by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UC 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. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
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, UC 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 West Virginia, the average is 70.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UC | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| West Virginia | 70.53% |
Of the 435 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 43% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 50% of the students had graduated and after eight years 53% 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 graduation rate 50%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 374 | 43% |
| Six Years | 435 | 50% |
| Eight Years | 28 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 410 | 47% |
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 410 students or 47% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 410 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
250 transferred to another institution.
UC lost contact with the remaining 156 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 250 | 61.0% |
| Dropped Out | 156 | 38.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 80% |
| Black / African-American | 30% |
| Hawaiian | 67% |
| Hispanic | 20% |
| International | 52% |
| Unknown | 42% |
| White | 52% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at UC are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at University of Charleston represent 34.72% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UC graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 43% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 47.82% |
159 first-time / full-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
99 transferred to another institution.
UC lost contact with the remaining 60 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 99 | 62.26% |
| Dropped Out | 60 | 37.74% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Charleston represent 2.82% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UC graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 28% 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 | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 28% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 23.72% |
18 first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
5 transferred to another institution.
UC lost contact with the remaining 11 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 11.11% |
| Transferred | 5 | 27.78% |
| Dropped Out | 11 | 61.11% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Charleston represent 20.63% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UC graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 49% 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 | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 48% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 55.07% |
93 non first-time / part-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
53 transferred to another institution.
UC lost contact with the remaining 40 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 53 | 56.99% |
| Dropped Out | 40 | 43.01% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Charleston represent 41.83% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UC graduation rate was 58%, and by the eight year mark, 62% 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 | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 49% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 58% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 37.80% |
140 non first-time / part-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
93 transferred to another institution.
UC lost contact with the remaining 45 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.43% |
| Transferred | 93 | 66.43% |
| Dropped Out | 45 | 32.14% |
