by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding UMBC 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 85% students making it past their freshmen year, UMBC 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 Maryland, the average is 71.84%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UMBC | 85% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Maryland | 71.84% |
How many of the estimated 2286 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 54% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 69% of the students had graduated and after eight years 70% 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 UMBC graduation rate 69%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1787 | 54% |
| Six Years | 2286 | 69% |
| Eight Years | 39 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 974 | 30% |
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 974 students or 30% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 974 students who did not complete their degree?
9 are still enrolled.
627 transferred to another institution.
UMBC lost contact with the remaining 327 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 0.9% |
| Transferred | 627 | 64.4% |
| Dropped Out | 327 | 33.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 76% |
| Black / African-American | 68% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 65% |
| International | 69% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 70% |
| Unknown | 53% |
| White | 70% |
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 UMBC 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 Maryland-Baltimore County represent 46.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMBC graduation rate was 70%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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 | UMBC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 46% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 70% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 47.82% |
436 first-time / full-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
300 transferred to another institution.
UMBC lost contact with the remaining 127 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 2.06% |
| Transferred | 300 | 68.81% |
| Dropped Out | 127 | 29.13% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Maryland-Baltimore County represent 0.64% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMBC graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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 | UMBC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 43% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 23.72% |
12 first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
8 transferred to another institution.
UMBC lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 8.33% |
| Transferred | 8 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 25.00% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Maryland-Baltimore County represent 42.23% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMBC graduation rate was 72%, and by the eight year mark, 73% 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 | UMBC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 72% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 73% | 55.07% |
383 non first-time / part-time students or 27% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
231 transferred to another institution.
UMBC lost contact with the remaining 146 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.57% |
| Transferred | 231 | 60.31% |
| Dropped Out | 146 | 38.12% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Maryland-Baltimore County represent 10.45% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMBC graduation rate was 56%, and by the eight year mark, 58% 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 | UMBC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 48% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 56% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 37.80% |
143 non first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
88 transferred to another institution.
UMBC lost contact with the remaining 51 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.80% |
| Transferred | 88 | 61.54% |
| Dropped Out | 51 | 35.66% |
