by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UNCW 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 UNCW. 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 88% students making it past their freshmen year, UNCW 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 | |
|---|---|
| UNCW | 88% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
There were approximately 3686 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 63% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 73% of the students had graduated and after eight years 74% 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 UNCW graduation rate 73%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3161 | 63% |
| Six Years | 3686 | 73% |
| Eight Years | 44 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1294 | 26% |
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 26% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1294 students who did not complete their degree?
12 are still enrolled.
930 transferred to another institution.
UNCW lost contact with the remaining 335 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 0.9% |
| Transferred | 930 | 71.9% |
| Dropped Out | 335 | 25.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Asian | 79% |
| Black / African-American | 68% |
| Hispanic | 70% |
| International | 52% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 59% |
| Unknown | 73% |
| White | 72% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at UNCW 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 North Carolina Wilmington represent 48.77% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNCW graduation rate was 74%, and by the eight year mark, 74% 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 | UNCW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 56% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 74% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 47.82% |
630 first-time / full-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
499 transferred to another institution.
UNCW lost contact with the remaining 117 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 2.22% |
| Transferred | 499 | 79.21% |
| Dropped Out | 117 | 18.57% |
First-time / part-time students at University of North Carolina Wilmington represent 0.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNCW graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 14% 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 | UNCW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
6 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
4 transferred to another institution.
UNCW lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 16.67% |
| Transferred | 4 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 16.67% |
Returning / full-time students at University of North Carolina Wilmington represent 37.45% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNCW graduation rate was 74%, and by the eight year mark, 75% 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 | UNCW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 74% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 75% | 55.07% |
467 non first-time / part-time students or 25% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
318 transferred to another institution.
UNCW lost contact with the remaining 140 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.93% |
| Transferred | 318 | 68.09% |
| Dropped Out | 140 | 29.98% |
Returning / part-time students at University of North Carolina Wilmington represent 13.65% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNCW graduation rate was 71%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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 | UNCW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 68% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 71% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 37.80% |
191 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
109 transferred to another institution.
UNCW lost contact with the remaining 77 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 2.62% |
| Transferred | 109 | 57.07% |
| Dropped Out | 77 | 40.31% |
