by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Academy of Art University 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 75% students making it past their freshmen year, Academy of Art University 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Academy of Art University | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
Of the 688 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 10% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 22% of the students had graduated and after eight years 24% 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 Academy of Art University graduation rate 22%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 315 | 10% |
| Six Years | 688 | 22% |
| Eight Years | 79 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2419 | 76% |
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 2419 students or 76% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2419 students who did not complete their degree?
10 are still enrolled.
929 transferred to another institution.
Academy of Art University lost contact with the remaining 1441 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 0.4% |
| Transferred | 929 | 38.4% |
| Dropped Out | 1441 | 59.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 42% |
| Black / African-American | 31% |
| Hispanic | 34% |
| International | 56% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 42% |
| Unknown | 30% |
| White | 38% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at Academy of Art University 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 students at Academy of Art University represent 23.51% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Academy of Art University graduation rate was 41%, 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.
| Completions | Academy of Art University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 41% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 47.82% |
407 first-time / full-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
135 transferred to another institution.
Academy of Art University lost contact with the remaining 260 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 2.95% |
| Transferred | 135 | 33.17% |
| Dropped Out | 260 | 63.88% |
First-time / part-time students at Academy of Art University represent 30.98% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Academy of Art University graduation rate was 4%, and by the eight year mark, 5% 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 | Academy of Art University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 4% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 5% | 23.72% |
937 first-time / part-time students or 95% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
369 transferred to another institution.
Academy of Art University lost contact with the remaining 558 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.07% |
| Transferred | 369 | 39.38% |
| Dropped Out | 558 | 59.55% |
Returning / full-time students at Academy of Art University represent 18.80% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Academy of Art University graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 47% 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 | Academy of Art University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 45% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 55.07% |
316 non first-time / part-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
114 transferred to another institution.
Academy of Art University lost contact with the remaining 197 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.58% |
| Transferred | 114 | 36.08% |
| Dropped Out | 197 | 62.34% |
Returning / part-time students at Academy of Art University represent 26.71% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Academy of Art University graduation rate was 8%, and by the eight year mark, 11% 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 | Academy of Art University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 8% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 11% | 37.80% |
759 non first-time / part-time students or 89% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
22 are still enrolled.
311 transferred to another institution.
Academy of Art University lost contact with the remaining 426 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 2.90% |
| Transferred | 311 | 40.97% |
| Dropped Out | 426 | 56.13% |
