by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many RCU 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 RCU. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 60% students making it past their freshmen year, RCU has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Michigan, the average is 70.80%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| RCU | 60% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
How many of the estimated 226 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 41% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 51% of the students had graduated and after eight years 52% 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 RCU graduation rate 51%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 183 | 41% |
| Six Years | 226 | 51% |
| Eight Years | 5 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 216 | 48% |
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 216 students or 48% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 216 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
67 transferred to another institution.
RCU lost contact with the remaining 147 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.9% |
| Transferred | 67 | 31.0% |
| Dropped Out | 147 | 68.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Black / African-American | 28% |
| Hispanic | 17% |
| International | 33% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 57% |
| White | 48% |
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 RCU 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 Rochester University represent 29.75% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RCU graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | RCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 40% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 47.82% |
77 first-time / full-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
39 transferred to another institution.
RCU lost contact with the remaining 38 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 39 | 50.65% |
| Dropped Out | 38 | 49.35% |
First-time / part-time students at Rochester University represent 1.79% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RCU 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 | RCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 0% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 0% | 23.72% |
8 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.
1 transferred to another institution.
RCU lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 12.50% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 87.50% |
Returning / full-time students at Rochester University represent 32.44% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RCU graduation rate was 61%, and by the eight year mark, 61% 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 | RCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 61% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 55.07% |
56 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
RCU lost contact with the remaining 43 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.79% |
| Transferred | 12 | 21.43% |
| Dropped Out | 43 | 76.79% |
Returning / part-time students at Rochester University represent 36.02% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RCU graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 53% 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 | RCU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 45% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 53% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 37.80% |
75 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
15 transferred to another institution.
RCU lost contact with the remaining 59 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.33% |
| Transferred | 15 | 20.00% |
| Dropped Out | 59 | 78.67% |
