by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UNG 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 UNG. 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 73% students making it past their freshmen year, UNG 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 Georgia, the average is 65.40%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UNG | 73% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Georgia | 65.40% |
There were approximately 2225 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 25% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 37% of the students had graduated and after eight years 39% 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 UNG graduation rate 37%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1511 | 25% |
| Six Years | 2225 | 37% |
| Eight Years | 128 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 3629 | 61% |
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 3629 students or 61% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3629 students who did not complete their degree?
12 are still enrolled.
2187 transferred to another institution.
UNG lost contact with the remaining 1359 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 0.3% |
| Transferred | 2187 | 60.3% |
| Dropped Out | 1359 | 37.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 41% |
| Black / African-American | 23% |
| Hawaiian | 43% |
| Hispanic | 32% |
| International | 43% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 33% |
| Unknown | 45% |
| White | 38% |
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 UNG 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 Georgia represent 68.50% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNG graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | UNG | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 40% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 47.82% |
2382 first-time / full-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
63 are still enrolled.
1491 transferred to another institution.
UNG lost contact with the remaining 828 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 63 | 2.64% |
| Transferred | 1491 | 62.59% |
| Dropped Out | 828 | 34.76% |
First-time / part-time students at University of North Georgia represent 7.66% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNG graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 16% 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 | UNG | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 23.72% |
384 first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
163 transferred to another institution.
UNG lost contact with the remaining 209 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 3.12% |
| Transferred | 163 | 42.45% |
| Dropped Out | 209 | 54.43% |
Returning / full-time students at University of North Georgia represent 16.82% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNG graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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 | UNG | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 44% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 55.07% |
552 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
359 transferred to another institution.
UNG lost contact with the remaining 190 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.54% |
| Transferred | 359 | 65.04% |
| Dropped Out | 190 | 34.42% |
Returning / part-time students at University of North Georgia represent 7.02% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNG graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 26% 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 | UNG | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 25% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 37.80% |
311 non first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
174 transferred to another institution.
UNG lost contact with the remaining 132 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.61% |
| Transferred | 174 | 55.95% |
| Dropped Out | 132 | 42.44% |
