by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding UND 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 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, UND 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 Dakota, the average is 67.00%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UND | 84% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Dakota | 67.00% |
There were approximately 1787 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 42% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 57% of the students had graduated and after eight years 59% 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 UND graduation rate 57%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1304 | 42% |
| Six Years | 1787 | 57% |
| Eight Years | 57 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1296 | 41% |
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 1296 students or 41% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1296 students who did not complete their degree?
15 are still enrolled.
827 transferred to another institution.
UND lost contact with the remaining 436 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.2% |
| Transferred | 827 | 63.8% |
| Dropped Out | 436 | 33.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 27% |
| Asian | 77% |
| Black / African-American | 37% |
| Hispanic | 59% |
| International | 55% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 58% |
| Unknown | 62% |
| White | 64% |
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 UND 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 Dakota represent 61.92% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UND 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 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | UND | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 42% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 62% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 47.82% |
695 first-time / full-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
487 transferred to another institution.
UND lost contact with the remaining 193 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 2.16% |
| Transferred | 487 | 70.07% |
| Dropped Out | 193 | 27.77% |
First-time / part-time students at University of North Dakota represent 1.15% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UND graduation rate was 22%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | UND | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 22% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 23.72% |
28 first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
18 transferred to another institution.
UND lost contact with the remaining 9 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 3.57% |
| Transferred | 18 | 64.29% |
| Dropped Out | 9 | 32.14% |
Returning / full-time students at University of North Dakota represent 22.00% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UND graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 63% 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 | UND | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 62% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 55.07% |
253 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
141 transferred to another institution.
UND lost contact with the remaining 105 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.77% |
| Transferred | 141 | 55.73% |
| Dropped Out | 105 | 41.50% |
Returning / part-time students at University of North Dakota represent 14.93% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UND graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | UND | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 29% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 37.80% |
320 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
181 transferred to another institution.
UND lost contact with the remaining 129 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 3.12% |
| Transferred | 181 | 56.56% |
| Dropped Out | 129 | 40.31% |
