by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding UW - La Crosse retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 86% students making it past their freshmen year, UW - La Crosse 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 Wisconsin, the average is 74.47%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UW - La Crosse | 86% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Wisconsin | 74.47% |
How many of the estimated 1,834 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 42% of the cohort graduated. After six years 69% had completed their degree, and 70% 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 UW - La Crosse graduation rate 69%.
The average length of time it takes an UW - La Crosse undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.48 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,196 | 45% |
| Six Years | 1,834 | 69% |
| Eight Years | 33 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 801 | 30% |
Approximately 801 students or 30% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 801 students who did not complete their degree?
6 are still enrolled.
614 transferred to another institution.
UW - La Crosse lost contact with the remaining 179 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 614 | 76.7% |
| Dropped Out | 179 | 22.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 44% |
| Black / African-American | 31% |
| Hispanic | 63% |
| International | 50% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 63% |
| White | 73% |
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 UW - La Crosse 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 Wisconsin - La Crosse represent 75% of the students in the class of 2015, and 76.72% of UW - La Crosse bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 42%, first-time students in the UW - La Crosse class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UW - La Crosse graduation rate was 70%, 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.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | UW - La Crosse | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 42% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 70% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 47.82% |
569 first-time / full-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
453 transferred to another institution.
UW - La Crosse lost contact with the remaining 111 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.05% |
| Transferred | 453 | 79.61% |
| Dropped Out | 111 | 19.51% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse represent 0.22% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 17%, first-time, part-time students in the UW - La Crosse class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 17%.
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 | UW - La Crosse | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 17% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 17% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 23.72% |
5 first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
UW - La Crosse lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 40.00% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 60.00% |
612 UW - La Crosse students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 22.94% 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 67%, 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 68%.
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 | UW - La Crosse | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 67% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 55.07% |
196 non first-time / part-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
143 transferred to another institution.
UW - La Crosse lost contact with the remaining 50 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.53% |
| Transferred | 143 | 72.96% |
| Dropped Out | 50 | 25.51% |
49 UW - La Crosse students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 1.84% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 37%, 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 37%.
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 | UW - La Crosse | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 37% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 37.80% |
31 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
16 transferred to another institution.
UW - La Crosse lost contact with the remaining 15 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 16 | 51.61% |
| Dropped Out | 15 | 48.39% |
