by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many CU - Boulder 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 CU - Boulder. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 90% students making it past their freshmen year, CU - Boulder 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 Colorado, the average is 70.70%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| CU - Boulder | 90% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Colorado | 70.70% |
How many of the estimated 5985 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 57% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 73% of the students had graduated and after eight years 74% 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 CU - Boulder graduation rate 73%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4690 | 57% |
| Six Years | 5985 | 73% |
| Eight Years | 100 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2143 | 26% |
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 2143 students or 26% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2143 students who did not complete their degree?
29 are still enrolled.
1259 transferred to another institution.
CU - Boulder lost contact with the remaining 842 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 29 | 1.4% |
| Transferred | 1259 | 58.7% |
| Dropped Out | 842 | 39.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 80% |
| Black / African-American | 60% |
| Hawaiian | 67% |
| Hispanic | 72% |
| International | 74% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 74% |
| Unknown | 57% |
| White | 76% |
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 CU - Boulder 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 Colorado Boulder represent 78.56% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CU - Boulder graduation rate was 75%, and by the eight year mark, 76% 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 | CU - Boulder | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 57% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 75% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 76% | 47.82% |
1554 first-time / full-time students or 24% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
28 are still enrolled.
1018 transferred to another institution.
CU - Boulder lost contact with the remaining 508 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 1.80% |
| Transferred | 1018 | 65.51% |
| Dropped Out | 508 | 32.69% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Colorado Boulder represent 0.53% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CU - Boulder graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | CU - Boulder | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 34% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 23.72% |
29 first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
16 transferred to another institution.
CU - Boulder lost contact with the remaining 11 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 6.90% |
| Transferred | 16 | 55.17% |
| Dropped Out | 11 | 37.93% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Colorado Boulder represent 19.21% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CU - Boulder graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 70% 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 | CU - Boulder | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 69% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 55.07% |
481 non first-time / part-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
186 transferred to another institution.
CU - Boulder lost contact with the remaining 289 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.25% |
| Transferred | 186 | 38.67% |
| Dropped Out | 289 | 60.08% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Colorado Boulder represent 1.70% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CU - Boulder graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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 | CU - Boulder | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 37.80% |
79 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
39 transferred to another institution.
CU - Boulder lost contact with the remaining 34 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 7.59% |
| Transferred | 39 | 49.37% |
| Dropped Out | 34 | 43.04% |
