by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UNC Chapel Hill first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore UNC Chapel Hill retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 95% students making it past their freshmen year, UNC Chapel Hill 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 | |
|---|---|
| UNC Chapel Hill | 95% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
Of the 4,390 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
84% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 90% in six years, and 90% 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 UNC Chapel Hill graduation rate 90%.
The average length of time it takes an UNC Chapel Hill undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.09 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4,093 | 84% |
| Six Years | 4,390 | 90% |
| Eight Years | 24 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 471 | 10% |
Approximately 471 students or 10% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 471 students who did not complete their degree?
10 are still enrolled.
287 transferred to another institution.
UNC Chapel Hill lost contact with the remaining 177 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 2.1% |
| Transferred | 287 | 60.9% |
| Dropped Out | 177 | 37.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 86% |
| Asian | 94% |
| Black / African-American | 88% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 90% |
| International | 57% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 85% |
| Unknown | 94% |
| White | 92% |
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 UNC Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill represent 82% of the students in the class of 2015, and 83.33% of UNC Chapel Hill bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 84%, first-time students in the UNC Chapel Hill class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UNC Chapel Hill graduation rate was 91%, and by the eight year mark, 91% 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 | UNC Chapel Hill | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 84% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 91% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 91% | 47.82% |
350 first-time / full-time students or 9% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
202 transferred to another institution.
UNC Chapel Hill lost contact with the remaining 143 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 2.86% |
| Transferred | 202 | 57.71% |
| Dropped Out | 143 | 40.86% |
First-time / part-time students at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill represent 0.06% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 33%, first-time, part-time students in the UNC Chapel Hill class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 33%.
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 | UNC Chapel Hill | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 33% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 23.72% |
2 first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
UNC Chapel Hill 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 | 1 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 50.00% |
816 UNC Chapel Hill students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.68% 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 88%, 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 | UNC Chapel Hill | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 88% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 88% | 55.07% |
98 non first-time / part-time students or 12% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
72 transferred to another institution.
UNC Chapel Hill lost contact with the remaining 24 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.04% |
| Transferred | 72 | 73.47% |
| Dropped Out | 24 | 24.49% |
38 UNC Chapel Hill students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 0.78% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 45%, 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 45%.
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 | UNC Chapel Hill | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 45% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 37.80% |
21 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
UNC Chapel Hill lost contact with the remaining 9 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 12 | 57.14% |
| Dropped Out | 9 | 42.86% |
