by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UNL 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 UNL. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 86% students making it past their freshmen year, UNL 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 Nebraska, the average is 73.00%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UNL | 86% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Nebraska | 73.00% |
How many of the estimated 4058 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 49% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 65% of the students had graduated and after eight years 66% 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 UNL graduation rate 65%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3057 | 49% |
| Six Years | 4058 | 65% |
| Eight Years | 66 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2092 | 34% |
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 2092 students or 34% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2092 students who did not complete their degree?
15 are still enrolled.
1238 transferred to another institution.
UNL lost contact with the remaining 818 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 1238 | 59.2% |
| Dropped Out | 818 | 39.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 25% |
| Asian | 76% |
| Black / African-American | 41% |
| Hawaiian | 12% |
| Hispanic | 56% |
| International | 70% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 49% |
| Unknown | 77% |
| White | 68% |
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.
The majority of students at UNL are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
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 Nebraska-Lincoln represent 79.45% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNL graduation rate was 65%, and by the eight year mark, 66% 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 | UNL | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 47% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 65% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 47.82% |
1670 first-time / full-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
29 are still enrolled.
1026 transferred to another institution.
UNL lost contact with the remaining 615 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 29 | 1.74% |
| Transferred | 1026 | 61.44% |
| Dropped Out | 615 | 36.83% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Nebraska-Lincoln represent 0.53% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNL graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 28% 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 | UNL | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 23.72% |
23 first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
7 transferred to another institution.
UNL lost contact with the remaining 14 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 8.70% |
| Transferred | 7 | 30.43% |
| Dropped Out | 14 | 60.87% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Nebraska-Lincoln represent 18.08% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNL graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 70% 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 | UNL | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 69% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 55.07% |
337 non first-time / part-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
175 transferred to another institution.
UNL lost contact with the remaining 159 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.89% |
| Transferred | 175 | 51.93% |
| Dropped Out | 159 | 47.18% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Nebraska-Lincoln represent 1.94% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNL graduation rate was 45%, 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 | UNL | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 45% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 37.80% |
62 non first-time / part-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
30 transferred to another institution.
UNL lost contact with the remaining 30 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 3.23% |
| Transferred | 30 | 48.39% |
| Dropped Out | 30 | 48.39% |
