by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UMass Lowell 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 Lowell. 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 84% students making it past their freshmen year, UMass Lowell 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 Lowell | 84% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Massachusetts | 73.02% |
Of the 2715 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 52% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 66% of the students had graduated and after eight years 68% 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 Lowell graduation rate 66%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2138 | 52% |
| Six Years | 2715 | 66% |
| Eight Years | 86 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1294 | 32% |
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 1294 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1294 students who did not complete their degree?
9 are still enrolled.
699 transferred to another institution.
UMass Lowell lost contact with the remaining 560 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 699 | 54.0% |
| Dropped Out | 560 | 43.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 73% |
| Black / African-American | 69% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 64% |
| International | 59% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 62% |
| Unknown | 72% |
| White | 71% |
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 UMass Lowell 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 Massachusetts-Lowell represent 41.66% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMass Lowell graduation rate was 70%, and by the eight year mark, 73% 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 Lowell | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 48% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 70% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 73% | 47.82% |
464 first-time / full-time students or 27% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
304 transferred to another institution.
UMass Lowell lost contact with the remaining 151 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.94% |
| Transferred | 304 | 65.52% |
| Dropped Out | 151 | 32.54% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Massachusetts-Lowell represent 2.00% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMass Lowell graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 Lowell | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 24% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 23.72% |
57 first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
26 transferred to another institution.
UMass Lowell lost contact with the remaining 30 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.75% |
| Transferred | 26 | 45.61% |
| Dropped Out | 30 | 52.63% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Massachusetts-Lowell represent 39.46% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMass Lowell graduation rate was 73%, and by the eight year mark, 74% 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 Lowell | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 73% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 55.07% |
422 non first-time / part-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
213 transferred to another institution.
UMass Lowell lost contact with the remaining 194 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 3.55% |
| Transferred | 213 | 50.47% |
| Dropped Out | 194 | 45.97% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Massachusetts-Lowell represent 16.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMass Lowell graduation rate was 46%, and by the eight year mark, 49% 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 Lowell | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 37% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 46% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 37.80% |
351 non first-time / part-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
156 transferred to another institution.
UMass Lowell lost contact with the remaining 185 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 2.85% |
| Transferred | 156 | 44.44% |
| Dropped Out | 185 | 52.71% |
