UH Hilo Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

University of Hawaii at Hilo 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How many UH Hilo first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at UH Hilo. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.

• UH Hilo Retention Rate
• UH Hilo Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• UH Hilo Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

UH Hilo Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 73% students making it past their freshmen year, UH Hilo 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 Hawaii, the average is 64.95%.

UH Hilo Graduation Rates

Of the 433 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?

Four years after beginning their degree, 32% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 41% of the students had graduated and after eight years 43% of this class completed their degree.

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 UH Hilo graduation rate 41%.

UH Hilo Graduation Rates vs. National Average

The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.

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UH Hilo Drop Out Rate

Approximately 612 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 612 students who did not complete their degree?

• 7 are still enrolled.

• 462 transferred to another institution.

• UH Hilo lost contact with the remaining 140 who we assumed dropped out.

UH Hilo Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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.

A meaningful share of students at UH Hilo are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.

Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.

First-Time / Full-Time UH Hilo Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at University of Hawaii at Hilo represent 35.14% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the UH Hilo graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 46% of the cohort had completed their degree.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.

UH Hilo First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

First-Time / Full-Time UH Hilo Drop Out Rates

203 first-time / full-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 8 are still enrolled.

• 148 transferred to another institution.

• UH Hilo lost contact with the remaining 47 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at University of Hawaii at Hilo represent 1.31% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the UH Hilo graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 14% of the cohort had completed their degree.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.

First-Time / Part-Time UH Hilo Graduation Rates vs. National Average

First-Time / Part-Time UH Hilo Drop Out Rates

12 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 8 transferred to another institution.

• UH Hilo lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

Returning / full-time students at University of Hawaii at Hilo represent 50.09% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the UH Hilo graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 40% of the cohort had completed their degree.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.

UH Hilo Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Full-Time UH Hilo Drop Out Rates

320 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 2 are still enrolled.

• 248 transferred to another institution.

• UH Hilo lost contact with the remaining 70 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Returning / part-time students at University of Hawaii at Hilo represent 13.46% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the UH Hilo graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 47% of the cohort had completed their degree.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.

UH Hilo Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Part-Time UH Hilo Drop Out Rates

77 non first-time / part-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 58 transferred to another institution.

• UH Hilo lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics
• Image Credit: By Vreed under License