by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding BYU - I 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 71% students making it past their freshmen year, BYU - I 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 Idaho, the average is 77.33%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| BYU - I | 71% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Idaho | 77.33% |
How many of the estimated 6692 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 28% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 50% of the students had graduated and after eight years 58% 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 BYU - I graduation rate 50%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3765 | 28% |
| Six Years | 6692 | 50% |
| Eight Years | 1090 | 8% |
| Did Not Complete | 5674 | 42% |
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 5674 students or 42% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 5674 students who did not complete their degree?
40 are still enrolled.
1757 transferred to another institution.
BYU - I lost contact with the remaining 3620 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 40 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 1757 | 31.0% |
| Dropped Out | 3620 | 63.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 25% |
| Asian | 55% |
| Black / African-American | 56% |
| Hawaiian | 10% |
| Hispanic | 43% |
| International | 55% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 47% |
| Unknown | 47% |
| White | 57% |
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 BYU - I 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 Brigham Young University-Idaho represent 49.50% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the BYU - I graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 59% 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 | BYU - I | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 49% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 47.82% |
2612 first-time / full-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
115 are still enrolled.
1064 transferred to another institution.
BYU - I lost contact with the remaining 1433 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 115 | 4.40% |
| Transferred | 1064 | 40.74% |
| Dropped Out | 1433 | 54.86% |
First-time / part-time students at Brigham Young University-Idaho represent 6.73% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the BYU - I graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | BYU - I | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 32% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 23.72% |
493 first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
28 are still enrolled.
185 transferred to another institution.
BYU - I lost contact with the remaining 280 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 5.68% |
| Transferred | 185 | 37.53% |
| Dropped Out | 280 | 56.80% |
Returning / full-time students at Brigham Young University-Idaho represent 21.67% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the BYU - I graduation rate was 63%, and by the eight year mark, 68% 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 | BYU - I | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 63% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 55.07% |
987 non first-time / part-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
51 are still enrolled.
348 transferred to another institution.
BYU - I lost contact with the remaining 588 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 51 | 5.17% |
| Transferred | 348 | 35.26% |
| Dropped Out | 588 | 59.57% |
Returning / part-time students at Brigham Young University-Idaho represent 22.09% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the BYU - I graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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 | BYU - I | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 43% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 37.80% |
1582 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
103 are still enrolled.
160 transferred to another institution.
BYU - I lost contact with the remaining 1319 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 103 | 6.51% |
| Transferred | 160 | 10.11% |
| Dropped Out | 1319 | 83.38% |
