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UPenn Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

86% 4-Year Graduation Rate
95% 6-Year Graduation Rate
95% Retention Rate

University of Pennsylvania 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How many UPenn first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore UPenn retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.

UPenn Retention Rate

95% Freshmen Retention Rate
Good Retention Rate

The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.

With 95% students making it past their freshmen year, UPenn 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.

UPenn Retention  95 out of 100
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100%
Pennsylvania Retention  73 out of 100
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Retention Rate
UPenn95%
Nationwide70.57%
Pennsylvania73.24%

UPenn Graduation Rates

95% 6-Year Graduation Rate
2.09% Transfer Rate
1.39% Dropout Rate

Of the 2,464 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?

After four years 86% of the cohort graduated. After six years 95% had completed their degree, and 96% 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 UPenn graduation rate 95%.

How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at UPenn? The standard length of time for most students is 4.12 years.

Four Year Graduation Rate  86%
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  95%
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  96%
0%
100%

UPenn Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years2,21286%
Six Years2,46495%
Eight Years251%
Did Not Complete924%
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
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UPenn Drop Out Rate

Approximately 92 students or 4% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 92 students who did not complete their degree?

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Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled44.3%
Transferred5458.7%
Dropped Out3639.1%

UPenn Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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Race/EthnicityGraduation Rate
American Indian or Alaskan Native100%
Asian98%
Black / African-American93%
Hispanic90%
International95%
Multi-Ethnic98%
Unknown80%
White96%

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 UPenn 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 UPenn Graduation Rates

93% First-Time, Full-Time
96% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / full-time students at University of Pennsylvania represent 93% of the students in the class of 2015, and 93.47% of UPenn bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 86%, first-time students in the UPenn class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the UPenn graduation rate was 96%, and by the eight year mark, 97% 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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  86 out of 100
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100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  96 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  97 out of 100
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100%

UPenn First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsUPennNationwide
Four Years86%37.92%
Six Years96%46.43%
Eight Years97%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time UPenn Drop Out Rates

79 first-time / full-time students or 3% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled45.06%
Transferred4354.43%
Dropped Out3443.04%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

2% First-Time, Part-Time
82% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / part-time students at University of Pennsylvania represent 1.93% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 82%, first-time, part-time students in the UPenn class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 82%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  82 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  82 out of 100
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100%

First-Time / Part-Time UPenn Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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First-Time / Part-Time CompletionsUPennNationwide
Four Years72%14.37%
Six Years82%21.59%
Eight Years82%23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time UPenn Drop Out Rates

9 first-time / part-time students or 18% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.00%
Transferred777.78%
Dropped Out222.22%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

5% Returning, Full-Time
96% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

123 UPenn students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 4.76% 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 96%, 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 98%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  96 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  98 out of 100
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100%

UPenn Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Full-Time CompletionsUPennNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years96%53.83%
Eight Years98%55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time UPenn Drop Out Rates

2 non first-time / part-time students or 2% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.00%
Transferred2100.00%
Dropped Out00.00%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

0% Returning, Part-Time
50% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

4 UPenn students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 0.15% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 50%, 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 50%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  50 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  50 out of 100
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100%

UPenn Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Part-Time CompletionsUPennNationwide
Four Years0%30.46%
Six Years50%36.03%
Eight Years50%37.80%

Non First-Time / Part-Time UPenn Drop Out Rates

2 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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Returning / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.00%
Transferred2100.00%
Dropped Out00.00%

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