by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding UofL retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 81% students making it past their freshmen year, UofL 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 Kentucky, the average is 67.55%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UofL | 81% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Kentucky | 67.55% |
How many of the estimated 2596 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 42% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 56% of the students had graduated and after eight years 59% 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 UofL graduation rate 56%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1921 | 42% |
| Six Years | 2596 | 56% |
| Eight Years | 106 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1911 | 41% |
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 1911 students or 41% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1911 students who did not complete their degree?
37 are still enrolled.
1071 transferred to another institution.
UofL lost contact with the remaining 774 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 37 | 1.9% |
| Transferred | 1071 | 56.0% |
| Dropped Out | 774 | 40.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 75% |
| Black / African-American | 51% |
| Hispanic | 52% |
| International | 52% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 53% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 63% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 UofL 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 Louisville represent 60.17% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UofL graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 64% 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 | UofL | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 42% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 62% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 47.82% |
995 first-time / full-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
42 are still enrolled.
590 transferred to another institution.
UofL lost contact with the remaining 363 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 42 | 4.22% |
| Transferred | 590 | 59.30% |
| Dropped Out | 363 | 36.48% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Louisville represent 3.29% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UofL graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 24% 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 | UofL | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 17% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 23.72% |
116 first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
58 transferred to another institution.
UofL lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.72% |
| Transferred | 58 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 48.28% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Louisville represent 26.72% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UofL graduation rate was 55%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | UofL | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 55% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 55.07% |
539 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
295 transferred to another institution.
UofL lost contact with the remaining 232 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 2.23% |
| Transferred | 295 | 54.73% |
| Dropped Out | 232 | 43.04% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Louisville represent 9.82% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UofL graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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 | UofL | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 41% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 37.80% |
261 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
128 transferred to another institution.
UofL lost contact with the remaining 123 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 3.83% |
| Transferred | 128 | 49.04% |
| Dropped Out | 123 | 47.13% |
