by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at UNCW? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 84% 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 | 84% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
Of the 2,750 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 53% of the cohort graduated. After six years 71% had completed their degree, and 73% after eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official UNCW graduation rate 71%.
The typical UNCW student takes 4.24 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,283 | 59% |
| Six Years | 2,750 | 71% |
| Eight Years | 53 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,055 | 27% |
Approximately 1055 students or 27% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1055 students who did not complete their degree?
13 are still enrolled.
751 transferred to another institution.
UNCW lost contact with the remaining 285 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 1.2% |
| Transferred | 751 | 71.2% |
| Dropped Out | 285 | 27.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 60% |
| Asian | 76% |
| Black / African-American | 63% |
| Hispanic | 65% |
| International | 44% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 73% |
| Unknown | 72% |
| White | 75% |
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 UNCW 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 students at University of North Carolina at Wilmington represent 55% of the students in the class of 2015, and 55.49% of UNCW bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 53%, first-time students in the UNCW class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UNCW graduation rate was 72%, and by the eight year mark, 74% 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.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | UNCW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 53% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 72% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 47.82% |
559 first-time / full-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
442 transferred to another institution.
UNCW lost contact with the remaining 107 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 2.33% |
| Transferred | 442 | 79.07% |
| Dropped Out | 107 | 19.14% |
First-time / part-time students at University of North Carolina at Wilmington represent 0.08% of the students in the class of 2015.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | UNCW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 1% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 23.72% |
2 first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
UNCW lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 50.00% |
1500 UNCW students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 38.85% 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 73%, 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 74%.
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.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | UNCW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 73% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 55.07% |
389 non first-time / part-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
236 transferred to another institution.
UNCW lost contact with the remaining 147 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.54% |
| Transferred | 236 | 60.67% |
| Dropped Out | 147 | 37.79% |
241 UNCW students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.24% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 53%, 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 56%.
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.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | UNCW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 53% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 37.80% |
105 non first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
72 transferred to another institution.
UNCW lost contact with the remaining 30 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.86% |
| Transferred | 72 | 68.57% |
| Dropped Out | 30 | 28.57% |
