by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many DePaul 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 DePaul. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 86% students making it past their freshmen year, DePaul 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 Illinois, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| DePaul | 86% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
How many of the estimated 3052 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 58% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 66% of the students had graduated and after eight years 68% 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 DePaul graduation rate 66%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2662 | 58% |
| Six Years | 3052 | 66% |
| Eight Years | 67 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1478 | 32% |
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 1478 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1478 students who did not complete their degree?
11 are still enrolled.
836 transferred to another institution.
DePaul lost contact with the remaining 618 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 836 | 56.6% |
| Dropped Out | 618 | 41.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 77% |
| Black / African-American | 59% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 61% |
| International | 63% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 69% |
| Unknown | 58% |
| White | 75% |
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 DePaul are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at DePaul University represent 53.60% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the DePaul graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 70% 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 | DePaul | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 58% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 69% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 47.82% |
733 first-time / full-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
462 transferred to another institution.
DePaul lost contact with the remaining 260 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 1.50% |
| Transferred | 462 | 63.03% |
| Dropped Out | 260 | 35.47% |
First-time / part-time students at DePaul University represent 0.35% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the DePaul graduation rate was 0%, and by the eight year mark, 0% 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 | DePaul | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 0% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 0% | 23.72% |
16 first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
13 transferred to another institution.
DePaul lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 13 | 81.25% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 18.75% |
Returning / full-time students at DePaul University represent 35.04% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the DePaul graduation rate was 71%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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 | DePaul | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 71% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 55.07% |
450 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
254 transferred to another institution.
DePaul lost contact with the remaining 189 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.56% |
| Transferred | 254 | 56.44% |
| Dropped Out | 189 | 42.00% |
Returning / part-time students at DePaul University represent 11.02% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the DePaul graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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 | DePaul | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 37.80% |
279 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
107 transferred to another institution.
DePaul lost contact with the remaining 166 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.15% |
| Transferred | 107 | 38.35% |
| Dropped Out | 166 | 59.50% |
