by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Temple 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 Temple. 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 83% students making it past their freshmen year, Temple 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Temple | 83% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
Of the 6627 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 62% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 75% of the students had graduated and after eight years 77% 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 Temple graduation rate 75%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5490 | 62% |
| Six Years | 6627 | 75% |
| Eight Years | 110 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2064 | 23% |
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 2064 students or 23% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2064 students who did not complete their degree?
24 are still enrolled.
969 transferred to another institution.
Temple lost contact with the remaining 1047 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 1.2% |
| Transferred | 969 | 46.9% |
| Dropped Out | 1047 | 50.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 75% |
| Asian | 76% |
| Black / African-American | 63% |
| Hawaiian | 33% |
| Hispanic | 67% |
| International | 71% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 69% |
| Unknown | 76% |
| White | 78% |
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 Temple 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 students at Temple University represent 59.64% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Temple graduation rate was 78%, and by the eight year mark, 79% 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 | Temple | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 61% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 78% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 79% | 47.82% |
1091 first-time / full-time students or 21% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
24 are still enrolled.
613 transferred to another institution.
Temple lost contact with the remaining 454 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 2.20% |
| Transferred | 613 | 56.19% |
| Dropped Out | 454 | 41.61% |
First-time / part-time students at Temple University represent 0.24% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Temple graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | Temple | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 30% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 23.72% |
14 first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
7 transferred to another institution.
Temple lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 7 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 50.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Temple University represent 35.49% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Temple graduation rate was 75%, and by the eight year mark, 76% 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 | Temple | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 75% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 76% | 55.07% |
757 non first-time / part-time students or 24% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
288 transferred to another institution.
Temple lost contact with the remaining 449 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 2.64% |
| Transferred | 288 | 38.04% |
| Dropped Out | 449 | 59.31% |
Returning / part-time students at Temple University represent 4.63% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Temple graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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 | Temple | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 48% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 37.80% |
202 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
61 transferred to another institution.
Temple lost contact with the remaining 137 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.98% |
| Transferred | 61 | 30.20% |
| Dropped Out | 137 | 67.82% |
