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DU Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

65% 4-Year Graduation Rate
74% 6-Year Graduation Rate
84% Retention Rate

University of Denver 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

Make 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.

DU Retention Rate

84% Freshmen Retention Rate
Good Retention Rate

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%.

DU Retention  84 out of 100
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Colorado Retention  71 out of 100
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Retention Rate
DU84%
Nationwide70.57%
Colorado70.70%

DU Graduation Rates

74% 6-Year Graduation Rate
14.80% Transfer Rate
10.09% Dropout Rate

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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  64%
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100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  74%
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  74%
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100%

DU Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years1,04164%
Six Years1,20174%
Eight Years150%
Did Not Complete41726%
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
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DU Drop Out Rate

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?

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Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled10.2%
Transferred24258.0%
Dropped Out16539.6%

DU Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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Race/EthnicityGraduation Rate
American Indian or Alaskan Native75%
Asian76%
Black / African-American81%
Hawaiian33%
Hispanic72%
International70%
Multi-Ethnic75%
Unknown70%
White76%

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 DU Graduation Rates

77% First-Time, Full-Time
75% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  65 out of 100
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Six Year Graduation Rate  75 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  76 out of 100
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DU First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsDUNationwide
Four Years65%37.92%
Six Years75%46.43%
Eight Years76%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time DU Drop Out Rates

300 first-time / full-time students or 24% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled10.33%
Transferred17959.67%
Dropped Out11638.67%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

1% First-Time, Part-Time
27% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  27 out of 100
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Eight Year Graduation Rate  27 out of 100
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First-Time / Part-Time DU Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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First-Time / Part-Time CompletionsDUNationwide
Four Years1%14.37%
Six Years27%21.59%
Eight Years27%23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time DU Drop Out Rates

8 first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled112.50%
Transferred562.50%
Dropped Out225.00%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

16% Returning, Full-Time
80% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  80 out of 100
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Eight Year Graduation Rate  81 out of 100
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DU Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Full-Time CompletionsDUNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years80%53.83%
Eight Years81%55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time DU Drop Out Rates

49 non first-time / part-time students or 19% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled12.04%
Transferred2959.18%
Dropped Out1938.78%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

6% Returning, Part-Time
42% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  42 out of 100
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Eight Year Graduation Rate  43 out of 100
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DU Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Part-Time CompletionsDUNationwide
Four Years0%30.46%
Six Years42%36.03%
Eight Years43%37.80%

Non First-Time / Part-Time DU Drop Out Rates

60 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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Returning / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled35.00%
Transferred2948.33%
Dropped Out2846.67%

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