by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many University of Arizona 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 University of Arizona. 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 83% students making it past their freshmen year, University of Arizona 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 Arizona, the average is 67.94%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| University of Arizona | 83% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Arizona | 67.94% |
Of the 6651 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 48% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 61% of the students had graduated and after eight years 63% 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 University of Arizona graduation rate 61%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5274 | 48% |
| Six Years | 6651 | 61% |
| Eight Years | 193 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 4058 | 37% |
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 4058 students or 37% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4058 students who did not complete their degree?
36 are still enrolled.
2912 transferred to another institution.
University of Arizona lost contact with the remaining 1068 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 36 | 0.9% |
| Transferred | 2912 | 71.8% |
| Dropped Out | 1068 | 26.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 75% |
| Black / African-American | 42% |
| Hawaiian | 71% |
| Hispanic | 62% |
| International | 66% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 61% |
| Unknown | 52% |
| White | 70% |
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 University of Arizona are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
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 University of Arizona represent 57.10% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the University of Arizona graduation rate was 67%, and by the eight year mark, 69% 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 | University of Arizona | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 53% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 67% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 47.82% |
1938 first-time / full-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
41 are still enrolled.
1529 transferred to another institution.
University of Arizona lost contact with the remaining 368 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 41 | 2.12% |
| Transferred | 1529 | 78.90% |
| Dropped Out | 368 | 18.99% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Arizona represent 16.36% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the University of Arizona graduation rate was 37%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | University of Arizona | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 37% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 23.72% |
1079 first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
19 are still enrolled.
687 transferred to another institution.
University of Arizona lost contact with the remaining 373 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 19 | 1.76% |
| Transferred | 687 | 63.67% |
| Dropped Out | 373 | 34.57% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Arizona represent 19.91% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the University of Arizona graduation rate was 68%, and by the eight year mark, 70% 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 | University of Arizona | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 68% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 55.07% |
659 non first-time / part-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
494 transferred to another institution.
University of Arizona lost contact with the remaining 160 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.76% |
| Transferred | 494 | 74.96% |
| Dropped Out | 160 | 24.28% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Arizona represent 6.63% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the University of Arizona graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 47% 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 | University of Arizona | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 44% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 37.80% |
382 non first-time / part-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
202 transferred to another institution.
University of Arizona lost contact with the remaining 167 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 3.40% |
| Transferred | 202 | 52.88% |
| Dropped Out | 167 | 43.72% |
