by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding UMGC 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 55% students making it past their freshmen year, UMGC 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 Maryland, the average is 71.84%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UMGC | 55% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Maryland | 71.84% |
There were approximately 4569 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed 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, 28% of the students had graduated and after eight years 32% 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 UMGC graduation rate 28%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3340 | 21% |
| Six Years | 4569 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 647 | 4% |
| Did Not Complete | 10925 | 68% |
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 10925 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 10925 students who did not complete their degree?
4 are still enrolled.
5451 transferred to another institution.
UMGC lost contact with the remaining 4999 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 5451 | 49.9% |
| Dropped Out | 4999 | 45.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 25% |
| Black / African-American | 27% |
| Hawaiian | 33% |
| Hispanic | 34% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 18% |
| Unknown | 33% |
| White | 32% |
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 UMGC 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 Global Campus represent 2.33% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMGC graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | UMGC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 17% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 47.82% |
295 first-time / full-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
165 transferred to another institution.
UMGC lost contact with the remaining 123 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.37% |
| Transferred | 165 | 55.93% |
| Dropped Out | 123 | 41.69% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Maryland Global Campus represent 7.22% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMGC graduation rate was 7%, and by the eight year mark, 10% 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 | UMGC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 7% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 10% | 23.72% |
1052 first-time / part-time students or 90% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
34 are still enrolled.
453 transferred to another institution.
UMGC lost contact with the remaining 565 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 34 | 3.23% |
| Transferred | 453 | 43.06% |
| Dropped Out | 565 | 53.71% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Maryland Global Campus represent 15.17% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMGC graduation rate was 50%, and by the eight year mark, 53% 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 | UMGC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 50% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 55.07% |
1139 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
38 are still enrolled.
542 transferred to another institution.
UMGC lost contact with the remaining 559 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 38 | 3.34% |
| Transferred | 542 | 47.59% |
| Dropped Out | 559 | 49.08% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Maryland Global Campus represent 75.27% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMGC graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 31% 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 | UMGC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 26% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 37.80% |
8439 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
396 are still enrolled.
4291 transferred to another institution.
UMGC lost contact with the remaining 3752 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 396 | 4.69% |
| Transferred | 4291 | 50.85% |
| Dropped Out | 3752 | 44.46% |
