by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to UF after their first year? Are UF students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 97% students making it past their freshmen year, UF 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 Florida, the average is 70.38%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UF | 97% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Florida | 70.38% |
There were approximately 8,261 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 67% of the cohort graduated. After six years 87% had completed their degree, and 88% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of UF is 87%. 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 UF student takes 4.28 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6,738 | 71% |
| Six Years | 8,261 | 87% |
| Eight Years | 91 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,191 | 12% |
Approximately 1191 students or 12% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1191 students who did not complete their degree?
20 are still enrolled.
906 transferred to another institution.
UF lost contact with the remaining 251 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 1.7% |
| Transferred | 906 | 76.1% |
| Dropped Out | 251 | 21.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 88% |
| Asian | 88% |
| Black / African-American | 83% |
| Hawaiian | 86% |
| Hispanic | 88% |
| International | 73% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 87% |
| Unknown | 85% |
| White | 90% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 UF are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at University of Florida represent 72% of the students in the class of 2015, and 72.61% of UF bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 67%, first-time students in the UF class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UF graduation rate was 88%, and by the eight year mark, 89% 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 | UF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 67% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 88% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 89% | 47.82% |
769 first-time / full-time students or 11% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
645 transferred to another institution.
UF lost contact with the remaining 103 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 2.60% |
| Transferred | 645 | 83.88% |
| Dropped Out | 103 | 13.39% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Florida represent 0.50% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 44%, first-time, part-time students in the UF class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 48%.
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 | UF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 44% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 23.72% |
25 first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
19 transferred to another institution.
UF 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 | 19 | 76.00% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 24.00% |
2294 UF students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 24.02% 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 87%, 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 88%.
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 | UF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 87% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 88% | 55.07% |
283 non first-time / part-time students or 12% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
198 transferred to another institution.
UF lost contact with the remaining 80 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.77% |
| Transferred | 198 | 69.96% |
| Dropped Out | 80 | 28.27% |
372 UF students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.90% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 68%, 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 69%.
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 | UF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 68% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 37.80% |
114 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
44 transferred to another institution.
UF lost contact with the remaining 62 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 7.02% |
| Transferred | 44 | 38.60% |
| Dropped Out | 62 | 54.39% |
