by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UH 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 UH. 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 87% students making it past their freshmen year, UH 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 Texas, the average is 68.17%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UH | 87% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
There were approximately 7283 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 46% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 62% of the students had graduated and after eight years 64% 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 UH graduation rate 62%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5412 | 46% |
| Six Years | 7283 | 62% |
| Eight Years | 247 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 4303 | 36% |
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 4303 students or 36% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4303 students who did not complete their degree?
49 are still enrolled.
2681 transferred to another institution.
UH lost contact with the remaining 1511 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 49 | 1.1% |
| Transferred | 2681 | 62.3% |
| Dropped Out | 1511 | 35.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 74% |
| Black / African-American | 51% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 61% |
| International | 76% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 62% |
| Unknown | 62% |
| White | 66% |
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 UH are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
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 Houston represent 36.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UH graduation rate was 63%, and by the eight year mark, 66% 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 | UH | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 39% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 63% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 47.82% |
1490 first-time / full-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
50 are still enrolled.
930 transferred to another institution.
UH lost contact with the remaining 510 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 50 | 3.36% |
| Transferred | 930 | 62.42% |
| Dropped Out | 510 | 34.23% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Houston represent 1.78% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UH graduation rate was 37%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | UH | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 37% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 23.72% |
123 first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
65 transferred to another institution.
UH lost contact with the remaining 53 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 4.07% |
| Transferred | 65 | 52.85% |
| Dropped Out | 53 | 43.09% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Houston represent 38.28% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UH graduation rate was 66%, and by the eight year mark, 67% 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 | UH | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 66% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 55.07% |
1476 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
29 are still enrolled.
891 transferred to another institution.
UH lost contact with the remaining 556 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 29 | 1.96% |
| Transferred | 891 | 60.37% |
| Dropped Out | 556 | 37.67% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Houston represent 23.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UH graduation rate was 54%, 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 | UH | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 41% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 54% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 37.80% |
1214 non first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
27 are still enrolled.
795 transferred to another institution.
UH lost contact with the remaining 392 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 27 | 2.22% |
| Transferred | 795 | 65.49% |
| Dropped Out | 392 | 32.29% |
