by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many NYU 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 NYU. 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 96% students making it past their freshmen year, NYU 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 New York, the average is 73.51%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| NYU | 96% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New York | 73.51% |
There were approximately 6411 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 79% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 87% of the students had graduated and after eight years 88% 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 NYU graduation rate 87%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5841 | 79% |
| Six Years | 6411 | 87% |
| Eight Years | 94 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 895 | 12% |
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 895 students or 12% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 895 students who did not complete their degree?
15 are still enrolled.
455 transferred to another institution.
NYU lost contact with the remaining 421 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.7% |
| Transferred | 455 | 50.8% |
| Dropped Out | 421 | 47.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 83% |
| Asian | 91% |
| Black / African-American | 88% |
| Hawaiian | 60% |
| Hispanic | 85% |
| International | 92% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 87% |
| Unknown | 89% |
| White | 87% |
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.
The majority of students at NYU 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 students at New York University represent 82.04% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the NYU graduation rate was 87%, and by the eight year mark, 89% 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 | NYU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 78% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 87% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 89% | 47.82% |
697 first-time / full-time students or 11% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
365 transferred to another institution.
NYU lost contact with the remaining 317 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 2.15% |
| Transferred | 365 | 52.37% |
| Dropped Out | 317 | 45.48% |
First-time / part-time students at New York University represent 0.90% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the NYU graduation rate was 51%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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 | NYU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 51% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 23.72% |
30 first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
11 transferred to another institution.
NYU lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 11 | 36.67% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 63.33% |
Returning / full-time students at New York University represent 15.09% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the NYU graduation rate was 89%, and by the eight year mark, 90% 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 | NYU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 89% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 90% | 55.07% |
117 non first-time / part-time students or 10% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
59 transferred to another institution.
NYU lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.71% |
| Transferred | 59 | 50.43% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 47.86% |
Returning / part-time students at New York University represent 1.97% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the NYU graduation rate was 64%, and by the eight year mark, 65% 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 | NYU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 54% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 64% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 65% | 37.80% |
51 non first-time / part-time students or 35% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
20 transferred to another institution.
NYU lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 3.92% |
| Transferred | 20 | 39.22% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 56.86% |
