by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at UMass Lowell? 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 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, UMass Lowell 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 Massachusetts, the average is 73.02%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UMass Lowell | 84% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Massachusetts | 73.02% |
There were approximately 2,013 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
38% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 56% in six years, and 58% in eight years.
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 UMass Lowell graduation rate 56%.
The average length of time it takes an UMass Lowell undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.45 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,514 | 42% |
| Six Years | 2,013 | 56% |
| Eight Years | 70 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,492 | 42% |
Approximately 1492 students or 42% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1492 students who did not complete their degree?
24 are still enrolled.
889 transferred to another institution.
UMass Lowell lost contact with the remaining 537 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 1.6% |
| Transferred | 889 | 59.6% |
| Dropped Out | 537 | 36.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 71% |
| Black / African-American | 63% |
| Hispanic | 58% |
| International | 68% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 67% |
| Unknown | 67% |
| White | 70% |
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 UMass Lowell 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 Massachusetts - Lowell represent 41% of the students in the class of 2015, and 43.07% of UMass Lowell bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 38%, first-time students in the UMass Lowell class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UMass Lowell graduation rate was 59%, and by the eight year mark, 62% 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 | UMass Lowell | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 59% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 47.82% |
557 first-time / full-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
24 are still enrolled.
364 transferred to another institution.
UMass Lowell lost contact with the remaining 167 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 4.31% |
| Transferred | 364 | 65.35% |
| Dropped Out | 167 | 29.98% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Massachusetts - Lowell represent 1.98% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 13%, first-time, part-time students in the UMass Lowell class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 14%.
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 | UMass Lowell | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
61 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
24 transferred to another institution.
UMass Lowell lost contact with the remaining 35 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 3.28% |
| Transferred | 24 | 39.34% |
| Dropped Out | 35 | 57.38% |
1373 UMass Lowell students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 38.32% 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 63%, 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 64%.
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 | UMass Lowell | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 63% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 55.07% |
491 non first-time / part-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
319 transferred to another institution.
UMass Lowell lost contact with the remaining 155 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 3.46% |
| Transferred | 319 | 64.97% |
| Dropped Out | 155 | 31.57% |
672 UMass Lowell students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 18.76% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 41%, 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 | UMass Lowell | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 41% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 37.80% |
383 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
21 are still enrolled.
182 transferred to another institution.
UMass Lowell lost contact with the remaining 180 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 5.48% |
| Transferred | 182 | 47.52% |
| Dropped Out | 180 | 47.00% |
