by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at UMKC? 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 75% students making it past their freshmen year, UMKC 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 Missouri, the average is 69.43%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UMKC | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Missouri | 69.43% |
There were approximately 1,632 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 25% of the cohort graduated. After six years 49% had completed their degree, and 50% after 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 UMKC graduation rate 49%.
The average length of time it takes an UMKC undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.62 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,209 | 36% |
| Six Years | 1,632 | 49% |
| Eight Years | 53 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,659 | 50% |
Approximately 1659 students or 50% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1659 students who did not complete their degree?
7 are still enrolled.
1036 transferred to another institution.
UMKC lost contact with the remaining 592 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 0.4% |
| Transferred | 1036 | 62.4% |
| Dropped Out | 592 | 35.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 75% |
| Black / African-American | 37% |
| Hispanic | 49% |
| International | 55% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 59% |
| Unknown | 54% |
| White | 55% |
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 UMKC 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 Missouri - Kansas City represent 35% of the students in the class of 2015, and 34.68% of UMKC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time students in the UMKC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UMKC graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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 | UMKC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 48% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 47.82% |
581 first-time / full-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
379 transferred to another institution.
UMKC lost contact with the remaining 192 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.20% |
| Transferred | 379 | 65.23% |
| Dropped Out | 192 | 33.05% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Missouri - Kansas City represent 1.88% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 10%, first-time, part-time students in the UMKC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 13%.
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 | UMKC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 10% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
55 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
34 transferred to another institution.
UMKC lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 3.64% |
| Transferred | 34 | 61.82% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 34.55% |
1472 UMKC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 43.97% 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 56%, 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 57%.
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 | UMKC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 56% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 55.07% |
633 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
380 transferred to another institution.
UMKC lost contact with the remaining 239 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 2.21% |
| Transferred | 380 | 60.03% |
| Dropped Out | 239 | 37.76% |
637 UMKC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 19.03% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 37%, 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 39%.
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 | UMKC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 37% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 37.80% |
390 non first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
243 transferred to another institution.
UMKC lost contact with the remaining 142 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.28% |
| Transferred | 243 | 62.31% |
| Dropped Out | 142 | 36.41% |
