by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UMass Amherst 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 UMass Amherst. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 92% students making it past their freshmen year, UMass Amherst 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 Massachusetts, the average is 73.02%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UMass Amherst | 92% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Massachusetts | 73.02% |
How many of the estimated 5792 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 74% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 80% of the students had graduated and after eight years 81% 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 UMass Amherst graduation rate 80%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5383 | 74% |
| Six Years | 5792 | 80% |
| Eight Years | 55 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1391 | 19% |
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 1391 students or 19% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1391 students who did not complete their degree?
11 are still enrolled.
847 transferred to another institution.
UMass Amherst lost contact with the remaining 519 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 847 | 60.9% |
| Dropped Out | 519 | 37.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Asian | 84% |
| Black / African-American | 77% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 77% |
| International | 82% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 81% |
| Unknown | 84% |
| White | 84% |
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 UMass Amherst 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 Massachusetts-Amherst represent 67.27% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMass Amherst 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 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | UMass Amherst | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 76% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 83% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 83% | 47.82% |
807 first-time / full-time students or 17% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
564 transferred to another institution.
UMass Amherst lost contact with the remaining 229 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 1.73% |
| Transferred | 564 | 69.89% |
| Dropped Out | 229 | 28.38% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Massachusetts-Amherst represent 0.22% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMass Amherst graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 25% 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 | UMass Amherst | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 23.72% |
12 first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
UMass Amherst lost contact with the remaining 9 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 25.00% |
| Dropped Out | 9 | 75.00% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Massachusetts-Amherst represent 24.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMass Amherst graduation rate was 81%, and by the eight year mark, 81% 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 | UMass Amherst | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 81% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 81% | 55.07% |
331 non first-time / part-time students or 19% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
201 transferred to another institution.
UMass Amherst lost contact with the remaining 124 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.81% |
| Transferred | 201 | 60.73% |
| Dropped Out | 124 | 37.46% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Massachusetts-Amherst represent 7.83% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMass Amherst graduation rate was 56%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | UMass Amherst | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 50% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 56% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 37.80% |
241 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
79 transferred to another institution.
UMass Amherst lost contact with the remaining 157 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 2.07% |
| Transferred | 79 | 32.78% |
| Dropped Out | 157 | 65.15% |
