by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding UCF 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 92% students making it past their freshmen year, UCF 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 Florida, the average is 70.38%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UCF | 92% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Florida | 70.38% |
Of the 12,301 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 42% of the cohort graduated. After six years 70% had completed their degree, and 72% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of UCF is 70%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
The typical UCF student takes 4.48 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9,651 | 55% |
| Six Years | 12,301 | 70% |
| Eight Years | 380 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 5,014 | 28% |
Approximately 5014 students or 28% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 5014 students who did not complete their degree?
45 are still enrolled.
2550 transferred to another institution.
UCF lost contact with the remaining 2320 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 45 | 0.9% |
| Transferred | 2550 | 50.9% |
| Dropped Out | 2,320 | 46.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 80% |
| Asian | 79% |
| Black / African-American | 75% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 73% |
| International | 70% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 71% |
| Unknown | 80% |
| White | 74% |
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 UCF 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 Central Florida represent 35% of the students in the class of 2015, and 36.66% of UCF bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 42%, first-time students in the UCF class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UCF graduation rate was 72%, and by the eight year mark, 75% 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 | UCF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 42% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 72% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 75% | 47.82% |
1556 first-time / full-time students or 25% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
45 are still enrolled.
961 transferred to another institution.
UCF lost contact with the remaining 540 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 45 | 2.89% |
| Transferred | 961 | 61.76% |
| Dropped Out | 540 | 34.70% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Central Florida represent 1.06% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 45%, first-time, part-time students in the UCF class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 50%.
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 | UCF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 45% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 23.72% |
93 first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
61 transferred to another institution.
UCF lost contact with the remaining 32 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 61 | 65.59% |
| Dropped Out | 32 | 34.41% |
6658 UCF students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 37.61% 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 74%, 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 76%.
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 | UCF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 74% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 76% | 55.07% |
1627 non first-time / part-time students or 24% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
32 are still enrolled.
798 transferred to another institution.
UCF lost contact with the remaining 797 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 32 | 1.97% |
| Transferred | 798 | 49.05% |
| Dropped Out | 797 | 48.99% |
4594 UCF students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 25.95% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 60%, 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 62%.
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 | UCF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 60% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 37.80% |
1738 non first-time / part-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
57 are still enrolled.
730 transferred to another institution.
UCF lost contact with the remaining 951 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 57 | 3.28% |
| Transferred | 730 | 42.00% |
| Dropped Out | 951 | 54.72% |
