by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UNI 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 UNI. 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 82% students making it past their freshmen year, UNI 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 Iowa, the average is 68.94%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UNI | 82% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Iowa | 68.94% |
Of the 2064 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 50% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 65% of the students had graduated and after eight years 66% 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 UNI graduation rate 65%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1599 | 50% |
| Six Years | 2064 | 65% |
| Eight Years | 34 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1077 | 34% |
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 1077 students or 34% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1077 students who did not complete their degree?
6 are still enrolled.
718 transferred to another institution.
UNI lost contact with the remaining 347 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 718 | 66.7% |
| Dropped Out | 347 | 32.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 44% |
| Asian | 65% |
| Black / African-American | 35% |
| Hispanic | 59% |
| International | 65% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 60% |
| Unknown | 71% |
| White | 71% |
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 UNI are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at University of Northern Iowa represent 62.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNI graduation rate was 64%, and by the eight year mark, 65% 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 | UNI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 43% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 64% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 65% | 47.82% |
690 first-time / full-time students or 35% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
498 transferred to another institution.
UNI lost contact with the remaining 186 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.87% |
| Transferred | 498 | 72.17% |
| Dropped Out | 186 | 26.96% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Northern Iowa represent 1.63% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNI graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 37% 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 | UNI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 33% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 23.72% |
33 first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
21 transferred to another institution.
UNI lost contact with the remaining 11 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 3.03% |
| Transferred | 21 | 63.64% |
| Dropped Out | 11 | 33.33% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Northern Iowa represent 31.49% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNI 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 | UNI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 71% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 55.07% |
279 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
157 transferred to another institution.
UNI lost contact with the remaining 118 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.43% |
| Transferred | 157 | 56.27% |
| Dropped Out | 118 | 42.29% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Northern Iowa represent 4.73% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNI graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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 | UNI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 44% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 48% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 37.80% |
75 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
42 transferred to another institution.
UNI lost contact with the remaining 32 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.33% |
| Transferred | 42 | 56.00% |
| Dropped Out | 32 | 42.67% |
