by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UA 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 UA. 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 89% students making it past their freshmen year, UA 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 Alabama, the average is 66.79%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UA | 89% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Alabama | 66.79% |
Of the 6845 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 55% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 70% of the students had graduated and after eight years 72% 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 UA graduation rate 70%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5359 | 55% |
| Six Years | 6845 | 70% |
| Eight Years | 121 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2768 | 28% |
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 2768 students or 28% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2768 students who did not complete their degree?
38 are still enrolled.
2061 transferred to another institution.
UA lost contact with the remaining 647 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 38 | 1.4% |
| Transferred | 2061 | 74.5% |
| Dropped Out | 647 | 23.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 74% |
| Asian | 66% |
| Black / African-American | 62% |
| Hawaiian | 83% |
| Hispanic | 64% |
| International | 73% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 72% |
| Unknown | 79% |
| White | 76% |
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 UA 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 The University of Alabama represent 78.18% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UA graduation rate was 72%, and by the eight year mark, 74% 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 | UA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 54% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 72% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 47.82% |
2004 first-time / full-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
37 are still enrolled.
1580 transferred to another institution.
UA lost contact with the remaining 387 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 37 | 1.85% |
| Transferred | 1580 | 78.84% |
| Dropped Out | 387 | 19.31% |
First-time / part-time students at The University of Alabama represent 0.35% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UA graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 24% 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 | UA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 18% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 23.72% |
26 first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
17 transferred to another institution.
UA lost contact with the remaining 8 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 3.85% |
| Transferred | 17 | 65.38% |
| Dropped Out | 8 | 30.77% |
Returning / full-time students at The University of Alabama represent 14.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UA graduation rate was 68%, and by the eight year mark, 70% 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 | UA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 68% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 55.07% |
414 non first-time / part-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
268 transferred to another institution.
UA lost contact with the remaining 141 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.21% |
| Transferred | 268 | 64.73% |
| Dropped Out | 141 | 34.06% |
Returning / part-time students at The University of Alabama represent 7.42% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UA graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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 | UA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 48% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 54% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 37.80% |
324 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
196 transferred to another institution.
UA lost contact with the remaining 111 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 5.25% |
| Transferred | 196 | 60.49% |
| Dropped Out | 111 | 34.26% |
