Pacific Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

University of the Pacific 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How long does it take to earn a degree at Pacific? 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.

• Pacific Retention Rate
• Pacific Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• Pacific Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

Pacific Retention Rate

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

With 87% students making it past their freshmen year, Pacific 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 California, the average is 73.07%.

Pacific Graduation Rates

There were approximately 866 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?

After four years 53% of the cohort graduated. After six years 72% had completed their degree, and 73% after eight years.

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 Pacific graduation rate 72%.

How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at Pacific? The standard length of time for most students is 4.34 years.

Pacific Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Pacific Drop Out Rate

Approximately 324 students or 27% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 324 students who did not complete their degree?

• 5 are still enrolled.

• 209 transferred to another institution.

• Pacific lost contact with the remaining 113 who we assumed dropped out.

Pacific Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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 Pacific 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 Pacific Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at University of the Pacific represent 78% of the students in the class of 2015, and 76.67% of Pacific bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 53%, first-time students in the Pacific class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the Pacific graduation rate was 71%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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.

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

First-Time / Full-Time Pacific Drop Out Rates

266 first-time / full-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 5 are still enrolled.

• 175 transferred to another institution.

• Pacific lost contact with the remaining 89 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at University of the Pacific represent 0.33% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time, part-time students in the Pacific 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 Pacific Graduation Rates vs. National Average

First-Time / Part-Time Pacific Drop Out Rates

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.

• 3 transferred to another institution.

• Pacific lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

255 Pacific students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 21.23% 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 78%, 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 79%.

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.

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

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

54 non first-time / part-time students or 21% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 31 transferred to another institution.

• Pacific lost contact with the remaining 23 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

3 Pacific students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 0.25% of the students in the class of 2015.

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.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 67%.

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.

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

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

1 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 0 transferred to another institution.

• Pacific lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics

• Image Credit: By Thias under License