by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to UC after their first year? Are UC students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 88% 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 Ohio, the average is 69.84%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UC | 88% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Ohio | 69.84% |
There were approximately 4,054 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 33% of the cohort graduated. After six years 64% had completed their degree, and 65% 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 UC graduation rate 64%.
The average length of time it takes an UC undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.55 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,380 | 38% |
| Six Years | 4,054 | 64% |
| Eight Years | 98 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,190 | 35% |
Approximately 2190 students or 35% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2190 students who did not complete their degree?
28 are still enrolled.
1410 transferred to another institution.
UC lost contact with the remaining 737 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 1.3% |
| Transferred | 1410 | 64.4% |
| Dropped Out | 737 | 33.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 11% |
| Asian | 74% |
| Black / African-American | 68% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 71% |
| International | 76% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 69% |
| Unknown | 69% |
| 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 UC 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 Cincinnati - Main Campus represent 68% of the students in the class of 2015, and 72.25% of UC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 33%, first-time students in the UC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UC graduation rate was 68%, and by the eight year mark, 69% 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 | UC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 68% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 47.82% |
1336 first-time / full-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
28 are still enrolled.
929 transferred to another institution.
UC lost contact with the remaining 380 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 2.10% |
| Transferred | 929 | 69.54% |
| Dropped Out | 380 | 28.44% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus represent 3.59% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 43%, first-time, part-time students in the UC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 45%.
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 | UC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 43% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 23.72% |
126 first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
68 transferred to another institution.
UC lost contact with the remaining 54 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 3.17% |
| Transferred | 68 | 53.97% |
| Dropped Out | 54 | 42.86% |
1030 UC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.23% 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 | UC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 64% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 65% | 55.07% |
358 non first-time / part-time students or 35% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
208 transferred to another institution.
UC lost contact with the remaining 141 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 2.51% |
| Transferred | 208 | 58.10% |
| Dropped Out | 141 | 39.39% |
751 UC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.83% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 49%, 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 51%.
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 | UC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 49% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 37.80% |
370 non first-time / part-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
205 transferred to another institution.
UC lost contact with the remaining 162 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.81% |
| Transferred | 205 | 55.41% |
| Dropped Out | 162 | 43.78% |
