by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding UNM 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.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 76% students making it past their freshmen year, UNM 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 New Mexico, the average is 62.90%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UNM | 76% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New Mexico | 62.90% |
How many of the estimated 2820 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 39% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 53% of the students had graduated and after eight years 56% 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 UNM graduation rate 53%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2075 | 39% |
| Six Years | 2820 | 53% |
| Eight Years | 132 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 2340 | 44% |
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 2340 students or 44% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2340 students who did not complete their degree?
76 are still enrolled.
1295 transferred to another institution.
UNM lost contact with the remaining 941 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 76 | 3.2% |
| Transferred | 1295 | 55.3% |
| Dropped Out | 941 | 40.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 24% |
| Asian | 73% |
| Black / African-American | 34% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 51% |
| International | 60% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 50% |
| Unknown | 39% |
| White | 58% |
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 UNM 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 New Mexico-Main Campus represent 64.84% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNM graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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 | UNM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 53% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 47.82% |
1531 first-time / full-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
79 are still enrolled.
863 transferred to another institution.
UNM lost contact with the remaining 589 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 79 | 5.16% |
| Transferred | 863 | 56.37% |
| Dropped Out | 589 | 38.47% |
First-time / part-time students at University of New Mexico-Main Campus represent 0.89% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNM graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 21% 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 | UNM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 17% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 23.72% |
37 first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
21 transferred to another institution.
UNM lost contact with the remaining 14 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 5.41% |
| Transferred | 21 | 56.76% |
| Dropped Out | 14 | 37.84% |
Returning / full-time students at University of New Mexico-Main Campus represent 22.97% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNM graduation rate was 59%, and by the eight year mark, 61% 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 | UNM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 59% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 55.07% |
477 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
244 transferred to another institution.
UNM lost contact with the remaining 220 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 2.73% |
| Transferred | 244 | 51.15% |
| Dropped Out | 220 | 46.12% |
Returning / part-time students at University of New Mexico-Main Campus represent 11.31% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNM graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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 | UNM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 42% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 48% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 37.80% |
295 non first-time / part-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
167 transferred to another institution.
UNM lost contact with the remaining 118 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 3.39% |
| Transferred | 167 | 56.61% |
| Dropped Out | 118 | 40.00% |
