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The American University Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

75% 4-Year Graduation Rate
78% 6-Year Graduation Rate
85% Retention Rate

American University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How long does it take to earn a degree at The American University? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.

The American University Retention Rate

85% Freshmen Retention Rate
Good Retention Rate

Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.

With 85% students making it past their freshmen year, The American 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 District of Columbia, the average is 78.47%.

The American University Retention  85 out of 100
0%
100%
District of Columbia Retention  78 out of 100
0%
100%
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Retention Rate
The American University 85%
Nationwide 70.57%
District of Columbia 78.47%

The American University Graduation Rates

78% 6-Year Graduation Rate
14.98% Transfer Rate
6.35% Dropout Rate

Of the 1,543 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?

After four years 75% of the cohort graduated. After six years 78% had completed their degree, and 79% after eight years.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official The American University graduation rate 78%.

How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at The American University? The standard length of time for most students is 4.05 years.

Four Year Graduation Rate  74%
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  78%
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  79%
0%
100%

The American University Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion Within Undergraduates Percentage
Four Years 1,460 74%
Six Years 1,543 78%
Eight Years 16 1%
Did Not Complete 424 21%
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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The American University Drop Out Rate

Approximately 424 students or 21% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 424 students who did not complete their degree?

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Non-Completions Undergraduates Percentage
Still Enrolled 0 0.0%
Transferred 297 70.0%
Dropped Out 126 29.7%

The American University Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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Race/Ethnicity Graduation Rate
American Indian or Alaskan Native 100%
Asian 81%
Black / African-American 74%
Hawaiian 100%
Hispanic 75%
International 81%
Multi-Ethnic 74%
Unknown 70%
White 81%

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.

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 The American University are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.

Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.

First-Time / Full-Time The American University Graduation Rates

79% First-Time, Full-Time
79% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / full-time students at American University represent 79% of the students in the class of 2015, and 80.04% of The American University bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 75%, first-time students in the The American University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the The American University graduation rate was 79%, and by the eight year mark, 80% of the cohort had completed their degree.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.

Four Year Graduation Rate  75 out of 100
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  79 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  80 out of 100
0%
100%

The American University First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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First-Time / Full-Time Completions The American University Nationwide
Four Years 75% 37.92%
Six Years 79% 46.43%
Eight Years 80% 47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time The American University Drop Out Rates

314 first-time / full-time students or 20% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions Undergraduates Percentage
Still Enrolled 0 0.00%
Transferred 232 73.89%
Dropped Out 81 25.80%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

1% First-Time, Part-Time
64% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / part-time students at American University represent 0.55% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 64%, first-time, part-time students in the The American University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 64%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.

Six Year Graduation Rate  64 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  64 out of 100
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100%

First-Time / Part-Time The American University Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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First-Time / Part-Time Completions The American University Nationwide
Four Years 1% 14.37%
Six Years 64% 21.59%
Eight Years 64% 23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time The American University Drop Out Rates

4 first-time / part-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions Undergraduates Percentage
Still Enrolled 0 0.00%
Transferred 1 25.00%
Dropped Out 3 75.00%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

19% Returning, Full-Time
75% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

374 The American University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 18.86% of the students in the class of 2015.

Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.

With a six year graduation rate of 75%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 76%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.

Six Year Graduation Rate  75 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  76 out of 100
0%
100%

The American University Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Full-Time Completions The American University Nationwide
Four Years 0% 49.57%
Six Years 75% 53.83%
Eight Years 76% 55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time The American University Drop Out Rates

91 non first-time / part-time students or 24% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions Undergraduates Percentage
Still Enrolled 0 0.00%
Transferred 56 61.54%
Dropped Out 35 38.46%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

2% Returning, Part-Time
57% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

35 The American University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 1.77% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 57%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 57%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.

Six Year Graduation Rate  57 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  57 out of 100
0%
100%

The American University Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Part-Time Completions The American University Nationwide
Four Years 0% 30.46%
Six Years 57% 36.03%
Eight Years 57% 37.80%

Non First-Time / Part-Time The American University Drop Out Rates

15 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions Undergraduates Percentage
Still Enrolled 0 0.00%
Transferred 8 53.33%
Dropped Out 7 46.67%

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