by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UMA 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 UMA. 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 60% students making it past their freshmen year, UMA 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 Maine, the average is 71.23%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UMA | 60% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Maine | 71.23% |
How many of the estimated 328 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 21% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 29% of the students had graduated and after eight years 31% 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 UMA graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 238 | 21% |
| Six Years | 328 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 26 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 777 | 69% |
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 777 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 777 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
291 transferred to another institution.
UMA lost contact with the remaining 457 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.1% |
| Transferred | 291 | 37.5% |
| Dropped Out | 457 | 58.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Black / African-American | 100% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 31% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 22% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at UMA 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 Maine at Augusta represent 19.40% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMA graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 25% 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 | UMA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 24% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 47.82% |
164 first-time / full-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
65 transferred to another institution.
UMA lost contact with the remaining 95 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.44% |
| Transferred | 65 | 39.63% |
| Dropped Out | 95 | 57.93% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Maine at Augusta represent 18.87% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMA graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 17% 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 | UMA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 23.72% |
178 first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
47 transferred to another institution.
UMA lost contact with the remaining 124 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 3.93% |
| Transferred | 47 | 26.40% |
| Dropped Out | 124 | 69.66% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Maine at Augusta represent 28.48% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMA 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 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | UMA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 41% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 55.07% |
184 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
82 transferred to another institution.
UMA lost contact with the remaining 96 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 3.26% |
| Transferred | 82 | 44.57% |
| Dropped Out | 96 | 52.17% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Maine at Augusta represent 33.25% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMA graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | UMA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 31% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 37.80% |
251 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
97 transferred to another institution.
UMA lost contact with the remaining 142 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 4.78% |
| Transferred | 97 | 38.65% |
| Dropped Out | 142 | 56.57% |
