by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to UNI after their first year? Are UNI 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, UNI 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 Iowa, the average is 68.94%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UNI | 86% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Iowa | 68.94% |
There were approximately 2,178 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 40% of the cohort graduated. After six years 65% had completed their degree, and 66% 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 UNI graduation rate 65%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at UNI? The standard length of time for most students is 4.39 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,575 | 47% |
| Six Years | 2,178 | 65% |
| Eight Years | 44 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,152 | 34% |
Approximately 1152 students or 34% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1152 students who did not complete their degree?
5 are still enrolled.
777 transferred to another institution.
UNI lost contact with the remaining 361 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.4% |
| Transferred | 777 | 67.4% |
| Dropped Out | 361 | 31.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 79% |
| Black / African-American | 40% |
| Hispanic | 54% |
| International | 47% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 46% |
| Unknown | 42% |
| White | 66% |
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 UNI 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 Northern Iowa represent 57% of the students in the class of 2015, and 59.18% of UNI bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 40%, first-time students in the UNI class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UNI graduation rate was 67%, and by the eight year mark, 68% 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 | UNI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 40% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 67% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 47.82% |
608 first-time / full-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
478 transferred to another institution.
UNI lost contact with the remaining 121 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.82% |
| Transferred | 478 | 78.62% |
| Dropped Out | 121 | 19.90% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Northern Iowa represent 2.22% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 27%, first-time, part-time students in the UNI class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 36%.
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 | UNI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 27% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 23.72% |
48 first-time / part-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
25 transferred to another institution.
UNI lost contact with the remaining 22 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.08% |
| Transferred | 25 | 52.08% |
| Dropped Out | 22 | 45.83% |
1205 UNI students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 35.62% 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 | UNI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 67% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 55.07% |
384 non first-time / part-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
233 transferred to another institution.
UNI lost contact with the remaining 147 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.04% |
| Transferred | 233 | 60.68% |
| Dropped Out | 147 | 38.28% |
178 UNI students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 5.26% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 36%, 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 37%.
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 | UNI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 36% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 37.80% |
112 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
41 transferred to another institution.
UNI lost contact with the remaining 71 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 41 | 36.61% |
| Dropped Out | 71 | 63.39% |
