by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding UTEP retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree 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 79% students making it past their freshmen year, UTEP 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 Texas, the average is 68.17%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UTEP | 79% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
How many of the estimated 3167 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 29% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 48% of the students had graduated and after eight years 53% 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 UTEP graduation rate 48%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1888 | 29% |
| Six Years | 3167 | 48% |
| Eight Years | 325 | 5% |
| Did Not Complete | 3096 | 47% |
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 3096 students or 47% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3096 students who did not complete their degree?
99 are still enrolled.
1251 transferred to another institution.
UTEP lost contact with the remaining 1659 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 99 | 3.2% |
| Transferred | 1251 | 40.4% |
| Dropped Out | 1659 | 53.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 60% |
| Black / African-American | 26% |
| Hispanic | 46% |
| International | 61% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 29% |
| Unknown | 88% |
| White | 47% |
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 UTEP are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at The University of Texas at El Paso represent 47.47% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UTEP graduation rate was 46%, and by the eight year mark, 53% 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 | UTEP | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 46% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 47.82% |
1468 first-time / full-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
104 are still enrolled.
607 transferred to another institution.
UTEP lost contact with the remaining 757 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 104 | 7.08% |
| Transferred | 607 | 41.35% |
| Dropped Out | 757 | 51.57% |
First-time / part-time students at The University of Texas at El Paso represent 7.30% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UTEP graduation rate was 22%, and by the eight year mark, 28% 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 | UTEP | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 22% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 23.72% |
347 first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
127 transferred to another institution.
UTEP lost contact with the remaining 200 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 5.76% |
| Transferred | 127 | 36.60% |
| Dropped Out | 200 | 57.64% |
Returning / full-time students at The University of Texas at El Paso represent 24.18% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UTEP graduation rate was 56%, and by the eight year mark, 59% 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 | UTEP | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 56% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 55.07% |
651 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
28 are still enrolled.
243 transferred to another institution.
UTEP lost contact with the remaining 380 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 4.30% |
| Transferred | 243 | 37.33% |
| Dropped Out | 380 | 58.37% |
Returning / part-time students at The University of Texas at El Paso represent 21.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UTEP 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 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | UTEP | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 40% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 51% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 37.80% |
630 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
34 are still enrolled.
274 transferred to another institution.
UTEP lost contact with the remaining 322 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 34 | 5.40% |
| Transferred | 274 | 43.49% |
| Dropped Out | 322 | 51.11% |
