by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UF Online 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 UF Online. 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 95% students making it past their freshmen year, UF Online 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 Florida, the average is 70.38%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UF Online | 95% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Florida | 70.38% |
Of the 832 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 55% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 66% of the students had graduated and after eight years 68% 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 UF Online graduation rate 66%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 693 | 55% |
| Six Years | 832 | 66% |
| Eight Years | 24 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 411 | 32% |
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 411 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 411 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
225 transferred to another institution.
UF Online lost contact with the remaining 176 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 225 | 54.7% |
| Dropped Out | 176 | 42.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 82% |
| Black / African-American | 46% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 72% |
| International | 50% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 75% |
| Unknown | 75% |
| White | 82% |
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 UF Online 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 students at University of Florida-Online represent 32.36% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UF Online graduation rate was 79%, and by the eight year mark, 80% 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 | UF Online | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 61% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 79% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 80% | 47.82% |
82 first-time / full-time students or 20% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
62 transferred to another institution.
UF Online lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.22% |
| Transferred | 62 | 75.61% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 23.17% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Florida-Online represent 6.31% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UF Online graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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 | UF Online | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 48% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 23.72% |
40 first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
28 transferred to another institution.
UF Online lost contact with the remaining 11 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.50% |
| Transferred | 28 | 70.00% |
| Dropped Out | 11 | 27.50% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Florida-Online represent 22.34% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UF Online graduation rate was 73%, and by the eight year mark, 74% 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 | UF Online | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 73% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 55.07% |
74 non first-time / part-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
33 transferred to another institution.
UF Online lost contact with the remaining 39 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.70% |
| Transferred | 33 | 44.59% |
| Dropped Out | 39 | 52.70% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Florida-Online represent 38.99% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UF Online graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 56% 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 | UF Online | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 44% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 53% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 37.80% |
215 non first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
102 transferred to another institution.
UF Online lost contact with the remaining 107 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.79% |
| Transferred | 102 | 47.44% |
| Dropped Out | 107 | 49.77% |
