by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UNF 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 UNF. 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 85% students making it past their freshmen year, UNF 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 Florida, the average is 70.38%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UNF | 85% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Florida | 70.38% |
There were approximately 3144 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 55% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 64% of the students had graduated and after eight years 65% 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 UNF graduation rate 64%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2680 | 55% |
| Six Years | 3144 | 64% |
| Eight Years | 64 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1699 | 35% |
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 1699 students or 35% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1699 students who did not complete their degree?
11 are still enrolled.
260 transferred to another institution.
UNF lost contact with the remaining 1419 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 260 | 15.3% |
| Dropped Out | 1419 | 83.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 80% |
| Asian | 72% |
| Black / African-American | 66% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 66% |
| International | 56% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 71% |
| White | 68% |
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 UNF 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 Florida represent 39.67% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNF graduation rate was 66%, and by the eight year mark, 68% 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 | UNF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 53% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 66% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 47.82% |
614 first-time / full-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
145 transferred to another institution.
UNF lost contact with the remaining 465 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.65% |
| Transferred | 145 | 23.62% |
| Dropped Out | 465 | 75.73% |
First-time / part-time students at University of North Florida represent 3.67% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNF graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | UNF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 30% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 23.72% |
122 first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
14 transferred to another institution.
UNF lost contact with the remaining 105 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.46% |
| Transferred | 14 | 11.48% |
| Dropped Out | 105 | 86.07% |
Returning / full-time students at University of North Florida represent 34.81% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNF 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 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | UNF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 71% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 55.07% |
481 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
57 transferred to another institution.
UNF lost contact with the remaining 417 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.46% |
| Transferred | 57 | 11.85% |
| Dropped Out | 417 | 86.69% |
Returning / part-time students at University of North Florida represent 21.85% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNF graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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 | UNF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 49% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 54% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 37.80% |
482 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
44 transferred to another institution.
UNF lost contact with the remaining 432 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.24% |
| Transferred | 44 | 9.13% |
| Dropped Out | 432 | 89.63% |
