UCCS Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

University of Colorado Colorado Springs 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How many UCCS 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 UCCS. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.

• UCCS Retention Rate
• UCCS Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• UCCS Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

UCCS Retention Rate

Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.

With 68% students making it past their freshmen year, UCCS has freshmen retention rates below the national average.

Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.

When looking at just colleges and universities in Colorado, the average is 70.70%.

UCCS Graduation Rates

There were approximately 1798 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?

Four years after beginning their degree, 31% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 44% of the students had graduated and after eight years 46% 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 UCCS graduation rate 44%.

UCCS Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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.

Request More Info About University of Colorado Colorado Springs >

UCCS Drop Out Rate

Approximately 2236 students or 54% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 2236 students who did not complete their degree?

• 25 are still enrolled.

• 1360 transferred to another institution.

• UCCS lost contact with the remaining 828 who we assumed dropped out.

UCCS Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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.

A meaningful share of students at UCCS are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.

Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.

First-Time / Full-Time UCCS Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at University of Colorado Colorado Springs represent 49.89% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the UCCS graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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.

UCCS First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

First-Time / Full-Time UCCS Drop Out Rates

1151 first-time / full-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 29 are still enrolled.

• 731 transferred to another institution.

• UCCS lost contact with the remaining 391 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at University of Colorado Colorado Springs represent 3.39% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the UCCS graduation rate was 11%, and by the eight year mark, 14% 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.

First-Time / Part-Time UCCS Graduation Rates vs. National Average

First-Time / Part-Time UCCS Drop Out Rates

119 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 1 are still enrolled.

• 74 transferred to another institution.

• UCCS lost contact with the remaining 44 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

Returning / full-time students at University of Colorado Colorado Springs represent 31.03% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the UCCS graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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.

UCCS Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Full-Time UCCS Drop Out Rates

582 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 9 are still enrolled.

• 349 transferred to another institution.

• UCCS lost contact with the remaining 224 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Returning / part-time students at University of Colorado Colorado Springs represent 15.70% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the UCCS graduation rate was 38%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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.

UCCS Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Part-Time UCCS Drop Out Rates

384 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 9 are still enrolled.

• 206 transferred to another institution.

• UCCS lost contact with the remaining 169 who we assumed dropped out.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics
• Image Credit: By Jeffrey M Foster under License