by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding VCU 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.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 83% students making it past their freshmen year, VCU 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 Virginia, the average is 69.66%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| VCU | 83% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Virginia | 69.66% |
Of the 4,405 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 39% of the cohort graduated. After six years 64% had completed their degree, and 66% 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 VCU graduation rate 64%.
The average length of time it takes an VCU undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.40 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3,250 | 47% |
| Six Years | 4,405 | 64% |
| Eight Years | 156 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,300 | 34% |
Approximately 2300 students or 34% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2300 students who did not complete their degree?
19 are still enrolled.
1545 transferred to another institution.
VCU lost contact with the remaining 703 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 19 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 1545 | 67.2% |
| Dropped Out | 703 | 30.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 73% |
| Black / African-American | 67% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 64% |
| International | 65% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 51% |
| Unknown | 73% |
| White | 66% |
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 VCU 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 Virginia Commonwealth University represent 56% of the students in the class of 2015, and 53.73% of VCU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 39%, first-time students in the VCU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the VCU graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 65% 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 | VCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 39% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 62% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 65% | 47.82% |
1330 first-time / full-time students or 35% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
19 are still enrolled.
881 transferred to another institution.
VCU lost contact with the remaining 418 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 19 | 1.43% |
| Transferred | 881 | 66.24% |
| Dropped Out | 418 | 31.43% |
First-time / part-time students at Virginia Commonwealth University represent 0.48% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 30%, first-time, part-time students in the VCU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 33%.
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 | VCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 30% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 23.72% |
22 first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
VCU lost contact with the remaining 9 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 4.55% |
| Transferred | 12 | 54.55% |
| Dropped Out | 9 | 40.91% |
2358 VCU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 34.33% 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 68%, 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 69%.
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 | VCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 68% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 55.07% |
730 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
519 transferred to another institution.
VCU lost contact with the remaining 197 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 1.92% |
| Transferred | 519 | 71.10% |
| Dropped Out | 197 | 26.99% |
658 VCU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 9.58% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 65%, 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.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | VCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 65% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 37.80% |
218 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
133 transferred to another institution.
VCU lost contact with the remaining 79 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.75% |
| Transferred | 133 | 61.01% |
| Dropped Out | 79 | 36.24% |
