by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UNC Greensboro 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 UNC Greensboro. 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 79% students making it past their freshmen year, UNC Greensboro 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%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UNC Greensboro | 79% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
Of the 3400 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 46% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 58% of the students had graduated and after eight years 60% 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 UNC Greensboro graduation rate 58%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2660 | 46% |
| Six Years | 3400 | 58% |
| Eight Years | 107 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2307 | 40% |
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 2307 students or 40% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2307 students who did not complete their degree?
27 are still enrolled.
1502 transferred to another institution.
UNC Greensboro lost contact with the remaining 753 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 27 | 1.2% |
| Transferred | 1502 | 65.1% |
| Dropped Out | 753 | 32.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 42% |
| Asian | 59% |
| Black / African-American | 62% |
| Hispanic | 55% |
| International | 80% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 56% |
| Unknown | 57% |
| White | 55% |
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 UNC Greensboro 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 North Carolina at Greensboro represent 50.07% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNC Greensboro graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 60% 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 | UNC Greensboro | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 57% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 47.82% |
1177 first-time / full-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
27 are still enrolled.
843 transferred to another institution.
UNC Greensboro lost contact with the remaining 307 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 27 | 2.29% |
| Transferred | 843 | 71.62% |
| Dropped Out | 307 | 26.08% |
First-time / part-time students at University of North Carolina at Greensboro represent 0.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNC Greensboro graduation rate was 13%, and by the eight year mark, 13% 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 | UNC Greensboro | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
13 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
10 transferred to another institution.
UNC Greensboro lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 10 | 76.92% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 23.08% |
Returning / full-time students at University of North Carolina at Greensboro represent 37.54% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNC Greensboro graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 64% 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 | UNC Greensboro | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 62% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 55.07% |
794 non first-time / part-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
479 transferred to another institution.
UNC Greensboro lost contact with the remaining 300 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.89% |
| Transferred | 479 | 60.33% |
| Dropped Out | 300 | 37.78% |
Returning / part-time students at University of North Carolina at Greensboro represent 12.13% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNC Greensboro graduation rate was 51%, and by the eight year mark, 54% 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 | UNC Greensboro | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 44% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 51% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 37.80% |
323 non first-time / part-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
170 transferred to another institution.
UNC Greensboro lost contact with the remaining 143 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 3.10% |
| Transferred | 170 | 52.63% |
| Dropped Out | 143 | 44.27% |
