The American University Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

American University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How many The American University 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 The American University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.

• The American University Retention Rate
• The American University Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• The American University Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

The American University Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 88% 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 Graduation Rates

There were approximately 1562 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?

Four years after beginning their degree, 73% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 78% of the students had graduated and after eight years 79% 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 The American University graduation rate 78%.

The American University Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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

What happened to the 419 students who did not complete their degree?

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 52 transferred to another institution.

• The American University lost contact with the remaining 367 who we assumed dropped out.

The American University Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 The American University 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 The American University Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at American University represent 85.43% of the students in the class of 2023.

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 this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.

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

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

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

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 46 transferred to another institution.

• The American University lost contact with the remaining 299 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at American University represent 0.15% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the The American University graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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.

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

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

2 first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 0 transferred to another institution.

• The American University lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

Returning / full-time students at American University represent 13.37% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the The American University graduation rate was 76%, and by the eight year mark, 76% 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.

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

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

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

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 5 transferred to another institution.

• The American University lost contact with the remaining 58 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Returning / part-time students at American University represent 1.06% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the The American University graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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.

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

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

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

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 1 transferred to another institution.

• The American University lost contact with the remaining 8 who we assumed dropped out.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics
• Image Credit: By Samschoe under License