Stanford Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

Stanford University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How many Stanford 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 Stanford. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.

• Stanford Retention Rate
• Stanford Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• Stanford Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

Stanford Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 98% students making it past their freshmen year, Stanford 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 California, the average is 73.07%.

Stanford Graduation Rates

How many of the estimated 1688 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?

Four years after beginning their degree, 72% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 95% of the students had graduated and after eight years 97% 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 Stanford graduation rate 95%.

Stanford Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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.

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Stanford Drop Out Rate

Approximately 55 students or 3% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 55 students who did not complete their degree?

• 11 are still enrolled.

• 18 transferred to another institution.

• Stanford lost contact with the remaining 26 who we assumed dropped out.

Stanford Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 Stanford are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.

Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.

First-Time / Full-Time Stanford Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at Stanford University represent 97.81% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Stanford graduation rate was 95%, and by the eight year mark, 97% 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.

Stanford First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

First-Time / Full-Time Stanford Drop Out Rates

53 first-time / full-time students or 3% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 11 are still enrolled.

• 18 transferred to another institution.

• Stanford lost contact with the remaining 24 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

At this time we lack data for this cohort at Stanford University.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

Returning / full-time students at Stanford University represent 2.19% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Stanford graduation rate was 90%, and by the eight year mark, 95% 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.

Stanford Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Full-Time Stanford Drop Out Rates

2 non first-time / part-time students or 5% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 0 transferred to another institution.

• Stanford lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

We don’t have data for this cohort at Stanford University.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics
• Image Credit: By Pere Joan under License