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UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

84% 4-Year Graduation Rate
90% 6-Year Graduation Rate
95% Retention Rate

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How many UNC Chapel Hill first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore UNC Chapel Hill retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.

UNC Chapel Hill Retention Rate

95% Freshmen Retention Rate
Good Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 95% students making it past their freshmen year, UNC Chapel Hill 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 North Carolina, the average is 66.53%.

UNC Chapel Hill Retention  95 out of 100
0%
100%
North Carolina Retention  67 out of 100
0%
100%
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Retention Rate
UNC Chapel Hill95%
Nationwide70.57%
North Carolina66.53%

UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Rates

90% 6-Year Graduation Rate
5.87% Transfer Rate
3.62% Dropout Rate

Of the 4,390 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?

84% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 90% in six years, and 90% in eight years.

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 UNC Chapel Hill graduation rate 90%.

The average length of time it takes an UNC Chapel Hill undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.09 years.

Four Year Graduation Rate  84%
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  90%
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  90%
0%
100%

UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years4,09384%
Six Years4,39090%
Eight Years240%
Did Not Complete47110%
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.
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UNC Chapel Hill Drop Out Rate

Approximately 471 students or 10% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 471 students who did not complete their degree?

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Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled102.1%
Transferred28760.9%
Dropped Out17737.6%

UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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Race/EthnicityGraduation Rate
American Indian or Alaskan Native86%
Asian94%
Black / African-American88%
Hawaiian100%
Hispanic90%
International57%
Multi-Ethnic85%
Unknown94%
White92%

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.

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 UNC Chapel Hill are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.

How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?

First-Time / Full-Time UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Rates

82% First-Time, Full-Time
91% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / full-time students at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill represent 82% of the students in the class of 2015, and 83.33% of UNC Chapel Hill bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 84%, first-time students in the UNC Chapel Hill class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the UNC Chapel Hill graduation rate was 91%, and by the eight year mark, 91% of the cohort had completed their degree.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.

Four Year Graduation Rate  84 out of 100
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  91 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  91 out of 100
0%
100%

UNC Chapel Hill First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsUNC Chapel HillNationwide
Four Years84%37.92%
Six Years91%46.43%
Eight Years91%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time UNC Chapel Hill Drop Out Rates

350 first-time / full-time students or 9% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled102.86%
Transferred20257.71%
Dropped Out14340.86%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

0% First-Time, Part-Time
33% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / part-time students at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill represent 0.06% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 33%, first-time, part-time students in the UNC Chapel Hill class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 33%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.

Six Year Graduation Rate  33 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  33 out of 100
0%
100%

First-Time / Part-Time UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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First-Time / Part-Time CompletionsUNC Chapel HillNationwide
Four Years33%14.37%
Six Years33%21.59%
Eight Years33%23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time UNC Chapel Hill Drop Out Rates

2 first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.00%
Transferred150.00%
Dropped Out150.00%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

17% Returning, Full-Time
88% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

816 UNC Chapel Hill students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.68% of the students in the class of 2015.

Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.

With a six year graduation rate of 88%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 88%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.

Six Year Graduation Rate  88 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  88 out of 100
0%
100%

UNC Chapel Hill Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Full-Time CompletionsUNC Chapel HillNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years88%53.83%
Eight Years88%55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time UNC Chapel Hill Drop Out Rates

98 non first-time / part-time students or 12% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled22.04%
Transferred7273.47%
Dropped Out2424.49%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

1% Returning, Part-Time
45% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

38 UNC Chapel Hill students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 0.78% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 45%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 45%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.

Six Year Graduation Rate  45 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  45 out of 100
0%
100%

UNC Chapel Hill Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Part-Time CompletionsUNC Chapel HillNationwide
Four Years0%30.46%
Six Years45%36.03%
Eight Years45%37.80%

Non First-Time / Part-Time UNC Chapel Hill Drop Out Rates

21 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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Returning / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.00%
Transferred1257.14%
Dropped Out942.86%

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