by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at University of West Alabama? 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.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 63% students making it past their freshmen year, University of West Alabama has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Alabama, the average is 66.79%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| University of West Alabama | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Alabama | 66.79% |
Of the 300 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 18% of the cohort graduated. After six years 34% had completed their degree, and 35% 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 University of West Alabama graduation rate 34%.
The typical University of West Alabama student takes 4.50 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 228 | 26% |
| Six Years | 300 | 34% |
| Eight Years | 11 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 577 | 65% |
Approximately 577 students or 65% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 577 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
374 transferred to another institution.
University of West Alabama lost contact with the remaining 197 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.2% |
| Transferred | 374 | 64.8% |
| Dropped Out | 197 | 34.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 100% |
| Black / African-American | 33% |
| Hispanic | 33% |
| International | 29% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 25% |
| Unknown | 33% |
| White | 47% |
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 University of West Alabama 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 West Alabama represent 42% of the students in the class of 2015, and 39.67% of University of West Alabama bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 18%, first-time students in the University of West Alabama class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the University of West Alabama graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | University of West Alabama | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 32% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 47.82% |
245 first-time / full-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
159 transferred to another institution.
University of West Alabama lost contact with the remaining 83 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.41% |
| Transferred | 159 | 64.90% |
| Dropped Out | 83 | 33.88% |
First-time / part-time students at University of West Alabama represent 3.36% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 20%, first-time, part-time students in the University of West Alabama class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 20%.
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 | University of West Alabama | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 20% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
24 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
15 transferred to another institution.
University of West Alabama lost contact with the remaining 8 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 4.17% |
| Transferred | 15 | 62.50% |
| Dropped Out | 8 | 33.33% |
348 University of West Alabama students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 39.01% 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 44%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 45%.
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 | University of West Alabama | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 44% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 55.07% |
192 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
121 transferred to another institution.
University of West Alabama lost contact with the remaining 71 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 121 | 63.02% |
| Dropped Out | 71 | 36.98% |
140 University of West Alabama students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.70% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 16%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 17%.
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 | University of West Alabama | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 16% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 37.80% |
116 non first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
79 transferred to another institution.
University of West Alabama lost contact with the remaining 35 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.72% |
| Transferred | 79 | 68.10% |
| Dropped Out | 35 | 30.17% |
