by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Notre Dame first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Notre Dame retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 97% students making it past their freshmen year, Notre Dame 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 Indiana, the average is 70.89%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Notre Dame | 97% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Indiana | 70.89% |
There were approximately 2,044 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 90% of the cohort graduated. After six years 95% had completed their degree, and 95% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of Notre Dame is 95%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
The average Notre Dame student takes 4.05 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,935 | 90% |
| Six Years | 2,044 | 95% |
| Eight Years | 4 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 97 | 5% |
Approximately 97 students or 5% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 97 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
91 transferred to another institution.
Notre Dame lost contact with the remaining 5 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.1% |
| Transferred | 91 | 93.8% |
| Dropped Out | 5 | 5.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 94% |
| Black / African-American | 89% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 94% |
| International | 96% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 95% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 98% |
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 Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame represent 94% of the students in the class of 2015, and 94.13% of Notre Dame bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 90%, first-time students in the Notre Dame class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Notre Dame graduation rate was 95%, and by the eight year mark, 95% 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 | Notre Dame | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 90% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 95% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 95% | 47.82% |
92 first-time / full-time students or 5% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
88 transferred to another institution.
Notre Dame lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.17% |
| Transferred | 88 | 95.65% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 3.26% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Notre Dame represent 0.09% of the students in the class of 2015.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | Notre Dame | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 1% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 1% | 23.72% |
2 first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
Notre Dame lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 100.00% |
123 Notre Dame students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 5.72% 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 97%, 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 98%.
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 | Notre Dame | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 97% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 98% | 55.07% |
3 non first-time / part-time students or 2% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
Notre Dame lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
1 Notre Dame students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 0.05% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 100%, 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 100%.
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 | Notre Dame | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 100% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 100% | 37.80% |
