by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Pitt first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Pitt 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 93% students making it past their freshmen year, Pitt 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%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Pitt | 93% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
How many of the estimated 3,998 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 64% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 80% of the students had graduated and after eight years 81% of this class completed their degree.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official Pitt graduation rate 80%.
The typical Pitt student takes 4.24 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3,264 | 66% |
| Six Years | 3,998 | 80% |
| Eight Years | 42 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 939 | 19% |
Approximately 939 students or 19% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 939 students who did not complete their degree?
7 are still enrolled.
685 transferred to another institution.
Pitt lost contact with the remaining 237 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 685 | 72.9% |
| Dropped Out | 237 | 25.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 87% |
| Black / African-American | 65% |
| Hawaiian | 67% |
| Hispanic | 76% |
| International | 76% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 81% |
| Unknown | 68% |
| White | 85% |
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 Pitt 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 Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus represent 76% of the students in the class of 2015, and 77.76% of Pitt bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 64%, first-time students in the Pitt class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Pitt graduation rate was 82%, and by the eight year mark, 83% 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 | Pitt | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 64% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 82% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 83% | 47.82% |
632 first-time / full-time students or 17% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
500 transferred to another institution.
Pitt lost contact with the remaining 118 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.11% |
| Transferred | 500 | 79.11% |
| Dropped Out | 118 | 18.67% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus represent 0.24% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 58%, first-time, part-time students in the Pitt class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 58%.
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 | Pitt | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 50% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 58% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 23.72% |
5 first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
Pitt lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 60.00% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 40.00% |
1035 Pitt students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 20.75% 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 79%, 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 80%.
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 | Pitt | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 79% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 80% | 55.07% |
210 non first-time / part-time students or 20% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
135 transferred to another institution.
Pitt lost contact with the remaining 72 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.43% |
| Transferred | 135 | 64.29% |
| Dropped Out | 72 | 34.29% |
161 Pitt students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.23% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 40%, 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 43%.
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 | Pitt | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 40% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 37.80% |
92 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
47 transferred to another institution.
Pitt lost contact with the remaining 45 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 47 | 51.09% |
| Dropped Out | 45 | 48.91% |
