by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at UCM? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 75% students making it past their freshmen year, UCM 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 Missouri, the average is 69.43%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UCM | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Missouri | 69.43% |
How many of the estimated 1,591 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 27% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 51% of the students had graduated and after eight years 52% of this class completed their degree.
The official graduation rate of UCM is 51%. 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 average length of time it takes an UCM undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.48 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,155 | 37% |
| Six Years | 1,591 | 51% |
| Eight Years | 50 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,505 | 48% |
Approximately 1505 students or 48% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1505 students who did not complete their degree?
13 are still enrolled.
964 transferred to another institution.
UCM lost contact with the remaining 520 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 0.9% |
| Transferred | 964 | 64.1% |
| Dropped Out | 520 | 34.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 60% |
| Asian | 63% |
| Black / African-American | 37% |
| Hispanic | 49% |
| International | 65% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 35% |
| Unknown | 36% |
| White | 54% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
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 UCM 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 Central Missouri represent 56% of the students in the class of 2015, and 51.67% of UCM bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 27%, first-time students in the UCM class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UCM graduation rate was 47%, and by the eight year mark, 49% 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 | UCM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 47% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 47.82% |
904 first-time / full-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
567 transferred to another institution.
UCM lost contact with the remaining 325 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 1.44% |
| Transferred | 567 | 62.72% |
| Dropped Out | 325 | 35.95% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Central Missouri represent 1.75% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time, part-time students in the UCM class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 18%.
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 | UCM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
45 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
24 transferred to another institution.
UCM lost contact with the remaining 21 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 24 | 53.33% |
| Dropped Out | 21 | 46.67% |
1064 UCM students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 33.81% 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 61%, 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 63%.
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 | UCM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 61% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 55.07% |
395 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
260 transferred to another institution.
UCM lost contact with the remaining 129 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.52% |
| Transferred | 260 | 65.82% |
| Dropped Out | 129 | 32.66% |
270 UCM students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 8.58% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 40%, 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 40%.
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 | UCM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 40% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 37.80% |
161 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
113 transferred to another institution.
UCM lost contact with the remaining 45 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.86% |
| Transferred | 113 | 70.19% |
| Dropped Out | 45 | 27.95% |
