by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many FIU 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 FIU. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 92% students making it past their freshmen year, FIU 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 | |
|---|---|
| FIU | 92% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Florida | 70.38% |
Of the 9908 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 59% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 71% of the students had graduated and after eight years 73% 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 FIU graduation rate 71%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8220 | 59% |
| Six Years | 9908 | 71% |
| Eight Years | 267 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 3805 | 27% |
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 3805 students or 27% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3805 students who did not complete their degree?
51 are still enrolled.
1948 transferred to another institution.
FIU lost contact with the remaining 1716 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 51 | 1.3% |
| Transferred | 1948 | 51.2% |
| Dropped Out | 1716 | 45.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 86% |
| Black / African-American | 69% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 76% |
| International | 65% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 55% |
| Unknown | 25% |
| White | 67% |
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 FIU are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Florida International University represent 31.60% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FIU graduation rate was 68%, and by the eight year mark, 71% 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 | FIU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 47% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 68% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 71% | 47.82% |
1264 first-time / full-time students or 29% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
58 are still enrolled.
780 transferred to another institution.
FIU lost contact with the remaining 426 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 58 | 4.59% |
| Transferred | 780 | 61.71% |
| Dropped Out | 426 | 33.70% |
First-time / part-time students at Florida International University represent 3.37% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FIU graduation rate was 50%, and by the eight year mark, 53% 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 | FIU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 50% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 23.72% |
218 first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
130 transferred to another institution.
FIU lost contact with the remaining 77 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 5.05% |
| Transferred | 130 | 59.63% |
| Dropped Out | 77 | 35.32% |
Returning / full-time students at Florida International University represent 36.54% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FIU graduation rate was 80%, and by the eight year mark, 81% 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 | FIU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 80% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 81% | 55.07% |
975 non first-time / part-time students or 19% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
479 transferred to another institution.
FIU lost contact with the remaining 476 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 2.05% |
| Transferred | 479 | 49.13% |
| Dropped Out | 476 | 48.82% |
Returning / part-time students at Florida International University represent 28.49% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FIU graduation rate was 64%, and by the eight year mark, 66% 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 | FIU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 55% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 64% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 37.80% |
1348 non first-time / part-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
52 are still enrolled.
559 transferred to another institution.
FIU lost contact with the remaining 737 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 52 | 3.86% |
| Transferred | 559 | 41.47% |
| Dropped Out | 737 | 54.67% |
