by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UMCP 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 UMCP. 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 96% students making it past their freshmen year, UMCP 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 | |
|---|---|
| UMCP | 96% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Maryland | 71.84% |
Of the 7579 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 74% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 85% of the students had graduated and after eight years 86% 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 UMCP graduation rate 85%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6564 | 74% |
| Six Years | 7579 | 85% |
| Eight Years | 69 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1224 | 14% |
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 1224 students or 14% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1224 students who did not complete their degree?
4 are still enrolled.
715 transferred to another institution.
UMCP lost contact with the remaining 495 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.3% |
| Transferred | 715 | 58.4% |
| Dropped Out | 495 | 40.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Asian | 92% |
| Black / African-American | 84% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 83% |
| International | 84% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 87% |
| Unknown | 91% |
| White | 90% |
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.
The majority of students at UMCP are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at University of Maryland-College Park represent 65.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMCP graduation rate was 88%, and by the eight year mark, 89% 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 | UMCP | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 73% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 88% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 89% | 47.82% |
636 first-time / full-time students or 11% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
362 transferred to another institution.
UMCP lost contact with the remaining 263 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 1.73% |
| Transferred | 362 | 56.92% |
| Dropped Out | 263 | 41.35% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Maryland-College Park represent 0.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMCP graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 | UMCP | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 39% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 23.72% |
14 first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
7 transferred to another institution.
UMCP lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 7 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 50.00% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Maryland-College Park represent 30.62% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMCP graduation rate was 83%, and by the eight year mark, 83% 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 | UMCP | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 83% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 83% | 55.07% |
449 non first-time / part-time students or 17% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
278 transferred to another institution.
UMCP lost contact with the remaining 169 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.45% |
| Transferred | 278 | 61.92% |
| Dropped Out | 169 | 37.64% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Maryland-College Park represent 3.57% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMCP graduation rate was 60%, and by the eight year mark, 61% 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 | UMCP | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 48% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 60% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 37.80% |
125 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
68 transferred to another institution.
UMCP lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.80% |
| Transferred | 68 | 54.40% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 44.80% |
