by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many U of U first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore U of U retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 89% students making it past their freshmen year, U of U 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 Utah, the average is 75.47%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| U of U | 89% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Utah | 75.47% |
How many of the estimated 4,147 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
30% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 63% in six years, and 69% 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 U of U graduation rate 63%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at U of U? The standard length of time for most students is 4.68 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,778 | 43% |
| Six Years | 4,147 | 63% |
| Eight Years | 363 | 6% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,021 | 31% |
Approximately 2021 students or 31% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2021 students who did not complete their degree?
69 are still enrolled.
964 transferred to another institution.
U of U lost contact with the remaining 897 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 69 | 3.4% |
| Transferred | 964 | 47.7% |
| Dropped Out | 897 | 44.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 43% |
| Asian | 80% |
| Black / African-American | 50% |
| Hawaiian | 44% |
| Hispanic | 57% |
| International | 75% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 67% |
| Unknown | 73% |
| White | 68% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 U of U are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at University of Utah represent 44% of the students in the class of 2015, and 41.43% of U of U bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 30%, first-time students in the U of U class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the U of U graduation rate was 66%, and by the eight year mark, 75% 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 | U of U | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 66% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 75% | 47.82% |
653 first-time / full-time students or 25% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
69 are still enrolled.
437 transferred to another institution.
U of U lost contact with the remaining 135 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 69 | 10.57% |
| Transferred | 437 | 66.92% |
| Dropped Out | 135 | 20.67% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Utah represent 6.36% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time, part-time students in the U of U class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 38%.
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 | U of U | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 23.72% |
235 first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
31 are still enrolled.
97 transferred to another institution.
U of U lost contact with the remaining 107 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 31 | 13.19% |
| Transferred | 97 | 41.28% |
| Dropped Out | 107 | 45.53% |
2372 U of U students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 33.37% 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 70%, 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 72%.
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 | U of U | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 70% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 55.07% |
675 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
29 are still enrolled.
258 transferred to another institution.
U of U lost contact with the remaining 388 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 29 | 4.30% |
| Transferred | 258 | 38.22% |
| Dropped Out | 388 | 57.48% |
1177 U of U students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.56% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 58%, 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 61%.
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 | U of U | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 58% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 37.80% |
458 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
19 are still enrolled.
172 transferred to another institution.
U of U lost contact with the remaining 267 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 19 | 4.15% |
| Transferred | 172 | 37.55% |
| Dropped Out | 267 | 58.30% |
