by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at UNCA? 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 76% students making it past their freshmen year, UNCA 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 North Carolina, the average is 66.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UNCA | 76% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
How many of the estimated 631 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 41% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 62% of the students had graduated and after eight years 63% of this class completed their degree.
The official graduation rate of UNCA is 62%. 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 average length of time it takes an UNCA undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.42 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 488 | 48% |
| Six Years | 631 | 62% |
| Eight Years | 11 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 376 | 37% |
Approximately 376 students or 37% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 376 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
269 transferred to another institution.
UNCA lost contact with the remaining 105 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 269 | 71.5% |
| Dropped Out | 105 | 27.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Asian | 59% |
| Black / African-American | 75% |
| Hispanic | 67% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 71% |
| Unknown | 56% |
| White | 61% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 UNCA are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at University of North Carolina at Asheville represent 54% of the students in the class of 2015, and 53.09% of UNCA bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 41%, first-time students in the UNCA class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UNCA graduation rate was 61%, 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 | UNCA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 41% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 61% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 47.82% |
209 first-time / full-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
161 transferred to another institution.
UNCA lost contact with the remaining 47 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 161 | 77.03% |
| Dropped Out | 47 | 22.49% |
First-time / part-time students at University of North Carolina at Asheville represent 0.39% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time, part-time students in the UNCA class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 25%.
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 | UNCA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 23.72% |
3 first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
UNCA lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 33.33% |
412 UNCA students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 40.27% 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 67%, 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 68%.
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 | UNCA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 67% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 55.07% |
132 non first-time / part-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
92 transferred to another institution.
UNCA lost contact with the remaining 39 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.76% |
| Transferred | 92 | 69.70% |
| Dropped Out | 39 | 29.55% |
55 UNCA students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 5.38% 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 42%.
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 | UNCA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
32 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
14 transferred to another institution.
UNCA lost contact with the remaining 18 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 14 | 43.75% |
| Dropped Out | 18 | 56.25% |
