by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UTSA 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 UTSA. 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 80% students making it past their freshmen year, UTSA 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 | |
|---|---|
| UTSA | 80% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
How many of the estimated 4941 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 44% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 59% of the students had graduated and after eight years 61% 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 UTSA graduation rate 59%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3674 | 44% |
| Six Years | 4941 | 59% |
| Eight Years | 191 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 3227 | 39% |
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 3227 students or 39% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3227 students who did not complete their degree?
49 are still enrolled.
1563 transferred to another institution.
UTSA lost contact with the remaining 1569 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 49 | 1.5% |
| Transferred | 1563 | 48.4% |
| Dropped Out | 1569 | 48.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 36% |
| Asian | 55% |
| Black / African-American | 49% |
| Hawaiian | 42% |
| Hispanic | 54% |
| International | 56% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 49% |
| Unknown | 56% |
| White | 45% |
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 UTSA 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 Texas at San Antonio represent 52.56% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UTSA graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 56% 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 | UTSA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 53% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 47.82% |
1940 first-time / full-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
51 are still enrolled.
996 transferred to another institution.
UTSA lost contact with the remaining 893 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 51 | 2.63% |
| Transferred | 996 | 51.34% |
| Dropped Out | 893 | 46.03% |
First-time / part-time students at The University of Texas at San Antonio represent 1.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UTSA graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 31% 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 | UTSA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 23.72% |
61 first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
15 transferred to another institution.
UTSA lost contact with the remaining 38 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 13.11% |
| Transferred | 15 | 24.59% |
| Dropped Out | 38 | 62.30% |
Returning / full-time students at The University of Texas at San Antonio represent 34.98% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UTSA graduation rate was 71%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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 | UTSA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 71% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 55.07% |
815 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
21 are still enrolled.
378 transferred to another institution.
UTSA lost contact with the remaining 416 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 2.58% |
| Transferred | 378 | 46.38% |
| Dropped Out | 416 | 51.04% |
Returning / part-time students at The University of Texas at San Antonio represent 11.41% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UTSA graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | UTSA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 44% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 54% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 37.80% |
411 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
174 transferred to another institution.
UTSA lost contact with the remaining 222 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 3.65% |
| Transferred | 174 | 42.34% |
| Dropped Out | 222 | 54.01% |
