by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to UH after their first year? Are UH students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 86% students making it past their freshmen year, UH 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 Texas, the average is 68.17%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UH | 86% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
How many of the estimated 5,607 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 25% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 54% of the students had graduated and after eight years 57% of this class completed their degree.
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 UH graduation rate 54%.
The average length of time it takes an UH undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.59 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3,773 | 37% |
| Six Years | 5,607 | 54% |
| Eight Years | 279 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 4,412 | 43% |
Approximately 4412 students or 43% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4412 students who did not complete their degree?
28 are still enrolled.
3016 transferred to another institution.
UH lost contact with the remaining 1276 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 3016 | 68.4% |
| Dropped Out | 1,276 | 28.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Asian | 70% |
| Black / African-American | 57% |
| Hawaiian | 63% |
| Hispanic | 59% |
| International | 69% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 52% |
| Unknown | 74% |
| White | 60% |
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 UH 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 Houston represent 36% of the students in the class of 2015, and 34.71% of UH bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time students in the UH class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UH graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | UH | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 53% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 47.82% |
1580 first-time / full-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
28 are still enrolled.
1104 transferred to another institution.
UH lost contact with the remaining 418 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 1.77% |
| Transferred | 1104 | 69.87% |
| Dropped Out | 418 | 26.46% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Houston represent 1.74% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 38%, first-time, part-time students in the UH class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 44%.
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 | UH | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 38% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 23.72% |
100 first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
69 transferred to another institution.
UH lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.00% |
| Transferred | 69 | 69.00% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 29.00% |
4316 UH students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 41.91% 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 59%, 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 61%.
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 | UH | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 59% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 55.07% |
1674 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
40 are still enrolled.
1100 transferred to another institution.
UH lost contact with the remaining 534 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 40 | 2.39% |
| Transferred | 1100 | 65.71% |
| Dropped Out | 534 | 31.90% |
2139 UH students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 20.77% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 48%, 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 51%.
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 | UH | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 48% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 37.80% |
1058 non first-time / part-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
743 transferred to another institution.
UH lost contact with the remaining 295 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 1.89% |
| Transferred | 743 | 70.23% |
| Dropped Out | 295 | 27.88% |
