by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many FAU 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 FAU. 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 84% students making it past their freshmen year, FAU 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 Florida, the average is 70.38%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| FAU | 84% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Florida | 70.38% |
Of the 5334 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 52% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 63% of the students had graduated and after eight years 65% 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 FAU graduation rate 63%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4409 | 52% |
| Six Years | 5334 | 63% |
| Eight Years | 126 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2999 | 35% |
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 2999 students or 35% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2999 students who did not complete their degree?
19 are still enrolled.
1549 transferred to another institution.
FAU lost contact with the remaining 1401 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 19 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 1549 | 51.7% |
| Dropped Out | 1401 | 46.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Asian | 73% |
| Black / African-American | 64% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 66% |
| International | 66% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 59% |
| Unknown | 66% |
| White | 63% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at FAU 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 Florida Atlantic University represent 41.52% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FAU graduation rate was 61%, and by the eight year mark, 63% 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 | FAU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 45% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 61% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 47.82% |
1292 first-time / full-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
22 are still enrolled.
876 transferred to another institution.
FAU lost contact with the remaining 394 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 1.70% |
| Transferred | 876 | 67.80% |
| Dropped Out | 394 | 30.50% |
First-time / part-time students at Florida Atlantic University represent 2.27% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FAU graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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 | FAU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 40% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 23.72% |
107 first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
52 transferred to another institution.
FAU lost contact with the remaining 55 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 52 | 48.60% |
| Dropped Out | 55 | 51.40% |
Returning / full-time students at Florida Atlantic University represent 29.18% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FAU graduation rate was 74%, and by the eight year mark, 74% 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 | FAU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 74% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 55.07% |
642 non first-time / part-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
299 transferred to another institution.
FAU lost contact with the remaining 335 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.25% |
| Transferred | 299 | 46.57% |
| Dropped Out | 335 | 52.18% |
Returning / part-time students at Florida Atlantic University represent 27.03% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FAU graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 58% 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 | FAU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 48% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 57% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 37.80% |
958 non first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
19 are still enrolled.
322 transferred to another institution.
FAU lost contact with the remaining 617 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 19 | 1.98% |
| Transferred | 322 | 33.61% |
| Dropped Out | 617 | 64.41% |
