by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UofM 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 UofM. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 77% students making it past their freshmen year, UofM 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 Tennessee, the average is 71.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UofM | 77% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Tennessee | 71.48% |
How many of the estimated 2490 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 35% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 49% of the students had graduated and after eight years 51% 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 UofM graduation rate 49%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1773 | 35% |
| Six Years | 2490 | 49% |
| Eight Years | 128 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2471 | 49% |
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.
Approximately 2471 students or 49% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2471 students who did not complete their degree?
55 are still enrolled.
932 transferred to another institution.
UofM lost contact with the remaining 1431 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 55 | 2.2% |
| Transferred | 932 | 37.7% |
| Dropped Out | 1431 | 57.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 77% |
| Black / African-American | 40% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 39% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 39% |
| Unknown | 54% |
| White | 56% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 UofM are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at University of Memphis represent 53.96% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UofM graduation rate was 47%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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.
| Completions | UofM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 47% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 47.82% |
1371 first-time / full-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
67 are still enrolled.
531 transferred to another institution.
UofM lost contact with the remaining 773 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 67 | 4.89% |
| Transferred | 531 | 38.73% |
| Dropped Out | 773 | 56.38% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Memphis represent 2.63% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UofM graduation rate was 15%, and by the eight year mark, 19% 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.
| Completions | UofM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 15% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 23.72% |
108 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
41 transferred to another institution.
UofM lost contact with the remaining 65 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.85% |
| Transferred | 41 | 37.96% |
| Dropped Out | 65 | 60.19% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Memphis represent 28.31% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UofM graduation rate was 61%, and by the eight year mark, 62% 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.
| Completions | UofM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 61% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 55.07% |
540 non first-time / part-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
25 are still enrolled.
204 transferred to another institution.
UofM lost contact with the remaining 311 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 25 | 4.63% |
| Transferred | 204 | 37.78% |
| Dropped Out | 311 | 57.59% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Memphis represent 15.10% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UofM graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 41% 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.
| Completions | UofM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 39% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 37.80% |
452 non first-time / part-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
156 transferred to another institution.
UofM lost contact with the remaining 282 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 3.10% |
| Transferred | 156 | 34.51% |
| Dropped Out | 282 | 62.39% |
