by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Thomas Jefferson University 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 82% students making it past their freshmen year, Thomas Jefferson University 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson University | 82% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
How many of the estimated 1021 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 64% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 71% of the students had graduated and after eight years 71% 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 Thomas Jefferson University graduation rate 71%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 932 | 64% |
| Six Years | 1021 | 71% |
| Eight Years | 8 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 419 | 29% |
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 419 students or 29% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 419 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
251 transferred to another institution.
Thomas Jefferson University lost contact with the remaining 168 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 251 | 59.9% |
| Dropped Out | 168 | 40.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 64% |
| Black / African-American | 72% |
| Hawaiian | 56% |
| Hispanic | 59% |
| International | 62% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 67% |
| Unknown | 61% |
| White | 72% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at Thomas Jefferson University are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Thomas Jefferson University represent 34.46% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Thomas Jefferson University graduation rate was 67%, and by the eight year mark, 68% 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 | Thomas Jefferson University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 53% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 67% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 47.82% |
162 first-time / full-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
116 transferred to another institution.
Thomas Jefferson University lost contact with the remaining 46 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 116 | 71.60% |
| Dropped Out | 46 | 28.40% |
First-time / part-time students at Thomas Jefferson University represent 3.18% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Thomas Jefferson University graduation rate was 4%, and by the eight year mark, 4% 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 | Thomas Jefferson University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 4% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 4% | 23.72% |
44 first-time / part-time students or 96% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
20 transferred to another institution.
Thomas Jefferson University lost contact with the remaining 24 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 20 | 45.45% |
| Dropped Out | 24 | 54.55% |
Returning / full-time students at Thomas Jefferson University represent 43.72% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Thomas Jefferson University graduation rate was 84%, and by the eight year mark, 84% 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 | Thomas Jefferson University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 84% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 84% | 55.07% |
102 non first-time / part-time students or 16% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
61 transferred to another institution.
Thomas Jefferson University lost contact with the remaining 41 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 61 | 59.80% |
| Dropped Out | 41 | 40.20% |
Returning / part-time students at Thomas Jefferson University represent 18.65% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Thomas Jefferson University graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 59% 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 | Thomas Jefferson University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 54% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 57% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 37.80% |
111 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
54 transferred to another institution.
Thomas Jefferson University lost contact with the remaining 57 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 54 | 48.65% |
| Dropped Out | 57 | 51.35% |
