by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UC Davis 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 UC Davis. 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 93% students making it past their freshmen year, UC Davis 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UC Davis | 93% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
Of the 8290 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 74% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 87% of the students had graduated and after eight years 88% 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 UC Davis graduation rate 87%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7023 | 74% |
| Six Years | 8290 | 87% |
| Eight Years | 97 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1099 | 12% |
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 1099 students or 12% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1099 students who did not complete their degree?
11 are still enrolled.
287 transferred to another institution.
UC Davis lost contact with the remaining 798 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 1.0% |
| Transferred | 287 | 26.1% |
| Dropped Out | 798 | 72.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 90% |
| Asian | 90% |
| Black / African-American | 70% |
| Hawaiian | 83% |
| Hispanic | 80% |
| International | 84% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 86% |
| Unknown | 86% |
| White | 86% |
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 UC Davis are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at University of California-Davis represent 59.89% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UC Davis graduation rate was 86%, and by the eight year mark, 87% 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 | UC Davis | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 66% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 86% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 87% | 47.82% |
713 first-time / full-time students or 13% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
273 transferred to another institution.
UC Davis lost contact with the remaining 429 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 1.54% |
| Transferred | 273 | 38.29% |
| Dropped Out | 429 | 60.17% |
First-time / part-time students at University of California-Davis represent 0.89% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UC Davis graduation rate was 73%, and by the eight year mark, 74% 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 | UC Davis | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 39% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 73% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 23.72% |
22 first-time / part-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
UC Davis lost contact with the remaining 12 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 4.55% |
| Transferred | 9 | 40.91% |
| Dropped Out | 12 | 54.55% |
Returning / full-time students at University of California-Davis represent 38.46% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UC Davis graduation rate was 90%, and by the eight year mark, 90% 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 | UC Davis | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 90% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 90% | 55.07% |
348 non first-time / part-time students or 10% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
5 transferred to another institution.
UC Davis lost contact with the remaining 341 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.57% |
| Transferred | 5 | 1.44% |
| Dropped Out | 341 | 97.99% |
Returning / part-time students at University of California-Davis represent 0.76% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UC Davis graduation rate was 78%, and by the eight year mark, 78% 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 | UC Davis | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 69% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 78% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 78% | 37.80% |
16 non first-time / part-time students or 22% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
UC Davis lost contact with the remaining 16 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 16 | 100.00% |
