by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UW Seattle first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore UW Seattle retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 93% students making it past their freshmen year, UW Seattle 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 Washington, the average is 73.95%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UW Seattle | 93% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Washington | 73.95% |
There were approximately 6,972 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 65% of the cohort graduated. After six years 82% had completed their degree, and 83% 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 Seattle graduation rate 82%.
The typical UW Seattle student takes 4.24 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5,748 | 67% |
| Six Years | 6,972 | 82% |
| Eight Years | 125 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,424 | 17% |
Approximately 1424 students or 17% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1424 students who did not complete their degree?
22 are still enrolled.
785 transferred to another institution.
UW Seattle lost contact with the remaining 617 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 1.5% |
| Transferred | 785 | 55.1% |
| Dropped Out | 617 | 43.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 64% |
| Asian | 84% |
| Black / African-American | 72% |
| Hawaiian | 65% |
| Hispanic | 77% |
| International | 82% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 80% |
| Unknown | 87% |
| White | 83% |
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 UW Seattle 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 students at University of Washington - Seattle Campus represent 68% of the students in the class of 2015, and 69.82% of UW Seattle bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 65%, first-time students in the UW Seattle class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UW Seattle graduation rate was 84%, and by the eight year mark, 86% 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 Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 65% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 84% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 86% | 47.82% |
795 first-time / full-time students or 14% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
22 are still enrolled.
512 transferred to another institution.
UW Seattle lost contact with the remaining 265 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 2.77% |
| Transferred | 512 | 64.40% |
| Dropped Out | 265 | 33.33% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Washington - Seattle Campus represent 1.10% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 69%, first-time, part-time students in the UW Seattle class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 73%.
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 Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 69% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 73% | 23.72% |
25 first-time / part-time students or 27% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
16 transferred to another institution.
UW Seattle lost contact with the remaining 9 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 16 | 64.00% |
| Dropped Out | 9 | 36.00% |
2288 UW Seattle students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 26.83% 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 77%, 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 78%.
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 Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 77% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 78% | 55.07% |
507 non first-time / part-time students or 22% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
202 transferred to another institution.
UW Seattle lost contact with the remaining 304 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.20% |
| Transferred | 202 | 39.84% |
| Dropped Out | 304 | 59.96% |
371 UW Seattle students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 4.35% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 73%, 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 74%.
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 Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 73% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 37.80% |
97 non first-time / part-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
55 transferred to another institution.
UW Seattle lost contact with the remaining 39 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 3.09% |
| Transferred | 55 | 56.70% |
| Dropped Out | 39 | 40.21% |
