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 freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 85% 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 | 85% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Virginia | 69.66% |
Of the 4701 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 51% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 66% of the students had graduated and after eight years 67% 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 VCU graduation rate 66%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3633 | 51% |
| Six Years | 4701 | 66% |
| Eight Years | 97 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2337 | 33% |
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 2337 students or 33% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2337 students who did not complete their degree?
29 are still enrolled.
1529 transferred to another institution.
VCU lost contact with the remaining 760 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 29 | 1.2% |
| Transferred | 1529 | 65.4% |
| Dropped Out | 760 | 32.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 29% |
| Asian | 72% |
| Black / African-American | 62% |
| Hispanic | 67% |
| International | 59% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 59% |
| Unknown | 58% |
| White | 66% |
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 VCU 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 Virginia Commonwealth University represent 58.78% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the VCU graduation rate was 64%, and by the eight year mark, 66% 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 | VCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 43% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 64% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 47.82% |
1437 first-time / full-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
917 transferred to another institution.
VCU lost contact with the remaining 490 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 2.09% |
| Transferred | 917 | 63.81% |
| Dropped Out | 490 | 34.10% |
First-time / part-time students at Virginia Commonwealth University represent 0.20% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the VCU graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 | VCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 31% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 23.72% |
7 first-time / part-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
4 transferred to another institution.
VCU lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 4 | 57.14% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 42.86% |
Returning / full-time students at Virginia Commonwealth University represent 32.56% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the VCU graduation rate was 70%, and by the eight year mark, 71% 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 | VCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 70% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 71% | 55.07% |
669 non first-time / part-time students or 29% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
462 transferred to another institution.
VCU lost contact with the remaining 192 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 2.24% |
| Transferred | 462 | 69.06% |
| Dropped Out | 192 | 28.70% |
Returning / part-time students at Virginia Commonwealth University represent 8.47% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the VCU graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 63% 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 | VCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 56% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 62% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 37.80% |
224 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
146 transferred to another institution.
VCU lost contact with the remaining 75 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.34% |
| Transferred | 146 | 65.18% |
| Dropped Out | 75 | 33.48% |
