by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many AIU Online 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 AIU Online. 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 36% students making it past their freshmen year, AIU Online has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Arizona, the average is 67.94%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| AIU Online | 36% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Arizona | 67.94% |
How many of the estimated 1356 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 14% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 16% of the students had graduated and after eight years 16% 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 AIU Online graduation rate 16%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1224 | 14% |
| Six Years | 1356 | 16% |
| Eight Years | 50 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 7232 | 84% |
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 7232 students or 84% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 7232 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2645 transferred to another institution.
AIU Online lost contact with the remaining 4566 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2645 | 36.6% |
| Dropped Out | 4566 | 63.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Black / African-American | 20% |
| Hispanic | 100% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 29% |
| Unknown | 22% |
| White | 19% |
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 AIU Online are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at American InterContinental University System represent 6.22% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the AIU Online graduation rate was 19%, and by the eight year mark, 20% 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 | AIU Online | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 19% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 47.82% |
428 first-time / full-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
116 transferred to another institution.
AIU Online lost contact with the remaining 310 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.47% |
| Transferred | 116 | 27.10% |
| Dropped Out | 310 | 72.43% |
First-time / part-time students at American InterContinental University System represent 14.10% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the AIU Online graduation rate was 7%, and by the eight year mark, 7% 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 | AIU Online | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 7% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 7% | 23.72% |
1136 first-time / part-time students or 93% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
304 transferred to another institution.
AIU Online lost contact with the remaining 829 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.26% |
| Transferred | 304 | 26.76% |
| Dropped Out | 829 | 72.98% |
Returning / full-time students at American InterContinental University System represent 27.59% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the AIU Online graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 | AIU Online | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 28% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 55.07% |
1687 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
652 transferred to another institution.
AIU Online lost contact with the remaining 1029 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.36% |
| Transferred | 652 | 38.65% |
| Dropped Out | 1029 | 61.00% |
Returning / part-time students at American InterContinental University System represent 52.10% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the AIU Online graduation rate was 11%, and by the eight year mark, 12% 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 | AIU Online | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 11% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 12% | 37.80% |
3981 non first-time / part-time students or 88% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
1573 transferred to another institution.
AIU Online lost contact with the remaining 2398 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 0.25% |
| Transferred | 1573 | 39.51% |
| Dropped Out | 2398 | 60.24% |
