time students or 19% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
29 transferred to another institution.
DU lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.04% |
| Transferred | 29 | 59.18% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 38.78% |
106 DU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.48% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 42%, 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 43%.
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 | DU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 37.80% |
60 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
29 transferred to another institution.
DU lost contact with the remaining 28 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 5.00% |
| Transferred | 29 | 48.33% |
| Dropped Out | 28 | 46.67% |
