by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding UWF 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 84% students making it past their freshmen year, UWF 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 Florida, the average is 70.38%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UWF | 84% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Florida | 70.38% |
Of the 1,799 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 23% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 50% of the students had graduated and after eight years 52% 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 UWF graduation rate 50%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at UWF? The standard length of time for most students is 4.56 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,314 | 36% |
| Six Years | 1,799 | 50% |
| Eight Years | 98 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,722 | 48% |
Approximately 1722 students or 48% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1722 students who did not complete their degree?
26 are still enrolled.
950 transferred to another institution.
UWF lost contact with the remaining 731 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 1.5% |
| Transferred | 950 | 55.2% |
| Dropped Out | 731 | 42.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 52% |
| Black / African-American | 44% |
| Hawaiian | 40% |
| Hispanic | 49% |
| International | 40% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 48% |
| Unknown | 8% |
| White | 49% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 UWF are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at The University of West Florida represent 37% of the students in the class of 2015, and 34.80% of UWF bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 23%, first-time students in the UWF class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UWF graduation rate was 47%, and by the eight year mark, 50% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | UWF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 47% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 47.82% |
673 first-time / full-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
26 are still enrolled.
381 transferred to another institution.
UWF lost contact with the remaining 277 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 3.86% |
| Transferred | 381 | 56.61% |
| Dropped Out | 277 | 41.16% |
First-time / part-time students at The University of West Florida represent 6.33% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 32%, first-time, part-time students in the UWF class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 38%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | UWF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 32% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 23.72% |
141 first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
88 transferred to another institution.
UWF lost contact with the remaining 52 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.71% |
| Transferred | 88 | 62.41% |
| Dropped Out | 52 | 36.88% |
1430 UWF students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 39.50% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 57%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 59%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | UWF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 57% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 55.07% |
586 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
18 are still enrolled.
306 transferred to another institution.
UWF lost contact with the remaining 262 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 3.07% |
| Transferred | 306 | 52.22% |
| Dropped Out | 262 | 44.71% |
624 UWF students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 17.24% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 45%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 48%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | UWF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 45% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 37.80% |
322 non first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
175 transferred to another institution.
UWF lost contact with the remaining 140 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.17% |
| Transferred | 175 | 54.35% |
| Dropped Out | 140 | 43.48% |
