by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UT Rio Grande Valley 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 UT Rio Grande Valley. 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 81% students making it past their freshmen year, UT Rio Grande Valley 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 | |
|---|---|
| UT Rio Grande Valley | 81% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
How many of the estimated 3343 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 34% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 52% of the students had graduated and after eight years 57% 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 UT Rio Grande Valley graduation rate 52%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2152 | 34% |
| Six Years | 3343 | 52% |
| Eight Years | 256 | 5% |
| Did Not Complete | 2770 | 43% |
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 2770 students or 43% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2770 students who did not complete their degree?
136 are still enrolled.
1083 transferred to another institution.
UT Rio Grande Valley lost contact with the remaining 1487 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 136 | 4.9% |
| Transferred | 1083 | 39.1% |
| Dropped Out | 1487 | 53.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 65% |
| Black / African-American | 83% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 49% |
| International | 69% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 46% |
| Unknown | 25% |
| White | 55% |
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.
The majority of students at UT Rio Grande Valley are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
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 Rio Grande Valley represent 58.38% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UT Rio Grande Valley graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | UT Rio Grande Valley | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 52% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 47.82% |
1598 first-time / full-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
122 are still enrolled.
618 transferred to another institution.
UT Rio Grande Valley lost contact with the remaining 858 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 122 | 7.63% |
| Transferred | 618 | 38.67% |
| Dropped Out | 858 | 53.69% |
First-time / part-time students at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley represent 6.12% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UT Rio Grande Valley graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 37% 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 | UT Rio Grande Valley | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 32% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 23.72% |
247 first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
21 are still enrolled.
91 transferred to another institution.
UT Rio Grande Valley lost contact with the remaining 135 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 8.50% |
| Transferred | 91 | 36.84% |
| Dropped Out | 135 | 54.66% |
Returning / full-time students at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley represent 20.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UT Rio Grande Valley graduation rate was 65%, and by the eight year mark, 67% 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 | UT Rio Grande Valley | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 65% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 55.07% |
421 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
26 are still enrolled.
180 transferred to another institution.
UT Rio Grande Valley lost contact with the remaining 215 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 6.18% |
| Transferred | 180 | 42.76% |
| Dropped Out | 215 | 51.07% |
Returning / part-time students at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley represent 15.45% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UT Rio Grande Valley graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 49% 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 | UT Rio Grande Valley | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 45% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 37.80% |
504 non first-time / part-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
31 are still enrolled.
194 transferred to another institution.
UT Rio Grande Valley lost contact with the remaining 279 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 31 | 6.15% |
| Transferred | 194 | 38.49% |
| Dropped Out | 279 | 55.36% |
