by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UAB 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 UAB. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 80% students making it past their freshmen year, UAB 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 Alabama, the average is 66.79%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UAB | 80% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Alabama | 66.79% |
How many of the estimated 2409 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 43% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 56% of the students had graduated and after eight years 58% 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 UAB graduation rate 56%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1873 | 43% |
| Six Years | 2409 | 56% |
| Eight Years | 100 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1804 | 42% |
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 1804 students or 42% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1804 students who did not complete their degree?
19 are still enrolled.
895 transferred to another institution.
UAB lost contact with the remaining 872 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 19 | 1.1% |
| Transferred | 895 | 49.6% |
| Dropped Out | 872 | 48.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Asian | 87% |
| Black / African-American | 55% |
| Hispanic | 47% |
| International | 82% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 55% |
| Unknown | 56% |
| White | 63% |
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 UAB 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 University of Alabama at Birmingham represent 46.37% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UAB graduation rate was 64%, and by the eight year mark, 66% 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 | UAB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 44% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 64% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 47.82% |
673 first-time / full-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
19 are still enrolled.
362 transferred to another institution.
UAB lost contact with the remaining 292 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 19 | 2.82% |
| Transferred | 362 | 53.79% |
| Dropped Out | 292 | 43.39% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Alabama at Birmingham represent 1.94% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UAB graduation rate was 5%, and by the eight year mark, 12% 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 | UAB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 5% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 12% | 23.72% |
72 first-time / part-time students or 88% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
19 transferred to another institution.
UAB lost contact with the remaining 48 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 6.94% |
| Transferred | 19 | 26.39% |
| Dropped Out | 48 | 66.67% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Alabama at Birmingham represent 30.19% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UAB graduation rate was 60%, and by the eight year mark, 61% 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 | UAB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 60% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 55.07% |
505 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
261 transferred to another institution.
UAB lost contact with the remaining 238 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.19% |
| Transferred | 261 | 51.68% |
| Dropped Out | 238 | 47.13% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Alabama at Birmingham represent 21.50% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UAB graduation rate was 38%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | UAB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 38% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 37.80% |
554 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
253 transferred to another institution.
UAB lost contact with the remaining 294 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.26% |
| Transferred | 253 | 45.67% |
| Dropped Out | 294 | 53.07% |
