by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UARK first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore UARK retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 85% students making it past their freshmen year, UARK 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 Arkansas, the average is 66.23%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UARK | 85% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Arkansas | 66.23% |
How many of the estimated 3,972 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 41% of the cohort graduated. After six years 60% had completed their degree, and 62% after eight years.
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 UARK graduation rate 60%.
The average UARK student takes 4.31 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,916 | 44% |
| Six Years | 3,972 | 60% |
| Eight Years | 121 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,513 | 38% |
Approximately 2513 students or 38% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2513 students who did not complete their degree?
44 are still enrolled.
829 transferred to another institution.
UARK lost contact with the remaining 1624 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 44 | 1.8% |
| Transferred | 829 | 33.0% |
| Dropped Out | 1,624 | 64.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 40% |
| Asian | 75% |
| Black / African-American | 56% |
| Hawaiian | 43% |
| Hispanic | 66% |
| International | 81% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 53% |
| Unknown | 45% |
| White | 70% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 UARK are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at University of Arkansas represent 68% of the students in the class of 2015, and 68.98% of UARK bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 41%, first-time students in the UARK class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UARK graduation rate was 61%, and by the eight year mark, 63% 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 | UARK | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 41% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 61% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 47.82% |
1665 first-time / full-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
44 are still enrolled.
611 transferred to another institution.
UARK lost contact with the remaining 1011 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 44 | 2.64% |
| Transferred | 611 | 36.70% |
| Dropped Out | 1,011 | 60.72% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Arkansas represent 1.47% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 33%, first-time, part-time students in the UARK class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 36%.
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 | UARK | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 33% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 23.72% |
62 first-time / part-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
4 transferred to another institution.
UARK lost contact with the remaining 55 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 4.84% |
| Transferred | 4 | 6.45% |
| Dropped Out | 55 | 88.71% |
1545 UARK students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 23.37% 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 64%, 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 65%.
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 | UARK | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 64% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 65% | 55.07% |
539 non first-time / part-time students or 35% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
169 transferred to another institution.
UARK lost contact with the remaining 360 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.86% |
| Transferred | 169 | 31.35% |
| Dropped Out | 360 | 66.79% |
476 UARK students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 7.20% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 46%, 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 | UARK | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 46% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 37.80% |
247 non first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
45 transferred to another institution.
UARK lost contact with the remaining 198 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.62% |
| Transferred | 45 | 18.22% |
| Dropped Out | 198 | 80.16% |
